Then vs Now: Differences in the Curriculum

I know I've mentioned before that I've been using Mother Goose Time since September of 2014. Over 2 years already. Wow! Its been so fun. Each year I've been using the curriculum things have been added, improved upon or taken away. This year however, there have been some major differences that not all homeschoolers, daycare providers etc are getting along with. I get it. Some things have been difficult for us to get used to as well. But, no matter what MGT takes away or adds, its all for a reason and we love what we get anyway. I just wanted to show the most obvious differences that I have come across so far this year.

The main topic of debate in so many groups on social media is the new Invitation to Create. Many posts are depressing about the subject, but this is such a different method to exploring art. Its free expression, its exploring, its imagination, its creating and its necessary for this age group. These art invitations are a process-based art. The large photo is provided as inspiration and materials are given with no real end product in mind. The child is use create whatever he/she is inspired to make. Prompts are provided if a child is 'stuck'. In some ways it requires more help from the adult if the child doesn't get it. My kids didn't like them at first. They were confused and didn't know what to do with any of materials. But, they got better and ran away with their ideas.

This year there is also a Make & Play craft. These are more of the product based art projects that have an end result in mind. There is a picture to follow and then on the back there are prompts on how to incorporate the craft in your play.

Even with all the complaints with the Invitations, there are still several product based projects included to make something by following directions. Its a good balance, I think, of the process and product based art. I think the Invitations are harder for the adults to grasp because we're not as in-tune with our imaginations as kids are and when is difficult for us to accept, we make it hard for the kids as well.
The last few years that we have been using MGT, the art projects have all had a picture to look at and follow. Sometimes there were instructions on how to make the craft. Usually ideas on how to play with it or discussion questions.

The Teacher Guide has gone through some changes as well. This year's and previous years look pretty similar, with a few subtle differences.

2014 has 4 distinct activities to go with a given topic. The Investigation stations were found in the beginning of the guide and were an added activity to enhance free-play time. There was one idea for each day.

201420142014

2016 has 3 distinct activities now plus an additional reading story (sometimes the book has a corresponding activity. this has been difficult for me and several others since I can't get all of the reading books. Without the book, some activities don't make a lot of sense and its frustrating.) Now the Investigation stations are added in the guide by day and replaced one of the four activities that were given, at least that's what it seems like to me. So, now there are 3 activities plus 1 free-play idea instead of 5 potential activities for the day. So, I can see why many people feel like there is much less included in the curriculum this year. The investigation stations are broken into five different categories which is broken down in the front of the guide.

2016

2016

Another difference in this year from previous years is the designated circle time. There was a basic routine that you could choose to follow. One of the things that I liked was that there was a focus concept like a shape, pattern, letter, number or color and a quick activity to go along with it.

Now, there is no concept focus activity. But instead a review of your schedule for the day.

But, there is a closing time activity. It kind of seems like there is more of an activity here at closing time than there used to be.

Mother Goose Time is a wonderful program. It has brought so much fun and learning to my home. The changes this year have been dramatic, but made for a reason, all research based. Change is hard for many, myself included. There are things that I miss from previous years that aren't in the curriculum now, but we love the additions this year too. It is what it is and you adjust and keep having fun. 

Cement Workers

Community Helpers with Mother Goose Time

Construction Workers

November is all about helpers in the community, careers of people in the neighborhood. All kinds of jobs are touched on and explored. The favorite so far was the construction worker day because of what had been going on at the house. We had our own field trip come to us.
Several weeks ago we had work done on the yard. Our fence was torn down and rebuilt and we had a lot of cement poured around the house. Watching the cement guys work was pretty exciting. The boys ran from watching the cement pour out of the truck & into the pumper in the garage and watching it being dumped from the hose and flattened/smoothed out from the back door.

It was interesting to see that they just used boards of different sizes to flatten and smooth the cement. A long 2x4 after it was poured.

A 2x6 attached to a pole for additional smoothing.

The long heavy hose as the cement comes through and poured onto the wire grid. It was loud and came out fast.

The boys found an extra vacuum hose to play their own game of 'cement workers' after all the workers had left. They were making spraying sounds and dropping things like beads down the tube to pretend they were 'cement bombs'. Below Mr A was the cement truck in the back and Mr Z was the worker spraying the bombs.

Mr Z attached the hose to the baby's seat so he could play by himself. The seat was the truck. Mr A drug it around the house making spraying sounds.

We actually did our MGT lesson a few days after the cement work was done at the house. One of the fun activities included in the lesson was a game to hammer the matching pictures. A cardboard hammer was provided for the kids to decorate how they wished. Mr Z just drew a few lines on his. He would then flip over a card and locate it on his "board" and hammer the matching picture. He had fun, but this only lasted about 2 minutes. 

The boys noticed that the theme poster for the month had blocks on it like we have. So naturally, they had to bring them out to build with. Mr A made several tall towers. He tried to see how high he make them before it fell.

Mr A and Mr Z built a fire station together. And didn't really do much with it after that.

One of the manipulatives this month was stacking cubes. We had received some with a previous MGT unit, so I combined them and now we have a great collection. Some pattern strips were provided and Mr A went to town building the different patterns to match the cards. Since there were different sizes, Mr Z measured them and I helped him count the cubes on each card. Lots of math going on in this activity. Mr Z was also working on building his own hammer with the stacking cubes.

Mr Z hammered some golf tees into an old box to practice hand-eye coordination.

The boys also made a crane using some ribbon and the stand for the fireplace tools. I helped tie the block on and they pulled it up and tried to make a stack. It was difficult to line up the blocks on top each other.

From a field trip at home, dramatic play, creative play with blocks, math and fine motor skills the boys had a great time learning about and experiencing what construction workers do.