Adapted by:Paula DavenportMiranda LeicklyBeth Sigurdson

“The paradoxical goal of raising children is that we hold them close so that they have the

confidence to move away from us.”

- Dr. Jef van Kuyk

About Pyramid

• Created by Dr. Jef van Kuyk in the Netherlands in 1994

• Holistic and balanced• Helps teachers:

– Understand short and long term cycles of learning

– Plan– Be more effective in

broadening and deepening children’s learning

Pyramid in Action

• Educational method for children between the ages of three to six

• Schedule:– Three-year-olds:

• At least four mornings or afternoons of preschool a week

– Four to six year olds:• Five days a week

• Favorable teacher-child ratio (1:12)– Tutor available as preventative

measure• Strong parental involvement– Parents engage in similar

activities at home as children do in school

Interactive Storytelling

Step One – Orientation

Interactive Storytelling

Step Two – Demonstration

Interactive Storytelling

Step Three – Broadening

Interactive Storytelling

Step Four – Deepening

Philosophy• Education is the responsibility of

the adult – Adult tends to and protects the

child on course toward self-determination

• The adult:– Remains close to the vulnerable

child who is unable to perform daily tasks on his or her own

– Simultaneously encourages the child to move away from the adult • Risk-taking to explore the world

around them

Four Cornerstones

Method Content

1. Emotional Intelligence2. Physical Intelligence3. Cognitive Intelligence

Pyramid Programs

• Play program• Projects– Orientation– Demonstration– Broadening– Deepening

• Tutoring program• Parent program

ProjectsPyramid projects offer children a structured environment– Each project book contains 12

projects– Projects last about 3-4 weeks– Books follow a sequential

developmental line– Projects contain the following

sections: • Learning framework• Optimizing children’s development

through their own initiative and the teacher’s initiative

• Promoting parent partnerships through authentic involvement

• Planning• Resources• Proactive tutoring

References• Pyramid Post. (2006). In D. Neubauer-van Dijk (Ed.), Cito USA. Retrieved

March 20, 2009, from http://www.cito.com• Roopnarine, J. L., & Johnson, J. E. (2005). Approached to early childhood

education (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.• Smith, C. G. (2008). Inspired cognition: A revolutionary four-step process.

Interactive storytelling. Symposium conducted at the NESA Winter Training Institute. Retrieved from www.nesacenter.org/storage/content-pages/conferences/wti-2008/Interactive_Storytelling.doc

• van Kuyk, J. (2001, June 1). Pyramid Educational Method for 3 to 6-Year-Old Children: Theory and Research. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED455005) Retrieved March 25, 2009, from ERIC database.

• van Kuyk, J., & Centraal Inst. voor Toetsonwikkeling, A. (1997, September 1). The Pyramid Project. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED420369) Retrieved March 24, 2009, from ERIC database.