Customer Reviews

Creative Curriculum for Preschool

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!!

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.

This book is a college textbook for me, but because our state requires all early childhood centers to use this curriculum, I am keeping this book. It has great ideas on how to stop children from biting, to how to get children more involved in the activity centers that you plan daily. If you need a nice comprehensive resource this is definitely one you want to look into.

The Preschool I work at does not use the Creative Curriculum, but I wanted to see what it was, so I ordered the book. It is an excellent book, and I plan on using several of the ideas in my classroom this year. Although it is the size and content of a college textbook, it is easy to understand and read through. Ideas and examples, both written and illustrated, are given throughout the book. This would be a great resource to have in the classroom for the beginning teacher to refer to. Also would be an excellent resource for a teacher to use with her classroom aide.

This is the most important book to own when working with Early childhood children. It covers a variety of problems and gives advice for them all. This is a must have for any job you have relating to young children whether it be kids camp worker, day care worker, preschool worker, or any type of teacher for early childhood education.

good basic intro to preschool curriculum. hoped it would have a little more info on how to help kids with special needs.

Great buy....I was very happy with my purchase. The description of the product was very detailed. I was able to get a very clear picture of what the book would look like upon receipt and was not let down when it arrived. I will be purchasing all of my books from Amazon.com.

Dodge, Colker, and Heroman present this updated version of the well-known program that focuses all aspects of the early childhood classroom around the environment, what the child learns, the family, the teacher's role, and developmental theory in its famed interlocking pentagon.

Not only does the text explain each segment of the conceptual framework in painstaking detail, but a reference list of both primary and secondary sources sits at the end of each chapter.

Please make sure that you get the Creative Curriculum Toolbox (which includes this book) in order to completely implement this curriculum in the classroom.

Since play forms the foundation of this curriculum, I doubt a school/community will accept it as valid if they view education from a direct instruction viewpoint.

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.

We use this book for Head Start Program.. A very good reference book.