Product Description

The Creative Curriculum balances both teacher-directed and child-initiated learning, with an emphasis on responding to children's learning styles and building on their strengths and interests. This completely updated new edition of one of the country's leading research-based preschool curricula applies the latest theory and research on best practices in teaching and learning and the content standards developed by states and professional organizations. While keeping the original environmentally-based approach of earlier editions, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool clearly defines the teacher's vital role in connecting content, teaching, and learning for preschool children. It features goals and objectives linked directly to our valid and reliable assessment instrument (The Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum for Ages 3-5).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20202 in Books
• Brand: GRYPHON HOUSE
• Published on: 2002-06-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 6.00 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 540 pages

Review
"The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool is remarkably comprehensive, offering a valuable overview of the theories and research behind the Curriculum, and integrating new developments in the field? The Creative Curriculum for Preschool is indeed one of the most useful tools in our profession, offering ’the big picture’ and a range of specific, practical strategies." - Margie Carter, early childhood college instructor, author, consultant

About the Author
Diane Trister Dodge, founder and president of Teaching Strategies, Inc., is the author of numerous books, articles, and training materials on early childhood education. She is the lead author on all of Teaching Strategies books, including the popular The Creative Curriculum®...series.
After earning a Master's degree from Bank Street College of Education, Diane earned 30 years of experience working with teachers and administrators first as a kindergarten teacher, and then as the education coordinator for a Head Start program in rural Mississippi. Her experiences in the field have taught her the value of curriculum and training materials that articulate a clear philosophy and practical approach to meaningful learning. Her belief that curriculum and assessment are intracately linked led to the development of The Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum and The Creative Curriculum Developmental Assessment Toolkit for Ages 3-5. She has also written many books for parents including Building Your Baby's Brain, Reading Right from the Start, and A Parent's Guide to Early Childhood Education.
Diane is a renowned speaker and trainer, and a former member of the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She currently serves on the Board of the Center for the Child Care Work Force and other local Washington, DC organizations.

Laura J. Colker is the author of numerous articles and books on early childhood education. At Teaching Strategies, she has co-authored The Creative Curriculum for Infants & Toddlers, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool and The Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum Assessment Toolkit for Ages 3-5. She has designed curriculum, training materials, and videos for teachers and supervisory staff, and story books, videos, software, and videodiscs for children. Dr. Colker conducts training and teaches courses on child development issues throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Cate Heroman is the Senior Associate and Staff Development Specialist at Teaching Strategies, Inc, and has committed herself to the field of education for almost 30 years. She was a early childhood education teacher in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Louisiana. For nearly a decade, Cate served as an administrator at the Louisiana Department of Education, providing leadership, training, technical assistance and support in the areas of early childhood and elementary education. Cate has also co-authored several books, including The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, 4th Edition, The Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum Assessment Toolkit for Ages 3-5, Connecting Content, Teaching and Learning, and Building Your Baby's Brain.

Customer Reviews

The most comprehensive book about best ECE practice!
Although I already had the Creative Curriculum 3rd edition, I was compelled to buy this newer version, the 4th edition, when I heard there was new information. I was not disappointed. The Creative Curriculum is a guide for early childhood classrooms which addresses the environment and learning centers, as well as the role of the teacher. It is compatible with other known practices in early childhood, including the project approach, Reggio Emilia, and emergent curriculum. The book describes the setup and rationale for learning centers from Blocks to Library to outdoors. There are letters and information for parents, assessment and documentation sections. I can't say enough good things about this book!!

wholisitc look and approach to Early Childhood Ed
This curriculum book manages to cram as much information into its 530 pages as possible. It starts with an overview of child development in chapter one, entitled "How Children Deveop and Learn". Chapter one also introduces and explains what I consider the most exciting aspect of the Creative Curriculum program- the developmental continuum as a tool for tracking children's progress and identifying areas for the program to focus attention. The continuum states a program goal, let's say "knowledge of the alphabet" and then proceeds to state specific examples to help teachers assess how far a child has acheived in meeting that goal, ranging from forerunner skills (child points out that there are letters on their cubby and those letters mean this is the child's cubby) and listing 2 more examples of growing understanding, then ending with a high (for preschool) level of understanding (makes sound-letter connections and demonstrates it by writing a D on a picture they state they want to give to dad). The Creative Curriculum continuum has 50 stated goals coverng all domains of development. I find this tool extremely helpful in general program planning, individualization to meet specific needs of a specific child, and in communicating with parents.

The book also has informative chapters regarding setting up the classroom environment and the family-school partnership. This book continues with a chapter on each learning center typically found in an ECE classroom such as the book corner, blocks, and water table. It states items found in that area with suggestions on how to use them and highligting what content areas (literacy, math skills, social skills, etc.)are addressed. The other thing I am also particularly pleased with this book is how it repeatedly reinforces how Early Childhood Educators assist children in furthering their understanding through teacher-child discussions,teacher modeling, and posing open questions such as "I wonder what will happen if you...?" Children are not just left to their own devises in a "safe and interesting environment." The majority of learning occurs with people interacting with each other.

I even find the planning forms helpful, and I usually prefer to make up my own things like that.

Overall, a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate approach to teaching small children. Highly Recommended.

AWESOME book
Every preschool or early childhood classroom teacher should have this book on hand to help incorporate DAP into all children's lives. Don't forget to buy 3rd edition that has other information in it as well.