The Red Balloon Day Care Center

School Transportation : Chartiers Valley Intrmd School – Serviced by school bus Chartiers Valley Primary Sch – Serviced by school bus
Public Transportation : Bus
Language(s) Spoken : English
Part Time / Full Time : Full Time Part Time

The Creative Curriculum Overview

The philosophy of The Creative Curriculum is that young children learn best by doing. The Creative Curriculum is built on theories of development in young children that all children learn through active exploration of their environment and therefore the environment plays a critical role in learning. The goal of the Creative Curriculum is to help children become independent self-confident inquisitive and enthusiastic learners by actively exploring their environment.

The curriculum identifies goals in all areas of development: Social/Emotional Cognitive Physical and Language. The planned activities for the children the organization of the environment the selection of toys and materials planning the daily schedule and interacting with the children are all designed to accomplish the goals and objectives of the curriculum and give your child a successful year in school.

The Creative Curriculum shows teachers how to integrate learning in literacy math science social studies the arts and technology throughout the day. It also gives the teacher a wide range of teaching strategies— from child-initiated learning to teacher-directed approaches— to best respond to children’s learning styles strengths and interests.

The staff at the Red Balloon Preschool build the curriculum for their children around the environment using fourteen different interest areas or learning centers:

• Dramatic Play (Housekeeping)
• Blocks
• Manipulative/Table Toys
• Art
• Sand Water & Rice
• Library
• Music
• Writing Center
• Computers
• Outdoors
• Science Discovery
• Listening Center
• Large Motor Area
• Trains/Doll House

The richer the environments the more concrete opportunities there are for children to learn by interacting with materials and people. The teachers role is to create an environment that invites children to observe to be active to make choices and to experiment. Our environment is continually assessed using the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale.

What are the Creative Curriculum goals and objectives?

These goals and objectives provide a direction for planning the program and a way to

determine what children know and how they are developing. This information enables

teachers to respond to each child individually to build on strengths and target skills that

need strengthening. Because our teachers have a holistic approach and focus on the whole child to promote learning the goals interrelate and focus on all areas of development:

Social/Emotional Development: childrens feelings about themselves the

development of responsibility and their ability to relate positively to others

Physical Development: childrens gross and fine motor development Cognitive Development: childrens thinking skills including the development of

symbolic and problem-solving skills

Language Development: childrens ability to communicate through words both

spoken and written

How is your childs development assessed?

The Red Balloon teachers use a variety of assessment tools to keep track of each childs unique development. Children may be assessed using one or more of these tools. Assessments are ongoing however a formal assessment is done 2-3 times per year and feedback is shared with parents at this time. Below are a description of our assessment tools.

Work Sampling System: The Work Sampling System is an authentic performance-based assessment tool. Work Sampling is designed to help classroom teachers document and evaluate children’s skills knowledge behaviors and accomplishments across a wide variety of curriculum areas on multiple occasions in order to enhance teaching and learning and to keep track of each child’s individual achievement. Students are observed during their regular classroom activities and their progress is recorded three times a year with a Developmental Checklist a portfolio collection and a summary report.

Denver Developmental Screening Test: The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) is a widely used assessment for examining children 0-6 years of age as to their developmental progress. This screening helps to identify a child who may need additional testing.

Ages & Stages : This system includes a series of 17 questionnaires designed to identify infants and young children who show potential developmental problems. The questionnaires are designed to be completed by teachers and parents when a child is 4 6 8 12 16 18 20 22 24 27 30 33 36 42 48 54 and 60 months of age. Each questionnaire has specific questions that can be answered by the teacher parent caretaker or nurse which is used to determine whether the child is on target or needs further evaluation.

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Child Ages:

6 weeks - 15 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

Vouchers:

This provider accepts vouchers

Special Needs:

Administer Medication Administer Nebulizer Treatment (Asthma) Asthma Behavioral/Emotional Issues Cognitive Dysfunction/Delay Seizures Speech/Language Delay Special Diet Visual Impairment

Preschool:

Yes

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.