Our Creative Caring Infant-Toddler Program is modeled on the High Scope Educational Research Foundation Active Learning Curriculum.

Active learning is a term that describes the interactive process between the child as learner and the environment. Real learning-active learning-takes place when children see how something is done and them do it for themselves. In active learning, the proper role of adults is to support and challenge their thinking. It means that adults first validate, or support, what children already know, and then challenge them to extend their thinking to the next level.

Our Creative Caring active learning approach is designed to enhance school readiness for children by providing children with play-oriented, exploratory activities that allow children to make choices, and participate at their own developmental level. Our Creative Caring active learning approach has five ingredients:

1. Materials- Creative Caring children have access to lots of diverse, age-appropriate materials. These materials are used in a variety of ways and help expand children's experiences and stimulate their thought.

2. Manipulation- Creative Caring children handle, examine, combine and transform materials and ideas. By doing so, children make discoveries through direct, hands-on and 'minds-on' contact with these resources.

3. Choice- Creative Caring children choose materials and play partners, change and build on their play ideas, and plan activities according to their interests and needs.

4. Child language and thought- Creative Caring children are encouraged to describe what they are doing both verbally and nonverbally. This helps the children think about their actions and modify their thinking to take new learning into account.

5. Adult scaffolding- Creative Caring children are supported by our teachers and staff. We support their current level of thinking and encourage them to advance to the next stage. In this way, Creative Caring staff helps children gain knowledge and develop creative problem-solving skills.

The Evidence for the High Scope Model
Extensive research has shown the High Scope approach to be effective in fostering positive child development and learning. The positive child development and learning outcomes of the High Scope model have been evaluated and verified by:

The U. S. Department of Education--What Works Clearinghouse The Rand Corporation-Promising Practices Network The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Magazine-Ten Best Pre-School Programs Adults and Children (ACT) Against Violence

At the state level, the Michigan Department of Education has certified the High Scope Curriculum as one of the most effective pre-school curricula available to early educators, for meeting the early learning standards of Michigan's School Readiness Program. (1)

(1) "Exploring the Standards of Quality for Pre-Kindergarten," by Blanche Deren and Judy Levine, Early Childhood Education and Family Services, Michigan Department of Education (2007).