Are DCPS PK3-4 programs more play-based or academic?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to get a sense of what day-to-day feels like in PK3 in terms of more play-based or more academic approach. I also want to understand what people mean when they say PK3 can be hard because it's a "long day" – to the point that apparently some families hold off until PK4, but I'm not getting a good read on the environment they're describing. DC is in daycare now from 8/9 a.m. to almost 6 p.m., where they have fairly structured daily routines going through circle time, reading center, songs, movement, meals, naps, etc.

Would be helpful to hear specific examples from real families' experience. What are the skills prioritized, how do they go about it ... some insight that's not the boilerplate the schools advertise. Looking at schools in Capitol Hill or adjacent, including:

Ludlow-Taylor
SWS
Maury
Peabody
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Two Rivers 4th Street
AppleTree Lincoln Park

Of these, I'd guess SWS is the most play-based since it's explicitly Reggio-inspired and multiple parents have now told me it's "true Reggio." I've read a little bit about AppleTree's EveryChild Ready curriculum but was told every campus is different.

[Anonymous]

They're all pretty play based. They're all Head Start compliant.

It can be a long day for some kids, and it also depends on if they nap or not. Just depends on their stamina I guess.

My DD learned a ton of phonics in PK3 with a good but old-fashioned teacher. DD was too. The teacher wasn't pushing it on the kids, but DD was so into learning to read that the teacher obliged. That doesn't make it not play-based, in my opinion. I was very happy with how it went.

[Anonymous]

Well, some kids are not yet 3 years old at the start of the year, and it may be their first time in a group setting.

[Anonymous]

My DC is still in daycare, one very much advertised as "play-based," and they've been spending a lot of time on letters and numbers. They practice in some way every day and a couple of the kids can write their (short) name now. I was very surprised by this and now not sure what to expect for preschool...my own ignorance?

TBH having my not quite 3yo know a lot of letters and numbers in daycare isn't that thrilling ... I'd rather go to the park and slide or collect sticks.

I know some parents are really into it though. I've taken to thinking "it is what it is" and just don't emphasize it or push for more in our activities at home. They have the rest of their lives to be drilled on this stuff. I suppose I'll feel the same way about preschool.

[Anonymous]

Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is still in daycare, one very much advertised as "play-based," and they've been spending a lot of time on letters and numbers. They practice in some way every day and a couple of the kids can write their (short) name now. I was very surprised by this and now not sure what to expect for preschool...my own ignorance?

TBH having my not quite 3yo know a lot of letters and numbers in daycare isn't that thrilling ... I'd rather go to the park and slide or collect sticks.

I know some parents are really into it though. I've taken to thinking "it is what it is" and just don't emphasize it or push for more in our activities at home. They have the rest of their lives to be drilled on this stuff. I suppose I'll feel the same way about preschool.

OP, I think you see here a great example of how parent preference varies on this stuff. In a DCPS PK3 class, there will be kids who, like PP's kid, are not quite three at the start of the year. And there will be kids like my kid, who was nearly 4 years old, and was more than 4.5 by the end of it. That's a huge difference in child development, and the teachers adapt to it by working in small groups.

It's perfectly fine to be learning letters and numbers at the age of 4, especially if the child is enthusiastic about it. My DD very much wanted to write her name, and some kids are just like that. My DD was never "drilled" or pressured. She wanted to read and write, so the teacher helped her learn. There's no need to disparage it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

On the contrary, I think charters such as KIPP, Rocketship, and DC Prep are more academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

Completely false generalization as it comes to ECE. It's all play-based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

On the contrary, I think charters such as KIPP, Rocketship, and DC Prep are more academic.

The charters with low SES kids like DCPS above may be more academic.

But not popular charters discussed on these boards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

Completely false generalization as it comes to ECE. It's all play-based.

Nope, my title 1 IB had kids in ECE sitting doing worksheets and they sent worksheets home as homework.

Sure kids did play but we are talking about stuff like above and you are in denial if you think it isn’t happening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

Completely false generalization as it comes to ECE. It's all play-based.

Nope, my title 1 IB had kids in ECE sitting doing worksheets and they sent worksheets home as homework.

Sure kids did play but we are talking about stuff like above and you are in denial if you think it isn’t happening

It's totally happening, but a lot of people are fine with it or actually desire it and I still think it's play-based if most of the day is play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

Completely false generalization as it comes to ECE. It's all play-based.

Nope, my title 1 IB had kids in ECE sitting doing worksheets and they sent worksheets home as homework.

Sure kids did play but we are talking about stuff like above and you are in denial if you think it isn’t happening

I had kids in 2 different Title I DCPS schools for ECE. Zero worksheets. Your generalization is false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

Completely false generalization as it comes to ECE. It's all play-based.

Nope, my title 1 IB had kids in ECE sitting doing worksheets and they sent worksheets home as homework.

Sure kids did play but we are talking about stuff like above and you are in denial if you think it isn’t happening

I had kids in 2 different Title I DCPS schools for ECE. Zero worksheets. Your generalization is false.

Kindergarten definitely is more academic, but that is the case in most classrooms anywhere now. PK3 and PK4 are developmentally appropriate/play based IMO. Like a PP said, they expose kids to the alphabet and early learning skills, and by PK4 there are definitely kids who are ready to and are learning to read, but it is not expected or explicitly taught until Kindergarten and beyond. Best way to get a sense of it would be to go on Open House - or follow social media pages, you often see photos/videos there. Lots of themed based units - so the classroom, activities, and centers transform based on the unit. This is the curriculum DCPS uses, if you are interested https://teachingstrategies.com/early-childhood-curriculum/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generalization but ECE and K in a lot of DCPS, esp title 1 and poorly performing schools, are more academic and less play base.

Charters less so.

On the contrary, I think charters such as KIPP, Rocketship, and DC Prep are more academic.

The charters with low SES kids like DCPS above may be more academic.

But not popular charters discussed on these boards

There’s a book called “The most important year” about ECE that includes examples from DC and other cities. This was published maybe 10 years ago so some things have changed, but one of the DC ones is the AppleTree campus on Miss Ave. They talk about why AppleTree methods spend a lot of time on the academic basics and use a strict token system for behaviors/cooperation, and it basically tracks with what you’re saying. The thought is they might “fall behind” and in some cases this is exactly what the parents want.

I don’t know enough to say which school do what, others should chime in, but I think it’s good to ask around just to know what to expect.

[Anonymous]

It's important to have realistic expectations about the difference between daycare and free public preschool. Daycare and private preschool you choose and pay for. You can choose one that meets your preferences. But the public schools serve all kinds of people with all kinds of preferences and opinions, and children with all kinds of needs. It's silly to expect a fully play-based program just because that's what you prefer or think your child needs. It's equally silly to expect a highly academic program when lots of people don't want that.

OP, your child will be unscathed by a few minutes of letter-sound matching or trying to write their name or whatever is happening. Try to be a little less particular about things and you'll be a lot happier. And remember, you get what you pay for.