Creative Curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anyone familiar with the creative curriculum? Pros and cons? How does it compare to Montessori or Reggio? Is it in most prek and k classes in the area?

[Anonymous]

My son is in a pre-school using the creative curriculum. I'm not sure how it compares with Montessori or Reggio. Creative Curriculum’s philosophy is that young children learn best by doing. Learning isn't just repeating what someone else says; it requires active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work and to learn firsthand about the world we live in. The goal is to help children become enthusiastic learners by encouraging children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts. They want to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners. They are being taught how to learn, not just in preschool, but all through their lives.

Always skeptical of different curriculum models I figured this new teaching style would be too unstructured for the kids. However, from what I have observed the classes do have themes and an overall structure - reading books about the topic, doing art projects related to it etc but they also leave a lot of leeway for the students to explore activities they are interested in and drive the curriculum with their interest. For instance the kids carved a pumpkin for Halloween, after the holiday was over the pumpkin was moved into the woods to decay. The kids were fascinated with this concept and so the teacher's turned it into part of the daily curriculum where each day the kids would visit the decaying pumpkin and observe the changes, discuss what might happen next or how rain, snow and bugs would impact it etc. They have also had the kids helping with preparing the daily snacks but talking about the ingredients, helping to measure, observing what happens to the ingredients as they mix it together and other related topics. So they are learning math, science, arts and reading without really knowing it. Tts a little more free flowing than his previous curriculum but I like that idea that it allows the kids to make a lot of observations and really gets them involved. I have found that as a result of the program my son is very inquisitive and curious about the world around him. So while perhaps he hasn't started reading he's certainly enjoying learning and discovering the world around him.

When they assess him twice a year they continue to use the Maryland Model of assessment so he will be ready for Kindgerten in the fall. I have been pleased with the curriculum of course it also depends on the teacher. His teacher is very good at getting the kids involved and interested.

[Anonymous]

I would like to also note that my son is a very active child who prefers not to sit still. He learns better by being active. I have friends with a daughter in a private Pre-k school and the kids sit and do worksheets all day long. She was an early reader and is doing math. Its hard not to compare those types of results. On the other hand I feel like my son is getting an excellent foundation for learning and he is thriving in his environment. They are currently doing a session on the alphabet and I can see and hear that he is getting close to reading and recognizing site words. So I'm sure both style of teaching are wonderful but all too soon in Kindergarten my son will be required to sit still and do worksheets. I like the idea that he is learning through play and activities and will be sorry when he graduates.

[Anonymous]

My son's preschool uses it and likely the PP, it encourages the kids to be actively participating in their learning. If they go to public K, they will learn how to read there. I like kids being able to act like kids. They are naturally active and inquisitive so it builds on that. I would avoid a preschool that uses worksheets, etc as this strikes me as laziness and not creative on the part of the school. ANYONE can print out worksheets from the Internet or from a workbook but it takes collaboration and thought to encourage active participation. My son is in pre-K and I do print out letter worksheets for him to practice forming his letters, etc. But I wouldn't send him to a preschool that has him sitting there wasting 3 hrs of time doing that.

[Anonymous]

For a teacher's view of the Creative Curriculum, check out this chapter on "How Block Play Promotes Development"

http://www.teachingstrategies.com/content/pageDocs/CC4_Ch6_exrpt.pdf

and this one on "How Dramatic Play Promotes Development" (role play, dress up, house corner)

http://www.teachingstrategies.com/content/pageDocs/CC4_Ch7_exrpt.pdf