how is pre-k going?

[Anonymous]

Now that all of you are several more months along, how is it going? Are you happy to made the switch from preschool to pre-k or do you still have concerns?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure that a child can't be kicked out of public school, even in a prek program.

They have ways. For one thing, the child has to be potty trained. For another, if he's seriously disruptive and requires special ed - and they don't have special ed services at that level - then they can push for a more appropriate placement.

[Anonymous]

I dont get the discussion about being happy that you went from preschool to prek. you dont have a choice right? School is important. The sooner that you and your kids get that point..the better right?

[Anonymous]

I think the PP is trying to draw a distinction between nursery school/glorified daycare programs which may bill themselves as "pre-school" and are almost always exclusively "play-based" (with or without the underlying pedagogy) and DCPS official Pre-K which almost always includes at least a partially "direct instruction" based approach. This distinction is complicated by the fact that there are of course no official standards for Pre-K curricula (obviously right? Or we'd be talking about required vs. optional programs?). Not to mention, there are flavors of play-based and Montessori available locally as well. Ultimately the PP may not have the language for what she's trying to describe, but that is arguably as much the pre-school's fault as hers. After all, if a car salesman can explain to you why a Toyota is superior to a VW in your price range (or vice versa) perhaps we should expect as much from educational clarity from our schools?

[Anonymous]

DCPS has standards for preK. It is just that preK is not required. That means you don't have to go, and they don't have to have enough spaces in schools to accomodate all in boundary children.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP. On the first page, many people said the transition from their smaller, warmer, often play-based preschool/nursery school/whatever you want to call it to DCPS pre-k was a hard one. Now that it's a month in, I was wondering what people thought of the transition.

Clearly, school is required and we will all have to make the transition at some point. But since pre-k isn't required (nor even guaranteed), we can choose to make the transition one year later into kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the earlier posters and DC and I completely love her pre-K now. (Lafayette)

[Anonymous]

My child's prek is awesome (Langdon)!! I am really glad I sent her to the school.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is actually much, much happier at pre-K (Murch) than she was at her preschool - which I do love. But, I think she really loves getting to learn more - she's obsessed with writing right now! I had a lot of worries going in as she's rather reserved and had planned to send her just half time. But, she's so happy that she gets upset if she doesn't go!

[Anonymous]

My child's teacher is awesome but I hate the school and administration (Langdon)

[Anonymous]

Had to change schools. Her first school was horrible. She and I am much happier now that she is at her school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had to change schools. Her first school was horrible. She and I am much happier now that she is at her school.

Which schools, and what was horrible about the first one? Thanks much.

[Anonymous]

I transferred my child from Langdon. I have nothing bad to say about her teacher. She is awesome-knowledgeable, caring, etc. Langdon just did not measure up to my expectations. I originally stayed at the school (turning down a spot at a highly sort after charter) because of her teacher . I kept telling myself that I would have my child finish out the year then transfer her to another school...but I just couldn't take it anymore. So, 10 weeks into the school year my child was moved to her new school.