re article on teaching PK through purposeful play--which schools do this well/not well?

[Anonymous]

Which DCPS/charter schools do a good job of teaching through purposeful play and hands-on learning? Are there any that err too much on the side of worksheets or on the side of completely unguided free play?


original post: "Interested in what people think of this: http://www.slate.com/blogs/schooled/2014/11/06/tea...ing_and_the_importance_of.html "

[Anonymous]

DC has been in two play based pre-k programs. I thought each was good, but frankly, not sure how to measure "how" good. DC likes/d school, has made friends, enjoys the activities, is generally happy. But I can't point to any specific outcomes - writing letters, writing name, etc. I know the point of the purposeful play is to avoid those types of outcomes just for the sake of being able to do them (thought the bit in the article about not being able to count pennies was spot on), but without those outcomes, how do I really know how much DC is progressing and as an extension, how "good" the programs really are. It seems like the benefits of purposeful play are realized as the child get older.

[Anonymous]

DCPS has largely moved to embracing play-based and hands-on learning in early childhood, using Tools of the Mind, Creative Curriculum, or Reggio Emilia for example (to the point that you'll find some parents clamoring again for more tracing and flashcards). This was propelled by Charters moving in that direction as much as by scientific evidence that this is indeed the way to go, even for students who the system thought may need "a head start" on the letter tracing kind of academics. I'd say rather than to look for "the one" school that does this, you should be careful to avoid those that specifically don't. With just a little reading up and visiting schools and classrooms, you'll become quite proficient in spotting a well-run play-based classroom, in which you should see multiple well-organized activity and play stations take center stage complemented by small group tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has largely moved to embracing play-based and hands-on learning in early childhood, using Tools of the Mind, Creative Curriculum, or Reggio Emilia for example (to the point that you'll find some parents clamoring again for more tracing and flashcards). This was propelled by Charters moving in that direction as much as by scientific evidence that this is indeed the way to go, even for students who the system thought may need "a head start" on the letter tracing kind of academics. I'd say rather than to look for "the one" school that does this, you should be careful to avoid those that specifically don't. With just a little reading up and visiting schools and classrooms, you'll become quite proficient in spotting a well-run play-based classroom, in which you should see multiple well-organized activity and play stations take center stage complemented by small group tables.

Thanks. I know that DCPS has embraced "purposeful play" and it also seems like something that would depend on how well individual teachers are able to implement it in the classroom, so there may be some variation in how these approaches are implemented even within DCPS. I can totally see my DS just banging pots and pans together and other "gross motor skill" activities without a teacher who asks good questions to get him thinking. (BTW, he's not dumb, he just prefers to run around except when he needs to kick his mind into high gear to come up with ever more sophisticated bedtime avoidance strategies and arguments as to why he should be allowed to drive our car.)

[Anonymous]

Bridges.

[Anonymous]

My DCPS, which is a TofM program, seems to do it well.

[Anonymous]

No complaints about our art-centric, Reggio-inspired curriculum, which is now in its second year. Good balance of fundamentals like letter sounds, sight words for pre-reading, etc. and exploratory learning.

[Anonymous]

HD Cooke uses the Creative Curriculum rather and does this really well.

[Anonymous]

Our PK-3 daughter's teacher @Peabody is doing an exceptional job with this. Our son was in one of the pioneering PK-3 classes at Brent almost 8 years ago and his teacher there was exceptional as well. What I appreciated was that they were able to articulate what my kids were doing and translate it into the skills that they were working on. Our daughter's teacher even had video and/or photo evidence of our daughter meeting the goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has largely moved to embracing play-based and hands-on learning in early childhood, using Tools of the Mind, Creative Curriculum, or Reggio Emilia for example (to the point that you'll find some parents clamoring again for more tracing and flashcards). This was propelled by Charters moving in that direction as much as by scientific evidence that this is indeed the way to go, even for students who the system thought may need "a head start" on the letter tracing kind of academics. I'd say rather than to look for "the one" school that does this, you should be careful to avoid those that specifically don't. With just a little reading up and visiting schools and classrooms, you'll become quite proficient in spotting a well-run play-based classroom, in which you should see multiple well-organized activity and play stations take center stage complemented by small group tables.

