As a maker site, the Creativity and Literacy Program
encourages and empowers young children to
demonstrate their knowledge and understanding
of a concept through making or creating, using a
project-based approach.
Child and parent interaction is integral to the learning process. Here, a child and her
mother explore the concepts of opaque and translucent as part of the Creativity and
Creativity and Literacy Program Facilitator Alison
Literacy Program.
Francis demonstrated how the program supports
early learning. On the day of the visit, preschoolers
were busy exploring light and shadows with their parents
She further described the Creativity and Literacy Program
and engaging in very thoughtful and purposeful playing and
classroom as an “inviting,” “intriguing,” “creative,” and
learning.
“stimulating” place. She also stated that the Fox Chapel Area
School District program provides a unique way to combine
According to Fox Chapel Area School District’s Director of
literacy with the “making” strand of learning. Parents and
Instructional and Innovative Leadership, Megan Cicconi, “The
children are encouraged to take home special backpacks that
researchers were amazed at the quality of this early childhood
include several activities where they are introduced to a text and
program that develops literacy and 21st century skills through
are then invited to explore that text through hands-on activities.
technology and hands-on experiences.”
Jessica Ross, a lead researcher of Harvard’s Project Zero and
Agency by Design, said one of the most striking things about
the Creativity and Literacy Program is the fact that parents and
children work together and that parents are invited, early on, to
be a part of the school culture.
“That’s not something you run into every day. Having parents
and children in the room together and having parents enter into
the conversation about what’s happening in the school is really
remarkable,” Ms. Ross stated. “What a great way to introduce
parents to what’s going on in the schools.”
Mrs. Francis facilitates a large-group activity with
preschoolers and their parents at the beginning
of a Creativity and Literacy Program session.
Mrs. Cicconi, who visited the Creativity and Literacy Program
with the Harvard researchers, is a co-leader of the Pittsburgh
Educator Cohort. The cohort is made up of 20 educators
from the region, three from Fox Chapel Area, including Mrs.
Francis. This cohort will be exploring prototyping and testing
assessment tools in the context of maker-centered learning
over the next year.
The Agency by Design Pittsburgh Educator Cohort is made
possible due to the dedication and generous support of The
Grable Foundation.
Creativity and Literacy Program Facilitator Alison Visitors observe a large group activity.
Francis demonstrated how she supports early
learning to Shari Tishman, Ed.D.; Jessica Ross; and
Edward Clapp, Ed.D.; who are lead researchers of
Harvard’s Project Zero Agency by Design. Project
Zero is an educational research center at Harvard.
Fox Chapel Area | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 13
FOX C HAP E L ARE A SC HOOL N E WS
L
ead researchers from the Harvard
Graduate School of Education’s
Agency by Design, a part of Project
Zero, visited Kerr Elementary School
to observe the Creativity and Literacy Program
on February 4. The researchers, in Pittsburgh to
lead professional development for their Agency
by Design Pittsburgh Educator Cohort, visited
two sites – including the Creativity and Literacy
Program – identified as offering exemplary
and innovative educational programs that
demonstrate “maker-centered” learning.
Fox Chapel Area
HARVARD VISITORS AWED BY DISTRICT’S
CREATIVITY AND LITERACY PROGRAM