Ford Elementary offers two choices for early childhood students.  Parents can choice between the Creative Curriculum and Montessori for 4K and 5K students.  Parents are always welcome in the classrooms to observe their child's progress. (Please be sure to check-in at the front office for a visitors pass).

The Creative Curriculum approach is used in our 4K and 5K single-­age classrooms. This approach was developed using research­ based best practice and current brain research. It is a developmen­tally appropriate practice that creates purposeful and productive ex­periences that help children grow in all areas of development. The role of the teacher is to connect the content and learning for each child. Creative Curricu­lum teachers include Writers Workshop and the district's literacy program in their daily in­struction.

• The classroom is divided into interest areas such as blocks, dra­matic play, math, art, literacy, discovery science, music, move­ment and computers.

• Teachers use a wide variety of instructional strategies and mate­rials  

• Whole group, small group, and individual instruction is a part of the routine.

• Teachers follow district and State Standards.

• The Creative Curriculum approach is an ap­proved curriculum by the State Department of Education.

The Montessori Method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. Through her scientific observation of children, she made several key discoveries about how children learn. Using this information, she developed specific materials to address the learning needs of the children. The Montessori Philosophy includes the beliefs that children learn through discovery, construct knowledge using concrete material be­fore moving to the abstract, and are natural learners. Practical life, math, language, geography, science, art, cultural studies, and senso­rial awarenessThe Montessori Method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. Through her scientific observation of children, she made several key discoveries about how children learn. Using this information, she developed specific materials to address the learning needs of the children. The Montessori Philosophy includes the beliefs that children learn through discovery, construct knowledge using concrete material be­fore moving to the abstract, and are natural learners. Practical life, math, language, geography, science, art, cultural studies, and senso­rial awareness are the areas of interest you will find in a Montessori classroom. are the areas of interest you will find in a Montessori classroom.

• Multi-age classes of 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds

• Individual and small group instruction given on individual levels.

• Specific Montessori self-correcting materials

• Teachers follow District and State Standards.

• The Montessori ap­proach is an ap­proved curriculum by the State Department of Education

• Laurens District 55 is the largest public school Montessori program in the state of South Carolina.