Creative Curriculum
Description:
The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features exploration and discovery as a way of learning. The goal of the Creative Curriculum is to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive and enthusiastic learners by actively exploring their environment. The curriculum is one of the New Jersey Department of Education’s four recommended curricula.
The preschool system is based on 38 different objectives for development and learning, and offers educators daily opportunities to individualize instruction. These research-based objectives are the heart of the curriculum and define the path teachers take with children in their classroom.
Philosophy:
The philosophy behind Creative Curriculum© is built on theories of development in young children, that all children learn through active exploration of their environment and therefore the environment plays a critical role in learning. It is built on the importance of using developmentally appropriate practices that match how children develop and learn so as to promote their optimal development and learning. Early childhood educators make informed decisions about their teaching with an understanding of child development and expectations, interest of the children, strengths and areas of growth, and the cultures of each child’s family and community.
The curriculum is rooted with five key principles that guide and support the intentional setup of the environment and other program aspects. These principles include positive and supportive interactions and relationships, a constructive, purposeful play based approach, teaching of social-emotional competence, a quality physical environment, and family partnerships. All of these principles influence an understanding of development and learning and are essential to a child’s physical structure of the brain.
Parent involvement :
Opportunities for involving families are built into The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool. The resources and guidance embedded throughout the curriculum help teachers build essential bridges between school and home and create meaningful partnerships with families. Guidance and support for including families are built right into daily plans, with regular opportunities to invite and include family participation.
Click here for more information on the Creative Curriculum.
Advantages to Attending Preschool
Research shows, children enrolled in a high-quality early childhood education program are more likely to do well in school and have long-term academic success compared to students who do not attend preschool. The Riverdale preschool program provides children the opportunity to work and play with age-appropriate peers. Regardless of ability level, children learn from one another.
Children who participate in a preschool program have shown social gains and overall academic readiness skills for Kindergarten compared to students who do not attend preschool. They also display empathy towards all of their peers and are more responsive to children with special needs or disabilities. These children tend to be increasingly aware of the needs of their friends as well. Children with special needs in the preschool program have the ability to work with positive role models who demonstrate typically developing skills that teachers are introducing. Additionally, these role models set realistic age-appropriate behavioral expectations for all children. Children with special needs and those who are typically developing are equal members in the classroom community, resulting in increased self-esteem and the formation of friendships. Recent studies have found that children with disabilities enrolled in a preschool program demonstrate higher levels of social play and more appropriate social interactions while achieving higher levels of language, cognitive, and motor development.