Should I ask the preschool to move my kid to a more advanced class?

[Anonymous]

My 2.5 year old daughter is ahead of children in her class. I am by more means bragging, I am just stating a fact. She is ahead in her vocabulary (she speaks in complete sentences in English and Spanish). Also, a lot of the things the teacher is doing with the kids, she has already leaned. She said to me today that my daughter can count to 10. I didn't tell her, but she has been able to count to 10 since she was 17 months old. At this point if you show her a number, she can tell you what it is.

I am worried that on one hand, she is not getting challenged and want to them to move her up to the 3 year olds class. However, another part of me thinks does a 2.5 year old really need to be challenged?

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I think it's more of a problem that the teacher doesn't know your daughter, or that you aren't considering the teacher a partner and sharing information. The teacher should know at least as much as you're sharing here on DCUM. Then learn if the teacher can address your daughter's learning needs or not. Maybe Montessori?

[Anonymous]

I am a Montessori teacher. Please consider the WHOLE CHILD (social, emotional, her happiness) as much (if not more) than the "academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's more of a problem that the teacher doesn't know your daughter, or that you aren't considering the teacher a partner and sharing information. The teacher should know at least as much as you're sharing here on DCUM. Then learn if the teacher can address your daughter's learning needs or not. Maybe Montessori?

To me, this does NOT show that the teacher does not know your chikd.

----teacher

[Anonymous]

No. Your toddler needs to enjoy being a toddler.

[Anonymous]

I'm a preschool teacher (of 3 and 4 year olds).

Please note that the benefits of preschool at age 2 and 3 are mainly socialization. Learning how to co-exist with other children in a structured environment. Learning how to be a part of a classroom and take orders from different adults. She is learning much more through dramatic play, music, and social interactions than learning her ABCs and numbers. And a lot of children your daughters age knows colors, shapes, letters, and numbers--this doesn't make her advanced (though she might be), it means her parents have been working on these things with her at home already. Please keep your child in an age-appropriate classroom. If she comes into a 3's class she might be way behind in fine motor, gross motor and other skills. Toiling, opening her food packages, etc. If your child is bored it means that the school is not doing age-appropriate engaging activities and developing their range of exploration.

So in short, no. Don't jump the gun. Let her enjoy being 2.5 and playing and learning how to share and take turns and have fun!

[Anonymous]

What definition of counting is being used? Rote counting and memorizationnof what a written number looks like is a different skill than actual one to one correspondence counting.

[Anonymous]

Lol.
-everyone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What definition of counting is being used? Rote counting and memorizationnof what a written number looks like is a different skill than actual one to one correspondence counting.

Who cares? At 2 or 3, it's all good. They teach numbers and one-to-one correspondence in kindergarten, too.

[Anonymous]

I would deemphasize the academics and focus on social-emotional development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Montessori teacher. Please consider the WHOLE CHILD (social, emotional, her happiness) as much (if not more) than the "academics.

+1 preschool isn't about counting and vocabulary. It's about social interactions more than anything else. It's about learning patience through playing with less mature children and resolving conflicts and making friends and sharing and what to do when someone doesn't share with you.

Op, don't push your child. There's more to living than counting and vocabulary - even for preschoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What definition of counting is being used? Rote counting and memorizationnof what a written number looks like is a different skill than actual one to one correspondence counting.

Who cares? At 2 or 3, it's all good. They teach numbers and one-to-one correspondence in kindergarten, too.

No one, except maybe the OP. I am doibtful that a 17 mo old was counting one to one up to 17. Trying to gently point out that rote memorization is not really a skill, and that the preschool teacher may be talking about something that is a skill, one perfectly appropriate to a 2-3 year old.

[Anonymous]

Ha. No

[Anonymous]

That's one smart kiddo, OP!

Unless you feel she's unhappy, I would be patient and ask the teacher's input and advice on how to encourage her.

I would also put her in a real Montessori preschool (one with a certification). She will probably enjoy the rigor of Montessori materials and will be able to go at her own pace in reading and math.
My children both benefited tremendously from their 3 years in Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Montessori teacher. Please consider the WHOLE CHILD (social, emotional, her happiness) as much (if not more) than the "academics.

Coincidentally, I was going to tour a Montessori school next week. Only challenge is that is only a half day program.