DAP 5: Instructional Materials
Overview
A well-planned environment, meaningful lesson plans, and the important relationships children experience in a classroom create quality educational experiences. Intentionally selected materials that meet the children’s individual needs are also integral to a quality classroom.
Requirement
Level 4:
The school uses materials that are developmentally appropriate, are accessible, promote multiple modes of exploration and learning, reflect children’s interests, culture(s) and language(s) and support children of all abilities.
Documentation to upload: Statement describing the selection and use of instructional materials.
Build a Statement
Develop a statement that describes how instructional materials are selected and used in the program. The Reflection Questions below will help you capture what is done in the program when creating your statement. Upon reflection, you are ready to build your statement.
Reflection Questions
- How does the program ensure that the materials selected and used are developmentally appropriate for the children enrolled in the program?
- Where are materials kept to make them easily accessible to the children?
- How are materials that promote multiple modes of exploration and learning selected? Give examples.
- What kinds of materials are selected that reflect the children’s interests, primary language(s), and cultural background(s)?
- What kinds of materials are chosen that support children of all abilities?
After reflecting, you have the option to download and save the Selection and Use of Materials template to create your statement.
If you need more support writing your Materials Statement, use Writers Tips and Prompts to find examples and get more guidance.
Next Steps
- Review the Materials Statement to ensure that it addresses all the required topics.
- Log into the Maryland EXCELS System to upload your program’s statement.
- Submit for review.
Additional Resources
- Selecting Materials to Reflect Children’s Diversity Review this resource to gain tips for creating an environment through your choice of materials that celebrate and respect the differences in the children in your care.
- The Environment: Materials | Virtual Lab School This lesson will help you choose materials based on cultural relevance, children’s interests, variety, and learning goals.
- Adaptations for Children with Disabilities As you review this list of ways to adapt the environment and learning materials for children with special needs, notice how many suggestions could benefit all children, not just children with disabilities.