Thanks. I know that DCPS has embraced "purposeful play" and it also seems like something that would depend on how well individual teachers are able to implement it in the classroom, so there may be some variation in how these approaches are implemented even within DCPS. I can totally see my DS just banging pots and pans together and other "gross motor skill" activities without a teacher who asks good questions to get him thinking. (BTW, he's not dumb, he just prefers to run around except when he needs to kick his mind into high gear to come up with ever more sophisticated bedtime avoidance strategies and arguments as to why he should be allowed to drive our car.)

Bwahahaha. Love this

[Anonymous]

My son is at Inspired Teaching: the examples in the story of a successful classroom sounded like the things they are doing. Although play based, they have been working on writing words, simple math, Spanish, and science concepts. He is in PK4. We are very happy with his time there.

[Anonymous]

Mixed bag at AppleTree LP. IMO good early literacy work but too much drill, sitting, discipline and not enough purposeful play. Really active kids suffer somewhat from a toddler boot camp approach geared at catching up poor kids from tough backgrounds. They clearly aren't used to groups of high SES parents who'd be happy to see more fun and exercise in the mix. It's a really top down program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mixed bag at AppleTree LP. IMO good early literacy work but too much drill, sitting, discipline and not enough purposeful play. Really active kids suffer somewhat from a toddler boot camp approach geared at catching up poor kids from tough backgrounds. They clearly aren't used to groups of high SES parents who'd be happy to see more fun and exercise in the mix. It's a really top down program.

In my opinion, purposeful play is a bunch of crap that some parents play into. Some play is fine. But I Want some academics too. My DD is in PK at a HRCS and her best friend is at the up and coming neighborhood public. Bestie can write first and last name, count to 40, knows a few sight words and writes simple sentences. My daughter is drawing pictures and stick figures in one color and playing grocery store. No letters, name writing or counting. My DD can barely write her name and I'm upset about it.

Now my DD and bestie play a new game - school. Guess who's not the teacher, my DD! Play with academics too is my vote! Of course, I feel like I have to now really supplement because in kindergarten there is no play or naps. I plan to now visit my local public and see what the expectation is in Kindergarten because I'm sure that playing house and grocery store is not the expectation. I am seriously considering enrolling my DD in my local public next year but fear that she'll be behind. Perhaps, I'll try Appletree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mixed bag at AppleTree LP. IMO good early literacy work but too much drill, sitting, discipline and not enough purposeful play. Really active kids suffer somewhat from a toddler boot camp approach geared at catching up poor kids from tough backgrounds. They clearly aren't used to groups of high SES parents who'd be happy to see more fun and exercise in the mix. It's a really top down program.

In my opinion, purposeful play is a bunch of crap that some parents play into. Some play is fine. But I Want some academics too. My DD is in PK at a HRCS and her best friend is at the up and coming neighborhood public. Bestie can write first and last name, count to 40, knows a few sight words and writes simple sentences. My daughter is drawing pictures and stick figures in one color and playing grocery store. No letters, name writing or counting. My DD can barely write her name and I'm upset about it.

Now my DD and bestie play a new game - school. Guess who's not the teacher, my DD! Play with academics too is my vote! Of course, I feel like I have to now really supplement because in kindergarten there is no play or naps. I plan to now visit my local public and see what the expectation is in Kindergarten because I'm sure that playing house and grocery store is not the expectation. I am seriously considering enrolling my DD in my local public next year but fear that she'll be behind. Perhaps, I'll try Appletree.

Appletree doesn't have Kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is at Inspired Teaching: the examples in the story of a successful classroom sounded like the things they are doing. Although play based, they have been working on writing words, simple math, Spanish, and science concepts. He is in PK4. We are very happy with his time there.

+1 My DD is in K at IT, loved her first 2 years and loving her time in K as well. DD plays and learns simultaneously, she doesn't yet know there's a difference between the two.