What is the Creative Curriculum®?
- Thematic approach to teaching and learning.
- Designed to support children’s natural curiosity and stimulate their creativity.
- Based on well known theories of child development.
- Offers children the opportunity to work in depth, giving them the time they need to reflect, consolidate and transfer their learning.
- The Creative Curriculum meets all of the criteria for a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum.
Goals of the Curriculum
The most important goals of our preschool curriculum are for children to get along well with others and become enthusiastic learners. We want children to become independent, self-confident, curious learners who can work well with others. We’re teaching them how to learn, not just in preschool, but all through their lives. We do this by creating purposeful and productive play experiences that help children grow in all areas.
Our curriculum identifies goals in four areas of development:
Social/Emotional
to help children develop independence, self-confidence, and self-control, follow rules and routines, make friends, and learn what it means to be part of a group.
Physical
to increase children’s large muscle skills – balancing, running, jumping, throwing, and catching – and use the small muscles in their hands to do tasks like buttoning, stringing beads, cutting, drawing, and writing.
Cognitive
to acquire thinking skills such as the ability to solve problems, to ask questions, and to think logically – sorting, classifying, comparing, counting, and making patterns – and to use materials and their imagination to show what they have learned.
Language
to use words to communicate with others, listen to and participate in conversations with others, understand the purpose of print, recognize letters and words, and begin writing for a purpose.
Through the activities we plan and the way we organize the classroom, select toys and materials, plan the daily schedule, communicate with children and assess progress, we seek to accomplish the goals of our curriculum and give your child a successful start in school.
Children as constructivist learners:
Before a new theme is introduced, children are asked what they already know and what they would like to know about that topic. Based on their answers, the teachers prepare an outline of a unit of study. New themes follow a natural progression in line with the expressed interests of the children. Teachers model flexibility in their planning with children. Children are encouraged to ask questions. Teachers and children navigate their learning journey and make discoveries together. At the conclusion of a theme, children are given the opportunity to review the process in which they made discoveries and encouraged us to discuss new information. Children are viewed as competent and capable learners and are an integral part of the learning process.
Specials
Each week, children will work with a variety of specialists that create new experiences and fun for children in our program. Specials include creative movement, physical education, music, art, and Shabbat.
Sheva: Early Learning Framework
JCC early childhood programs are the largest platform of Jewish early childhood education in North America, touching thousands of young lives annually. Recognizing that reach and responsibility, we have created the Sheva Center, an innovative approach to early childhood education, empowering teachers and directors, and positioning JCC early childhood education centers as examples of excellence. Sheva, which means seven in Hebrew, is a powerful number in Jewish thought and practice. The Sheva framework employs seven core principles of early care and education and contemporary and ancient texts, using seven Jewish lenses to reveal universal values. Sheva classrooms weave these values throughout their educational day.
Jewish Culture
Our program also introduces children to the customs and traditions of Jewish life, Shabbat and Jewish holidays through the integration of songs, art, stories, food and special guests. Through our study of the Jewish holidays, we connect with Israel in the context of the story of the Jewish people. We also connect with Israel today with the celebration of Israel’s Independence, and how Israel has developed since 1948. We look for similarities and differences as we compare Israel and the U.S.A. We incorporate this into our lessons in a natural and seamless way.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Kaiserman JCC is committed to admitting to programs and providing services to children and adults without regard to race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, age, sex or national origin including limited English proficiency. Program services shall be made accessible to eligible persons with disabilities through the most practical and economically feasible methods available. These methods include but are not limited to equipment redesign the provision of aids and the use of alternative service delivery locations. Structural modifications shall be considered only as a last resort among available methods. Any individual or guardian of a minor child who believes they have been discriminated against may file a complaint of discrimination with the Kaiserman JCC.