Kendal Early Learning Center

Curriculum

For over 30 years, Teaching Strategies has helped early childhood educators across the country to plan and implement content-rich, developmentally appropriate programs that support active learning and promote children’s progress in all developmental areas.  Today, The Creative Curriculum® is widely regarded as a forward-thinking, comprehensive, rigorously researched curriculum approach that honors creativity and respects the role that teachers play in making learning exciting and relevant for every child.

The philosophy of The Creative Curriculum is that young children learn best by doing. The 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. The goal of the Creative Curriculum is to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive and enthusiastic learners by actively exploring their environment.

The Creative Curriculum for preschool is based on five fundamental principles. They guide practice and help us understand the reasons for intentionally setting up and operating preschool programs in particular ways.

In addition, Creative Curriculum is fully aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework and state early learning standards.

These are the principles:

Positive Interactions

Positive interactions and relationships with adults provide a critical foundation for successful learning.

Social–emotional competence

Social–emotional competence is a significant factor in school success.

Purposeful Play

Constructive, purposeful play supports essential learning.

Physical Environment

The physical environment affects the type and quality of learning interactions.

Teacher–family partnerships

Teacher–family partnerships promote development and learning.

The Creative Curriculum

Children’s hands-on investigations through exploring interest and choices are at the heart of Creative Curriculum programs.

Based on 38 objectives for development and learning, which are fully aligned with the Head Start Child  Development and Early Learning Framework as well as early learning standards for every state.

Presents knowledge-building volumes and daily practice resources in tandem, giving every educator the “what,” “why” and “how” of early childhood education.

Offers daily opportunities to individualize instruction, helping teachers meet the needs of every type of learner.

Addresses all the important areas of learning, from social-emotional and math to technology and the arts, and incorporates them throughout every part of every day.

Offers daily, built-in opportunities for observation, helping teachers and administrators clearly see the strong relationship between curriculum and assessment.

Offers complete support for working with English- and dual-language learners, including detailed guidance that helps to build teachers’ knowledge about best practices.

Contains guidance for working with all learners, including advanced learners and children with disabilities.

The Conscious Discipline

Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach.

 

The foundation of Conscious Discipline is focused on safety, connection and problem-solving. It is leading the revolution as concepts that are initially used in the classroom that extends to every facet of our lives.

The Conscious Discipline serves teachers, administrators, mental health professionals and parents. It is a proven, comprehensive approach that empowers you with skills that create a safe, connected, problem-solving environment for families.

 

KELC teaching staff develop lesson plans

Based on children’s individual level of meeting the Creative Curriculum objectives to support children’s learning.

Using anecdotal assessments in order to develop appropriate learning goals for each child.

Align with Ohio’s Early Learning Standards and Creative Curriculum objectives for development and learning.

Offer individualized goals for children to meet their individual educational needs to ensure all children leave KELC ready to succeed.

Address all interest areas in the classroom on a weekly basis.

Observe children in the classroom on a daily basis to assist facilitated learning and allow KELC staff to gather information on where each child is developmentally.

KELC staff work with families to incorporate their languages in the classroom and lesson plans.

Allows for individual differences, disabilities and learning styles.

Information above was taken from Teaching Strategies website and their research in the foundations of the Creative Curriculum. 

Check out our preschool lesson plans here!