Omep presentation jm&eer-1

A Community Initiative for Developing Creative Arts in

the Early Years

Julie Meighan & Evelyn Egan-Rainy

Creativity in Young ChildrenWhen considering young children, it is

appropriate to adopt a broad, democratic definition of creativity. In this way, every child can be considered to have creative potential and to be capable of creative expression. (Sharp, 2004)

The hundred languages of the child

UNESCO (Salamanca 1994) argued against commodity-orientated education

‘Everyone responsible for the care and education of the young child has to acquire an abiding respect for the hundred languages of children…..the arts contribute immeasurably to the quality and quantity of ways in which children convey not just feeling but also they attain their natural creative expression and academic achievement’.

Creative Arts and Childcare in Ireland

UNICEF study in 2008 puts Ireland in the same category as Canada, the last of 25 developed nations (NUPGE 2011)

Ireland is well below the international standards

(Bertellsman study Irish Times June 4th 2011)

Flowers in the dustVarious initiatives

The Irish Pre-School Play Association (IPPA) Founded in 1969

The Centre for Early Childhood Development

and Education (CECDE) established in 2001

National Council for Curriculum

and Assessment (NCCA)

Aistear and Siolta

Aistear- curriculum framework

Siolta- number of principles and 16 standards

Standard 6 focuses on play

‘Promoting play requires that each child has ample time to engage in freely available and accessible, developmentally appropriate and well-resourced opportunities for exploration, creativity……’(Siolta 2006)

Creative Arts (CA)at Cork Institute of TechnologyEarly Years Education degree course started in

2005

Mandatory module in all 3 yrs of the degree program

Only 3rd level Institute in Munster to offer CAs as a mandatory module for entire degree program

Delivered by 3 specialists in Music, Art and

Drama (MAD) for Early Years

CAs program at CIT provides students with:

practical skills in all 3 areas- MAD

appropriate teaching strategies to raise the profile of the CAs

tools to integrate CAs into other subjects making it central to the holistic learning experience of the child

means by which they can use the CAs to promote confidence, creativity, imagination and individuality in the early learner

Integration of the Creative Arts

Creativity

MusicArt

Drama

Well being

Identity &

BelongingCommunication

Exploring & Thinking

Community InitiativeThe following nine preschools, crèches and schools

participated in this community initiative in Cork city and county

St Ann’s Nursery, Sharman Crawford street. Peapods, Boreenmanna Road Farranree Steeping Stones, Farranree Naoinra na Og Siog, Ballincollig Wee Wisdom, Fermoy Glasheen School, Glasheen HighCare Childcare, Ballincollig Village Montessori, Blackrock KinderCare, Ballincollig

Structure of teaching plansIdentify:

Class size & age

Developmental stage

Artistic Elements

Artistic Disciplines

Learning Outcomes

Room Management & Materials

Stimuli/props & visual aids

Outline Activity – Introduction

Application Closure

Health and Safety

Aistear & Siolta

Students’ FeedbackI gained a huge amount of self confidence

The experience of being involved in the children’s creative process.

We were able to apply what we have done in class in a practical child centred setting.

It taught me how it is important to engaged with the children when working with them creativity.

Students’ FeedbackWe became very aware the amount of preparation

needed when developing the children’s creative skills.

This was a challenged but highly rewarding experience.

It challenges and questions your own ability to be creative.

I finally came to the realization that is not about the final product, but it is about the process. It is about making sure the children are supported to make their own decisions to help build on their independence and creativity.

Recommendations for future community initiatives

Based on students’ feedbacks – that they get the name of the school and class they will be working with at the beginning of the semester so that they can meet with the children and develop a rapport.

Lecturers/students to develop closer links with the centres.

For this community initiative to be an integral part of the course curriculum.

Creative Arts assessments in other years

EYE 1- develop a series of lesson plans that supports creativity as a process.

EYE 2 – apply what they have learned by conducting workshops within a variety of settings in the community.

EYE 3 – interviews where they show off their creative arts portfolios that they have developed over the three years of the degree course.

Misconceptions about CreativityCreativity is related to specific arts subjects.

Children can easily transfer knowledge and learning from one area to another.

Creativity is about always having fun and the children enjoying themselves.

You are born creative and it cannot be acquired.

Free play and unstructured arts activities is the way children develop their creativity.

Want to Participate?

Contact us at CIT

Julie Meighan [email protected]

Or

Evelyn Egan-Rainy [email protected]