Getting to Rigor Through Play-Based Learning: What Research Tells Us Is Best for Young Learners
In every culture, children play. They play to make sense of the world; to learn about themselves and others; and to communicate their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. And research shows that rigorous academic learning starts through play.1 To harness children’s natural curiosity and love of play, many… Read More
Educating the Whole Child: Language Development
In January of this year, my first grandchild was born. Watching him as he discovers the world around him has quickly become our favorite pastime. To our joy and delight, he recently started recognizing and responding to his name and expressing himself verbally via frequent cooing and babbling. His… Read More
Introducing The Creative Curriculum for Transitional Kindergarten: California
In 2022, California legislators announced the expansion of transitional kindergarten to ensure every 4-year-old child in the state had a seat in a transitional kindergarten program by the 2025-2026 school year. We welcomed the announcement with enormous optimism for the children of the Golden State. For more than four decades,… Read More
How Fort Worth ISD Teachers Got Their Nights and Weekends Back
Since adopting The Creative Curriculum in 2021, the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) has watched countless joyful learning experiences unfold in their classrooms; seen their community and its families deeply engage in their pre-K program; and even given teachers an invaluable resource,… Read More
Forward, Together in FWISD – A District and Community Focused on Its Early Learners
CHALLENGE: Establish an Early Learning Environment That Fosters Growth for Every Child When school leaders in the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) reflected on how to best support the diverse needs of its over 73,000 students and provide a pathway to success in school and in life,… Read More
Building Strong Vocabulary Through Studies
I love words. Mostly, I love when I know the right words to say exactly what I mean. I also love knowing what other people mean by the words they choose, regardless of whether those words are spoken aloud or written on a page. Simply put, a strong vocabulary helps… Read More
Refreshing Your Own Sense of Wonder Through Studies
Young children often marvel at the simple joys found in the world around them. Studies from The Creative Curriculumhonor and leverage that sense of wonder to help children explore and investigate, form connections, and make sense of the world through play. As a classroom teacher, I… Read More
Exploring the Whole-Child Approach to Education
How do children learn? The answer to this intriguing and complex question is surprisingly straightforward: any way they can. That’s the concept behind a whole-child approach, which promotes instruction that fosters all areas of a child’s development and learning. A whole-child approach doesn’t reduce learning to worksheet tasks or “busy… Read More
Studies vs. Themes: 5 Ways They Differ
Twentieth-century science fiction author Ray Bradbury is credited with saying, “Life is trying things to see if they work.” It’s a compelling insight into so many aspects of human existence, and it certainly relates to learning. I came across Bradbury’s comment recently, written on the message board in front of… Read More
The First Six Weeks of School: Invitations to Learning
The new school year is underway. The classroom schedule is established. Interest areas and materials have been introduced. Children understand how to use materials. What’s the next step? In my present role as a coach, I often ask “How are we creating classroom spaces of awe and wonder?” This reflection… Read More
