3. About the Creative curriculum
The creative curriculum is based off of teacher directed and child initiated learning. It responds to
children’s learning styles while building their strengths and focusing on their interests. The teacher plays a
vital role in practicing the strategies of the Creative Curriculum. The goals and objectives are directly
linked to the reliable assessment instrument. The foundation of the Creative Curriculum is based off of
child development theories and scientific research making it highly effective. Creative Curriculum helps
children develop in many different ways such as : Cognitive, Physical, Social/Emotional, and Language.
I’d like to learn more because I currently use this curriculum.
4. Social-Emotional Development
According to our reading, “social development is
changes over time in the way we relate to
others.” (Woolfolk 2016)
“Through research it has been established that
there are links between social-emotional
development, behavior, and student success.”
(Raver,2002). Social-Emotional development is
a main goal of the Creative Curriculum. As
teachers we use the assessment tool to observe
where children are at and where they need to
be.
According to Erikson’s eight stages, “Each stage
is regarded by Erikson as a “psychosocial
crisis,” which arises and demands resolution
before the next stage can be satisfactorily
negotiated.”
The creative curriculum provides the stepping
stones to these stages and enables children to
be developmentally ready for each one as life
goes on.
Encourages children to play together and
develop lasting relationships with teachers.
5. Cognitive Development
Woolfolk states that, “Cognitive development is
the gradual orderly changes by which mental
processes become more complex and
sophisticated.(Woolfolk,2016)
Cognitive development is also a important part
of the Creative Curriculum.
Cognitive development impacts children's
education.
The Creative Curriculum supports Piaget’s
stages of cognitive development which are
essential for learning.
Each lesson plan provides objectives for
cognitive development as well as reflections
weekly.
6. Physical Development
Physical development is the changes in the
body structure and development over time.
(Woolfolk, 2016)
“Dewey proposed that children learn best in a
stimulating environment that is designed
according to the interests and experiences of
the children in the classroom.”
Piaget also agreed that children learn from what
is around them. They also learn through action.
The creative curriculum uses different tools and
objectives to measure a child’s physical
development.
Every lesson plan included gross motor and fine
motor objectives as well as reflections at the end
of the week to let teachers and parents know
where they stand.
7. Connections
I can make several connections to our lectures and readings with the Creative
Curriculum because the strategies are based of the research of development.
These research methods include Piaget’s, Erikson’s, Vygotsky and many more.
We have learned that children have many different learning styles and needs. The
creative curriculum is based off these building blocks.
8. What Families should know!
Creative Curriculum builds teacher/family
relationships.
Promotes language development.
Promotes social competence.
Allows children to learn through play.
Allows children to learn through teacher support
Focuses on physical development including
gross/fine motor.
Research based.
Highly effective.
Promotes creativity with art samples from each
child.
Portfolios kept on every child to observe
development.
Parent/teacher conferences are based off these
portfolios and allow planning between both
parties
9. COnclusion
The Creative Curriculum
promotes learning through
research methods of
development. Teachers build
strong relationships with children.
They allow learning through play
and rich environments.
Gives tools needed to allow
children to be successful in
school and in life.
10. Sources and
references
Clifford, R. M., Barbarin, O., Chang, F., Early, D. M., Bryant, D., Howes, C., et al. (2005). What is pre-
kindergarten? Characteristics of public pre-kindergarten programs. Applied Developmental Science,9(3),
126–143.
Nutell, E. (2010). Cognitive Development in Early Childhood Education. Retrieved November 11, 2016,
from http://oureverydaylife.com/cognitive-development-early-childhood-education-15503.html
Raver, C. C. (2002). Emotions matter: Making the case for the role of young children’s emotional
development for school readiness.Social Policy Report,16, 3–18.
Stages of Social-Emotional Development – Erik Erikson. (1999). Retrieved November 11, 2016, from
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com
