The Creative Curriculum
The Foundations program actively responds to and counteracts the deficiencies in traditional teaching environments. Foundations uses The Creative Curriculum® for our Infants through Pre-Kindergarten classes as the basis for our learning objectives. The curriculum does not dictate what activities children must be involved in; rather, it provides a practical look at developmentally appropriate practice by setting goals for children to achieve. Teachers then use the children's interests to meet these goals. The primary objectives are arranged into nine areas (Social-Emotional, Physical, Language, Cognitive, Literacy, Mathematics, Science & Technology, Social Studies, and English Language Acquisition for ESL children). Meeting these developmental skills and experiences encourage development of your child's problem solving, creativity, teamwork and leadership skills.
Research Based Curriculum
During the past 75 years, research has generated new information about childhood as a separate and distinct stage of life. Not only is every aspect of The Creative Curriculum® based on sound developmental theory and evidence-based research, but a number of research studies have been conducted to validate its effectiveness. Four rigorous independent studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, two of which were part of the Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research (PCER) project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Each found positive impacts ranging from improved classroom quality to stronger cognitive, academic, and social-emotional skills.
Developmental Objectives
From infancy through Kindergarten, your child will progress through many milestones in each of these key areas:
| Social-Emotional | Cognitive |
| Regulates own emotions and behavior Establishes and sustains positive relationships Participates cooperatively and constructively in group situations |
Demonstrates positive approaches to learning Remembers and connects experiences Uses classification skills Uses symbols and images to represent something not present |
| Physical | Language |
| Demonstrates traveling skills Demonstrates balancing skills Demonstrates gross-motor manipulative skills Demonstrates fine motor strength and coordination |
Listens to and understands increasingly complex language Uses language to express thoughts and needs Uses appropriate conversational and other communication skills |
| Literacy | Mathematics |
| Demonstrates phonological awareness Demonstrates knowledge of the alphabet Demonstrates knowledge of print and its uses Comprehends and responds to books and other texts Demonstrates emergent writing skills |
Uses number concepts and operations Explores and describes spatial relationships and shapes Compares and measures Demonstrates knowledge of patterns |
| Science and Technology | Social Studies |
| Uses scientific inquiry skills Demonstrates knowledge of the characteristics of living things Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials Demonstrates knowledge of the Earth's environment Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks |
Demonstrates knowledge about self Shows basic understanding of people and how they live Explores change related to familiar people or places Demonstrates simple geographic thinking |
| The Arts | English Language Acquisition |
| Explores the visual arts Explores musical concepts and expression Explores dance and movement concepts Explores drama through actions and language |
Demonstrates progress in listening to and understanding English Demonstrates progress in speaking English |
