The R/K CAA Head Start Program uses the Creative Curriculum as base for a learning foundation. Creative Curriculum is based on the belief that young children learn best by doing. Learning isn’t just repeating what someone tells you; it requires active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work and to learn firsthand about the world we live in.
Play provides a foundation for academic or school preparation. R/K CAA Head Start encourages children to be enthusiastic learners by setting up a classroom environment that invites a child to explore and expand on what they find fun and interesting. The classroom environment encourages both autonomy and self-control. Our goal is to have children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners.
The results of the assessment give teachers an idea of each child’s developmental level. Based on the results, an Individual Needs Plan is created with specific goals that each child will work to attain in a certain time period. By using this Individual Needs Plan, each child is allowed to focus on the specific skills he or she needs to acquire. Parents/Guardians are required to participate in two home visits and two Parent/Teacher conferences per school year. Both activities give families and teachers an opportunity to meet and work together to give every child a “Head Start” in their educational path to success. Remember that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. We encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom and become actively involved. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach to learning incorporating not only cognitive skills and abilities but the child’s social, emotional, and physical levels when planning classroom curriculum. The critical thinking and problem solving skills taught at R/K CAA Head Start are skills a child will take with them that will help them become positive and productive life long members of society. Head Start and parents together give children the necessary tools that set the foundation for successful, lifelong learning experiences.