Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 08-29-2019 07:08 AM
    Hello,
       I am a director at a small private preschool. We are currently going through the accreditation process. Our coach has expressed that what we have been using as curriculum ( what was here before me ) is not really curriculum as it does not have a set of objectives or goals, although we use the Indiana State Foundations. Anyway, I am interested in purchasing The Creative Curriculum, which I taught for a few years when I taught Head Start. I very much enjoyed it. However my staff is really turning up their noses to it. I think they are just worried about change. Has anyone else had experience with this curriculum? Are there others out there that are better?

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    Corinne Baker
    Director
    Stony Creek Early Learning Center
    Noblesville IN
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  • 2.  RE: The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 08-30-2019 07:08 AM
    Creative Curriculum is widely used in the field and very well respected. It has changed in the last 5 or so years to reflect more of project based methods. There are also online supports for training, assessments, lesson planning, and observations that are very useful and effective when used correctly, but can take some time and willingness to master. Highscope is also used by many HeadStart programs. It is my understanding that are the two most widely used curriculums in the field. Sometimes if you can get one or two teachers to buy in and get excited, it's easier to sway the rest of the group. There are many components to CC as well, so you may want to set implementation goals, such as everyone, completing training by one date, using lesson plans by another, implementing observations and assessments, etc.

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    Rebecca McKellar
    Director of Training and Educational Supports
    Creative World School
    Bonita Spgs FL
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  • 3.  RE: The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 08-30-2019 10:08 AM
    I don't have any experience with the Creative Curriculum.  Our center adopted Frog Street one year ago and we are THRILLED with it.  It has Conscious Discipline heavily weaved all throughout, which is so incredibly beneficial to the children's social/emotional development, and for instilling positive guidance principles into the teachers as well.

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    Audra Detillier
    Director
    Celebration Christian Daycare
    Metairie LA
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  • 4.  RE: The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 08-30-2019 11:55 AM
    Hi, As a former director in the same situation I suggest you take a look at Learning Together With Young Children: A Curriculum Framework for Reflective Teachers by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter. While the Creative Curriculum is an excellent one you may find this a better fit for your teachers especially if they are interested in the Reggio Emilia approach and "child centered and relationship-based teaching". I believe that this framework, especially in conjunction with your state standards, will meet NAEYC accreditation requirements.

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    Margery Heyl
    Chicago IL
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  • 5.  RE: The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 08-30-2019 01:43 PM
    As a former Early Childhood Education Administrator where all of the ECE Centers used the Creative Curriculum, I believe it is a curriculum. I think it represents an Early Childhood Education Curriculum that provides a framework, a developmental continuum to document each child's development and has resources to create objectives

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    Robert Gundling, Ed.D.
    Better Futures LLC
    Senior Consultant
    Washington, DC
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  • 6.  RE: The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 09-02-2019 07:28 AM
    My school uses Creative Curriculum- it is a very solid developmentally appropriate way of approaching teaching and learning. What made a huge difference in our "buy in" was having a training during a professional development day. A person from Teaching Strategies came for a day long training.  I am the curriculum specialist at our school, and one of the things I have learned is that it is often easier for people to accept change when an outside "expert" weighs in and gives the info.

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    Hilary Laing
    Teacher
    Orono Discovery Center
    Orono MN
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  • 7.  RE: The Creative Curriculum

    Posted 09-03-2019 11:28 AM
    We also use Creative Curriculum and sometimes struggle with buy-in. How much did it cost to bring someone in from TS? Are they flexible on the timing?
    Thank you.

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    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
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