Early Learning

The period of time from a child’s birth to when they enter kindergarten is an important time in children’s lives.  This is when they first learn how to interact with others, including peers, teachers and parents, and also begin to develop interests that will stay with them throughout their lives. It is a time when children learn critical social and emotional skills and a partnership is formed between the child, their parents, and the teacher. Early childhood education develops a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. 

The links below will provide an overview of Teaching Strategies' The Creative Curriculum for Preschool and the GOLD assessment. 

The Kearny School District uses The Creative Curriculum for Preschool to help children develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical-thinking skills. This developmentally appropriate curriculum fosters skills and knowledge that are most important for helping your child to be successful in school. 

In The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, learning happens through studies. Studies are project-based investigations, that take place over several week. Study topics include trees, clothes, balls, boxes, pets, exercise, and much more. Children explore these topics through hands-on activities that occur in the classroom and outdoors and develop math, literacy, science, and social skills. English-language learners, as well as children who have special needs, thrive from their participation in The Creative Curriculum for Preschool as a result of the built-in supports. Our teachers will share information about the learning experiences taking place in their classrooms regularly. 

Teaching Strategies GOLD is an observation-based assessment system used in preschool classrooms. It is aligned with NJ Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards and state early learning guidelines. 

The GOLD assessment combines ongoing observations in all areas of development and learning with performance-based tasks. It can be utilized with all children, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners. 

The Kearny School District is committed to enhancing the skills and knowledge of our preschool staff by offering professional development trainings, workshops, and resources that best meet the needs of our early childhood educators.