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the tools + bodies of research our team uses to care for our kids from birth to age 5

Creative Curriculum

Mount Nazareth Learning Center employs The Creative Curriculum® for Infants, Toddlers, Twos, and Preschool developed by Teaching Strategies®. It is a comprehensive collection of research-based resources which encourages exploration and discovery as a way of learning, helping children develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills. It supports children’s development and learning in relation to 38 objectives that include predictors of school success and that are aligned to state early learning standards and the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. 

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At Mount Nazareth Learning center, each classroom has learning centers that help children learn through play in the areas of language, math, science, social studies, the arts, technology and processing skills. Teachers interact with students in each of these centers and also observe children and keep anecdotal records of their learning and play at each skill level. We use the Ounce and Work Sampling assessment tools to assess where each child is on the continuum of learning and we share this feedback with families through daily or weekly reports and also at parent-teacher conferences. We are a part of the keystone stars quality improvement program which focuses on the learning modalities of children on a developmental continuum; so our creative curriculum is interwoven with these standards to provide a great place for learning and developing for each child.

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Sample Goals and Objectives at a Glance:

INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND TWOS

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Social/Emotional Development (To learn about self and others)

  • Trusts known, caring adults

  • Regulates own behavior

  • Manages own feelings

  • Responds to others' feelings with growing empathy

  • Plays with other children

  • Learns to be a member of a group

  • Uses personal care skills 

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Physical Development (To learn about moving)

  • Demonstrates basic gross motor skills

  • Demonstrates basic gross fine

 

Cognitive Development (To learn about the world)

  • Sustains attention

  • Understands how objects can be used

  • Shows a beginning understanding of cause and effect

  • Shows a beginning understanding that things can be grouped

  • Uses problem-solving strategies

  • Engages in pretend play

 

Language Development (To learn about communicating)

  • Develops receptive language

  • Developes expressive language

  • Participates in conversations

  • Enjoys books and being read to

  • Shows an awareness of pictures and print

  • Experiments with drawing and writing

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Adapted from The Creative Curriculum® Developmental Continuum Assessment System ©2006 Teaching Strategies, Inc.

Sample Goals and Objectives at a Glance:

AGES 3–5

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Social/Emotional Development (To learn about self and others)

  • Shows ability to adjust to new situations

  • Demonstrates appropriate trust in adults

  • Stands up for rights

  • Takes responsibility for own well-being

  • Uses thinking skills to resolve conflicts

  • Recognizes own feelings and manages them appropriately

  • Plays well with other children

  • Shares and respects the rights of others

  • Respects and cares for classroom environment and materials

  • Follows classroom routines

  • Follows classroom rules

  • Plays well with other children

  • Demonstrates self-direction and independence

 

Physical Development (To learn about moving)

  • Demonstrates basic locomotor skills

  • Shows balance while moving

  • Climbs up and down

  • Pedals and steers a bicycle (or other wheeled vehicle)

  • Demonstrates throwing, kicking, and catching skills

  • Controls small muscles in hand

  • Coordinates eye-hand movement

  • Uses tools for writing and drawing

 

Cognitive Development (To learn about the world)

  • Observes objects and events with curiosity

  • Approaches problems flexibly

  • Shows persistence in approaching tasks

  • Explores cause and effect

  • Classifies objects

  • Compares/measures

  • Arranges objects in a series

  • Recognizes patterns and can repeat them

  • Shows awareness of time concepts and sequence

  • Shows awareness of position in space

  • Uses one-to-one correspondence

  • Uses numbers and counting

  • Applies knowledge or experience to a new context

  • Takes on pretend roles and situations

  • Makes believe with objects

  • Makes and interprets representations

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Language Development (To learn about communicating)

  • Hears and discriminates the sounds of language

  • Understands and follows oral directions

  • Answers questions

  • Asks questions

  • Actively participates in conversations

  • Enjoys and values reading

  • Demonstrates understanding of print concepts

  • Demonstrates knowledge of the alphabet

  • Uses emerging reading skills to make meaning from print

  • Understands the purpose of writing

  • Write letters and words

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