The document discusses the Creative Curriculum approach used in some preschools. It is a play-based, child-centered model where learning occurs through free play in 11 activity centers. The only teacher-directed time is a small group activity of 15-20 minutes. Assessment is only through teacher observation. However, when these preschoolers entered kindergarten, most had very limited skills in letters, rhyming words, and numbers, calling into question the effectiveness of the Creative Curriculum approach.

1. PRE-SCHOOL CREATIVE CURRICULUM A GOOD IDEA?

2. What is Creative Curriculum

3. Creative Curriculum is: Play based Curriculum. It is child centered.

4. Play Based Curriculum is: Learning takes place through Play. Children are given a choice of what they want to play.

5. Child Centered is The Child leads the learning through discovery.

6. Activity Centers There must be eleven (11) activity centers for the children to chose from. The children are allowed to go wherever they chose to go. They are allowed to stay as long as they want at that activity.

7. Teachers can encourage students to change to a different activity, but they can not tell them to go.

8. Examples of Activity Centers

9. Writing Center Paper (without lines), pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, rulers

10. Kitchen Center Sink, refrigerator, stove, table and chairs, dishes, play food

11. Computer Center Computers, computer games, printer, touch screen or mouse .

12. Small Group Activity This is the only teacher directed activity. It can only last 15 to 20 minutes. The activity is usually Circle time (calendar, story, or music.

13. DISCIPLINE The only discipline which can be used is POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT. There is no formal discipline.

14. ASSESSMENTS The only assessment is TEACHER OBSERVATION of the students as they play.

15. But!!!

16. What happens when the preschoolers go in to kindergarten?

17. ALPHABETS 17% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS KNEW THEIR ALPHABETS. 23% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS KNEW SOME OF THE ALPHABETS. 60% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY KNEW ONE OR TWO ALPHABETS.

18. RHYMING WORDS 37% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD RHYMING WORDS. 63% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS DID NOT UNDERSTAND RHYMING WORDS.

19. NUMBERS 11% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS RECOGNIZED NUMBERS 1 TO 20 22% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS RECOGNIZED THE NUMBERS 1 TO 10 . 66% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY RECOGNIZED SOME OF THE NUMBERS TO 10. 16% OF THE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS COULD COUNT TO 100.

20. CREATIVE CURRICULUM A GOOD IDEA??? I THINK NOT!!!!