Hi DeAnn,
The only reason that I do not like the
Creative Curriculum is because I never fully was introduced to the Curriculum by the daycare I taught for. We watched an informative video and were handed a couple of sheets about block building and that was about it. Each classroom had a
Creative Curriculum textbook, but most teachers just based their lessons on a theme-based center environment.
I know that many professors love this curriculum and it is used in many lab schools. I read some of the textbook, but found that it was very broad and less-detailed then most curriculums.
I truly adore the
Project Approach and wish that my current daycare would use this. Unfortunately, I am still trying to make our learning environment more educational, but fun, but some of the teachers just want to give up because "all the children want to do is play". I still try to encourage circletimes and teacher-led activities so that it is easier for the children to adjust during the school year. This is the time they will be expected to sit and listen for short periods of time.
Unfortunately, this seems how this daycare will always be. I am doing my best to foster a love of learning, but do not receive much support for curriculum development in our daycare. Everyone just does whatever they like in the classroom.
I truly want to get the daycare more interested in the
Handwriting Without Tears Handwriting Curriculum, but they say that it is too expensive. They have the wooden blocks for letter-making, but no one ever uses it. I perform Mat Man and use the wooden blocks to create letters, but I am the only one that uses this.
------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2019 09:33 PM
From: DeAnn Jones
Subject: What Curriculum Does Your School Use?
I am kind of surprised that 2 people are not a fan of Creative Curriculum. I am a big fan! I love the studies. Most university child development centers use Creative Curriculum with their Early Childhood Education students doing practicums, because it is a great model for what the Early Childhood Education major teaches. I used it for a grant I received, and one reason i got the grant was because I had researched the best curriculums that align with each state's quality standards for young children's education, and I found it to be SO be so much better than the others out there.
I did the DIAL testing on all the children at the beginning of the year, and then again at the end after using Creative Curriculum for the whole year, and the children's scores really improved more than would be expected due to normal maturation. One girl started out in the 8th percentile and was in the 50th percentile by the end of the year. They really learn so much when it is used to fidelity. Many of the children were in the 90th or 98th percentile.
I'm curious as to why you did not like it and if you used it completely like it was intended.
------------------------------
DeAnn Jones
Co-Facilitator for the Family Child Care Interest Forum
Discovery Place Child Care, LLC
Bozeman, MT
Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2019 06:23 PM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: What Curriculum Does Your School Use?
Hi Rhiannon,
Thank you for letting me know that most of the preschools you worked in did not have a curriculum. I generally have worked in more corporate daycares that had more structure to their learning. I too am not a fan of the Creative Curriculum. I feel it is too broad and doesn't offer much direction for interactive learning experiences. I will look into Frog Street.
I am hoping to blend a variety of curriculums to create a more enriching learning experience.
------------------------------
Jennifer United States
Original Message:
Sent: 06-09-2019 11:08 AM
From: Rhiannon Jester
Subject: What Curriculum Does Your School Use?
Most of the preschools I have worked at have not had a curriculum. However, when I was at HeadStart we used Creative Curriculum. I wasn't a big fan other than the beginning the year book. Now I'm at a center that uses FrogStreet, and I love it. FrogStreet designs curriculum infants-5.
------------------------------
Rhiannon Jester
Teacher
Murfreesboro TN
Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2019 07:25 PM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: What Curriculum Does Your School Use?
I am interested in learning what curriculum your school uses. My school is very play-based and does not have a formal curriculum. All of the teachers create their own curriculum. Since I am teaching threes/fours, I do try to incorporate play and more formal learning (such as worksheets) for crucial skills such as scissor practice, handwriting, and number, color, and shape recognition/identification.
I have worked in other schools and fell in love with the Project Approach. I felt it was a very developmentally-appropriate curriculum and allowed children a more hands-on-approach to learning through monthly themes. I am also familiar with the Creative Curriculum.
I would love to learn new and exciting ways to incorporate different curriculums into my teaching.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------