Creative Thinking and Expression: Communicating through the Arts

hildren are born with an incredible capacity and desire to learn. Over 30 years of research confirms the foundational importance of early education and care for children's school and life success. It is essential, then, that students' first school experiences are robust ones, steeped in expectations that develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, a deep understanding about themselves in a social society and age appropriate content. Teachers' instructional practices must embed the domains of development: cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical within the foundations or approaches to learning that enable children to explore, understand and reach beyond the " here and now " to challenge themselves and to experiment and transform information into meaningful content and skills. Teachers of very young children have the awesome task of providing rich information and experiences that build skills and understanding in the context of every day routines and within intentionally-designed play opportunities that capture children's interests, wonder and curiosity so they want to know more. Pennsylvania's learning standards join hand-in-hand with the learning environment; the responsive relationships that have been built with children, families and the community; the age, cultural and linguistically-appropriate curriculum; and the practices being used to assess children, classrooms and programs to create the best possible experiences for learning success. The Department of Education and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning utilize a Standards Aligned System (SAS) that links the elements of instruction, materials and resources, curriculum framework, fair assessment and interventions, and learning standards to children's engagement in learning and their school success. Every early learning classroom, whether it is in a home atmosphere or center-based setting, must be a comfortable, safe and nurturing environment where children can play with blocks, manipulatives, art materials, and dramatic play items to enhance skill development. Children discover and understand science, social studies, and math information when they actively explore materials and ideas that are guided by teachers who intentionally design activities that engage children in critical thinking and processing. Children also learn about their own abilities and learning styles, how to get along with others and how to appreciate others' contributions in classrooms that include a diverse set of materials and experiences. School environments should be linked to a child's home environment, incorporating cultural and ethnic materials and children's home language and provide experiences that are inclusive for all children, regardless of ability, socioeconomic status, or family background. Well-designed classrooms …