Daily Routine
The daily routine emphasizes intentional teaching through routines, transitions, and a predictable order of events. The Plan-Do-Review sequence (PDR) in particular is a great example of a concept that represents both a strategy and an intended outcome. Before the time of the day when children are free to choose center activities, teachers guide them to plan what they will do. This provides teachers with information they can use during center time to facilitate play and learning. Afterwards, teachers debrief children and encourage them to reflect on and share their work. So PDR serves to organize movement and activities and also to promote intentional thinking, focus, and “thinking about thinking,” or metacognition.
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Assessment
The High Scope curriculum was one of the first to provide a comprehensive integrated assessment system using the Child Observation Record (COR), which relies heavily on teacher observation and anecdotal record keeping and skills assessments of various kinds. Specific tools focus on emergent literacy (Early Literacy Skills Assessment, ELSA) and program quality in Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and Elementary classrooms.