Curriculum

At Hamilton Heights Child Development Center our curriculum is emergent, child-centered, and play-based. Teachers at Hamilton Heights use The Creative Curriculum, by Diane Trister Dodge, Laura J. Coker, and Cate Heroman, to guide curriculum decisions in their classrooms. This teaching tool brings a hands-on approach to the interactive learning environment in which the children are immersed. In our program, the learning process begins at infancy and builds throughout the child's formative years, focusing on the "whole child" including social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Our whole child approach helps develop both academic skills and confidence as the children progress through the years.

Hamilton Heights uses guiding principles and practices that our teachers follow as they work with and care for the children. "Active Learning"- the belief that children learn best through active experiences with people, materials, events and ideas, rather than through direct teaching and sequenced exercises- is a central belief of our curriculum's approach for all age levels.

Since we believe that children learn best by pursuing their personal interests and goals, children at Hamilton Heights are encouraged to make choices about materials and activities throughout the day. As they purse their choices and plans, children explore, ask and answer questions, solve problems, and interact with classmates and teachers.

Teachers will carefully observe each child in an effort to record their development and identify areas in need of guidance. Classroom curriculum is child-centered with a balance of large group interactions, small group interactions, and individual child choice time.

The space and materials in our classrooms are carefully selected and arranged to promote active learning. The center is divided into "interest areas" including, but not limited to: book area, writing area, manipulatives, musical instruments/creative movement, blocks, dramatic play, puzzles, computers, art, sensory/playdough, discovery (science/math), and the peace corner. Children will also spend time in our large muscle areas: our outside play yard or corridor.

You will find a copy of The Creative Curriculum in our parent resource lending library if you are interested in finding out more!