Curriculum

We choose The Creative Curriculum as our center-wide curriculum, to be used in every classroom. This encourages continuity and predictability between classrooms and gives every class a solid foundation for developing weekly lesson plans.

An excellent curriculum should validate good practices that are already in place and help caregivers/teachers make changes that enhance their skills and knowledge, and ultimately improve the program. It provides the “big picture” of what a quality program looks like, and makes the connection between standards of quality – such as developmentally appropriate practice – and how to actually implement the program. (Dodge, Yandian and Bloomer, 1998) The Creative Curriculum best fit this and would be the best way to fulfill our goals.

The Creative Curriculum is based on the past 75 years of childhood and learning studies. It employs research-based developmentally appropriate practice, which, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) “provides children with opportunities to learn and practice newly acquired skills. It offers challenges just beyond the level of their present mastery and it takes place in the context of a community where children are safe and valued, where their physical needs are met, and where they feel psychologically secure.” (Bredekamp & Copple 1997, pp. 14-15, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool 2002, p. 1)

In conjunction with our curriculum, our VPK class also participate in Florida Voluntary VPK Assessment Program, in association with the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade Monroe; its purpose is to accurately measure progress in early childhood education statewide, and to provide the documentation and validation for early childhood education in a concrete, measurable format. Creative Curriculum Online offers an authentic assessment tool, combined with a child-centered planning tool, which enables teachers and parents to make informed decisions based on accurately measured results. It also offers parents the option of checking their classroom teacher’s observations, as well as their child’s progress in relation to physical, cognitive, language and social/emotional development.