Embedded Files
The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, Sixth Edition
The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, Sixth Edition
Project HELP utilizes the Creative Curriculum, a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features exploration and discovery as a way of learning. The Foundation helps teachers create a high-quality learning environment and build a thorough understanding of best practices. Daily Resources help teachers plan and manage every moment of their day. Creative Curriculum identifies 5 key components of a quality program: how children learn and develop, the learning environment, what children learn, the teacher’s role, and the family’s role. Creative Curriculum is designed to create an environment that supports learning through play in a variety of interest/learning centers. As teachers plan and implement developmentally appropriate practices into their classroom, they use the 5 components of Creative Curriculum as a framework. No two classrooms using Creative Curriculum will look exactly alike, as it allows teachers to incorporate their own interests and distinctive teaching styles. Teachers are able to intertwine information they learn about the children and families in their classrooms to make learning unique and individualized. The Creative Curriculum is aligned with the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards. Lesson plans reflect connection to both and acknowledge the needs of individual children within the Project HELP classroom as identified through assessment data collected within ELS.
Children will:
participate in a variety of structured opportunities within centers, large groups, small groups and 1-1 opportunities
engage in developmentally appropriate activities within the areas of literacy, language, math, science, social-emotional development and motor skills.
2025 - 2026 Studies
2025 - 2026 Studies
For the 2025 - 2026 school year our Project HELP classrooms will be implementing the following studies:
The First Six Weeks
Buildings/Signs
Trees
December
Clothing
Balls
Wheels
Second STEP
Second STEP
Project HELP implements the Second Step Early Learning program daily within each classroom. Second Step is designed to help guide children to learn, practice, and apply skills for self-regulation and social-emotional competence. There are four core program components: teaching all the Weekly Theme activities, playing the Brain Builder games, reinforcing skills and concepts and engaging families.
Full Scope and Sequence - All weekly themes, concepts and objectives
The Pyramid Model
The Pyramid Model
The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence is utilized within each Project HELP classroom. The framework is used to promote young children's social and emotional development and prevent and address challenging behavior. The model uses a multi-tiered system of supports, promoting children's social-emotional competency at a universal level, supports for children at risk of social-emotional delays at a prevention level, and addressing challenging behaviors at an intervention level.
Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans
The development of thoughtful lesson plans is a requirement for all PFA educators. Thoughtfully constructed lesson plans take into account the unique learning needs of each student and demonstrate a clear understanding of the content and the curriculum expectations of the young learner. Lesson plans for each Project HELP classroom will be created and maintained within Planbook.
Required Components within a PFA Lesson Plan:
• Show connection with IELDS benchmarks (use key phrases from IELDS benchmarks or objectives from the program’s research-based curriculum that are aligned with IELDS)
• Outcomes build on child’s prior knowledge to move learning forward
• Learning activities are aligned to instructional outcomes
• Use of worksheets is not evident
• Designed to meet individual child’s needs
• Formative assessment selected matches instructional outcome(s) and evidence exists to support possible adjustments made based on formative assessment data
• Based on assessment data
Worksheets
Worksheets
The use of worksheets ARE NOT PERMITTED within any ISBE Grant Funded Preschool For All program. REMEMBER - if it goes through a copy machine then it's a worksheet so color sheets are not allowed.
Field Trips
Field Trips
Field trip are valued as an extension of the classroom. Field trips need to be budgeted for as well as documented on the form below and submitted to the Early Childhood office for approval prior to going on any field trip.
Field Trip Request.pdfTechnology in the Classroom
Technology in the Classroom
Children should have a maximum of 30 minutes per week using technology with a maximum of 15 minutes per day, including computers, laptops, tablets, smart boards, television, movies, etc. When whole group technology lessons are being conducted, an alternative non-technology option must be offered.
Remote Learning
Remote Learning
In the event of an early dismissal day for teacher professional development or when a district utilizes a remote learning day, students will have access to structured activities provided by the classroom teacher. These activities and materials are made available via backpacks and also through Class DoJo. Activities include developmentally appropriate learning with a focus that aligns with the Illinois Early Learning Standards.
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