Opening the World of Learning
The Opening the World of Learning (OWL) curriculum, by Judith Schickedanz and David Dickenson, was written in collaboration with the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools in North Carolina. Vanderbilt University conducted pilot studies with 100 teachers and 3,000 low-income children in eight preschools over a four year period (Pearson Education, 2009). The research focused on early language, literacy, and social-emotional development, identifying critical skills and attitudes that young children need in order to be successful. Promising findings for literacy gains over time have generated substantial interest in the curriculum, and it is now approved for use in several states besides North Carolina.
Basic Principles
The curriculum has six units of study that make extensive use of high-quality children’s books. Table 2.6 shows the topics of the studies and books that are recommended for use.