tools of the mind in dcps

[Anonymous]

I don't want to derail another thread where it's been alluded to recently, but what do people think of the tools of the mind curriculum that's being used in a number of dcps (not sure if in any charters). Is it working well? Do teachers like it? Kids? Is it supposed to be universally useful, or is it designed for a head start type of program?

[Anonymous]

It's ok, if supplemented. And I would say the problem with is that it presupposes a foundation that many of our learners do not have. Perfect if you are reading with your kiddo at home, and teaching them the 'basics' letters, addition, basic subtraction concepts. However it does not provide essential direct instruction that many of our kids need. So definitely not for the 'head start' crowd , assuming that your wrap them up as being under prepared and exposed. Not bring snarky- just making sure I am picking up on your assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Those basically were my assumptions re head start.

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old has been learning a lot in his DCPS classroom that uses Tools of the Mind. I don't know if it is directly related to the Tools curriculum, but I'm impressed with the pace of his learning. In the first few weeks he went from drawing random lines to being able to draw a stick figure of himself. The parts of the curriculum that I see most at home are the graphics practice and play planning. I don't know that it is helping with his self-regulation though.

His teacher seems to like the curriculum and is applying it consistently. It's only supposed to be used through Kindergarten. I don't entirely agree with PP about the head start statement. While we did (and do) read to our son a lot, and sang the alphabet, etc, we didn't really teach letters and certainly didn't teach addition or subtraction. I don't think it is a pre-req when introducing the program to 3 year olds.

[Anonymous]

So if I'm more concerned about social and emotional development than academics, does tools if the mind seen like a good fit?

[Anonymous]

I'm not really up to date on my early education pedagogy, but I think it's a good way to teach young children. There is a mix of whole class activities and then breaking out into smaller "centers", which the children choose themselves. And then they work with teachers in the centers and play with one another. It eases kids into learning - no one is sitting in front of a chalk board listening to the teacher lecture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not really up to date on my early education pedagogy, but I think it's a good way to teach young children. There is a mix of whole class activities and then breaking out into smaller "centers", which the children choose themselves. And then they work with teachers in the centers and play with one another. It eases kids into learning - no one is sitting in front of a chalk board listening to the teacher lecture.

Non "tools" early childhood classrooms don't have that either.

[Anonymous]

Is it similar to creative curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's ok, if supplemented. And I would say the problem with is that it presupposes a foundation that many of our learners do not have. Perfect if you are reading with your kiddo at home, and teaching them the 'basics' letters, addition, basic subtraction concepts. However it does not provide essential direct instruction that many of our kids need. So definitely not for the 'head start' crowd , assuming that your wrap them up as being under prepared and exposed. Not bring snarky- just making sure I am picking up on your assumptions.

I think the purpose of Tools is to emphasize a lot of soft skills like taking turns, sharing, self- control etc. I don't think it presupposes kids have the academic skills just that it's not the number one thing a 3 or 4 year old needs to be successful in school.

The program has a pretty good balance between play and academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if I'm more concerned about social and emotional development than academics, does tools if the mind seen like a good fit?

Yes, that is the primary focus of Tools.
There is a chapter in "Nutureshock" on the program if you want more info.

[Anonymous]

We have been in a TOTM class for two years.

Pros:
- It works well with developing writing. My son can write actual short simple sentences.
- It facilitates the ability to draw detailed things through observation. He's really learning to draw complex, realistic things because they practice techniques every day.
- It helps a child adapt to a schedule and routine. My son is thriving on this and hates when the day is interrupted.
- It helps the child make decisions. My son is goal-oriented and decisive when it comes to play, and I don't feel he's "too" structured. Just smart and mature.
- It allows ample time for play - dramatic, creative, independent, group, etc... It's all incorporated.

Cons:
- It does work best with more involved parents who work with kids at home because they don't really focus on letters and numbers. My son knows these, so he does well and is BUILDING at school rather than learning new stuff constantly.
- I don't want to say it stifles creativity, but one example of the rigidity that is funny to me is that when they draw their play plans it is with a single marker or crayon that matches the color of the center. As a result of 2 years of this, my son draws mostly in one color because that's how he does it at school. He draws very detailed things, in ONE color.
- We don't have this experience, but when TOTM is done wrong or half assed, it's boring and flat and bad. Ours is done every day and well, and we are lucky.
- It also works best with a supplementary arts and physical and musical program; we sort of have this, but we have a really half-assed art teacher in our school so I wish the whole program was as well done as the TOTM classroom element.

Hope this helps!

I have had good experience with this program and recommend it if you think the school implements it thoroughly and true to the method.

[Anonymous]

http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=519

see this--supposedly tools of the mind doesnt do anything special

[Anonymous]

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2012/03/tools_of_the_mind_shows_lacklu.html

also this--tools of the mind with lackluster results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been in a TOTM class for two years.

Pros:
- It works well with developing writing. My son can write actual short simple sentences.
- It facilitates the ability to draw detailed things through observation. He's really learning to draw complex, realistic things because they practice techniques every day.
- It helps a child adapt to a schedule and routine. My son is thriving on this and hates when the day is interrupted.
- It helps the child make decisions. My son is goal-oriented and decisive when it comes to play, and I don't feel he's "too" structured. Just smart and mature.
- It allows ample time for play - dramatic, creative, independent, group, etc... It's all incorporated.

Cons:
- It does work best with more involved parents who work with kids at home because they don't really focus on letters and numbers. My son knows these, so he does well and is BUILDING at school rather than learning new stuff constantly.
- I don't want to say it stifles creativity, but one example of the rigidity that is funny to me is that when they draw their play plans it is with a single marker or crayon that matches the color of the center. As a result of 2 years of this, my son draws mostly in one color because that's how he does it at school. He draws very detailed things, in ONE color.
- We don't have this experience, but when TOTM is done wrong or half assed, it's boring and flat and bad. Ours is done every day and well, and we are lucky.
- It also works best with a supplementary arts and physical and musical program; we sort of have this, but we have a really half-assed art teacher in our school so I wish the whole program was as well done as the TOTM classroom element.

Hope this helps!

I have had good experience with this program and recommend it if you think the school implements it thoroughly and true to the method.

NP here, thank you for this summary pp. My IB school uses TOTM and it still wasn't clear to me exactly what this program was like. Can you describe how the children are learning how to write sentences if there's little focus on numbers and letters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=519

see this--supposedly tools of the mind doesnt do anything special

See the program focuses on developing self-control and executive function, it's not as focused on academics.