Michigan is Climbing the Ladder to Future Success!

In a race to receive some grant funding for Early Childhood programs, Michigan has done wonders to revamp standards for Early Learning Centers, curriculum and teacher accreditation. In a state where neither Preschool nor Kindergarten are mandatory steps in a child’s educational ladder, it is nothing short of a miracle that there is any emphasis placed on Early Education at all. Not only has Michigan set Early Learning Expectations (ELE’s) for Early Childhood programs, but they go as far as to include creative development amongst other academic standards. Strides such as these continue to steer Early Childhood Education into the direction of achieving the professional recognition it deserves.

It is important to recognize that music education is as important as other classic components such as math, science, and language. Music lends itself to all curriculum areas, which Michigan has reiterated by including the Early Learning Expectation that states ‘Children show how they feel, what they think, and what they are learning through listening, participating in, and creating instrumental and vocal music experiences.” This statement truly exhibits how children learn- through playful, but meaningful experiences. Writing songs with children using familiar melodies, inviting them to explore instruments and how they work, and challenging children to use description words to talk about music are all ways caregivers can assess learning and learn more about children. Such activities are memorable and enriching experiences for young children to share.
Michigan is working hard to re-evaluate the definition of quality for Early Childhood Programs. Thankfully, they are taking a step in the right direction by continuing to include the arts as an expectation for excellence.

Share/Bookmark