Curriculum

3 Boys Reading

 

Each classroom utilizes the Creative Curriculum as our primary instructional curriculum. The Creative Curriculum is a play-based curriculum embedded within discovery-based studies and activities that cover all developmental areas and pre-academic skills. In every classroom play is valued, encouraged and intentionally provided through the use of this curriculum. We know that providing meaningful opportunities for play is such a valuable instructional tool for kids at this age. Through play, kids learn how to think creatively, and problem solve, how to persist through challenges, how to make and follow rules as well as how to get along with others. It’s these ‘soft skills’ that we focus on with our students to help prepare them for kindergarten and beyond as they are foundational for supporting students’ ability to learn more rigorous academic content.

 

Creative Curriculum is:

  • A developmentally appropriate curriculum that can be differentiated to meet individual learning needs.  
  • An integrated curriculum that covers all developmental areas and pre-academic skills including social-emotional, physical, language, cognition, literacy, math, science and social studies.  
  • Play based and utilizes hands-on, project-based and discovery-based developmentally appropriate instruction that may be differentiated to meet students at the level where they are functioning.  
  • Differentiation for all students is embedded within discovery-based studies and activities.

 

Teaching Strategies GOLD (TS GOLD):

  • The assessment that is linked to Creative Curriculum and is comprised of 38 objectives for development and learning.
  • The objectives for development and learning are based on current research, state Common Core Standards, Washington State Early Learning Standards, and the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework.
  • Aligned with the WA Kids Assessment that is part of the kindergarten assessment.
  • Each objective includes a progression of skills from Birth-3rd Grade so that teachers and families are able to see the individual progression of the child’s skills.

 

Play-based learning:

  • Constructive, purposeful play that promotes learning and progress in all areas of development and pre-academic skills.
  • Proven to be associated with positive social-emotional outcomes, self-regulation and improved cognitive and language outcomes for children.

 

Mighty Minutes (part of Creative Curriculum):

  • Quick meaningful activities that are designed to focus student attention and support the objectives for development and learning.
  • Commonly used during transitions, times that children are waiting, or in whole group (circle) activities.

 

Intentional Teaching Cards (part of Creative Curriculum):

  • Instructional activities or lessons that support instruction of the objectives for development and learning.
  • May be used in small or large group settings.

 

Choice time or free choice:

  • Constructive purposeful play that is child initiated and supports social-emotional learning and foundational learning for academic content.
  • Has multiple interest areas (blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, library, discovery, sand and water, and music and movement) that are designed to assist children to explore, discover and learn.