What Is an Emergent Curriculum?

The teachers at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School have many skills and talents but one particular area of strength is their ability to develop emergent curriculum activities in response to children’s interests. For example, one day this spring the Junipers teachers noticed that some of the children were using the kitchen play items to pretend they were shopping at a grocery store. Within just a few days the teachers had developed a plan with families to collect empty food containers and create a pretend grocery store in the classroom. 

We used this grocery store example as just one of the curriculum projects featured in our new FTCNS Teacher Institute workshop titled “Introduction to Emergent Curriculum.” This online asynchronous workshop provides 1.5 professional development hours approved by the Illinois statewide system for professional development for early childhood educators.

The workshop is intended for teachers who are new to emergent curriculum practices.  The workshop explains  the value of an emergent approach as well as practical guidance for how to begin implementing emergent curriculum practices. Video, images, explanations, and real-world scenarios bring the workshop ideas to life. The workshop answers three key questions: “What is an emergent curriculum?” “What are the benefits of an emergent curriculum?” and “How do I begin implementing an emergent curriculum?”

To celebrate the launch of the FTCNS Teacher Institute we are offering educators a special discount. Use the code EARLYBIRD2024 to receive $25 off enrollment in the workshop Introduction to Emergent Curriculum. Go to the FTCNS Teacher Institute portal and click on “Add coupon code” and enter “EARLYBIRD2024”.

For more information about the FTCNS Teacher Institute, contact director Ann Gadzikowski at director@ftcns.org.