lionjill wrote:I know this topic has been brought up over the years, but with the pandemic influencing and shifting so many schools' policies and how they operate, it seemed like an update was in order about non-traditional kindergarten options in the area!

For example, several pre-k programs that my family visited this winter for next year's (Fall 2022) admission had drastically changed their amount of outdoor time since the last time we went round looking for our older children four years ago. Amount of screen time has changed too, and crucially staff. These are significant changes!

Please share Forest, Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio, Hybrid, etc (public or private) pre-k and kindergarten schools in the Northern VA, MD and DC area! Please include the location and the ages serviced (if you know) and what you admire about this school's offering.

New to the area, and new to the school scene families thank you!

Anonymous wrote:Homeschool, 3-4 hours of academics each morning at home, afternoon free for tutors, play dates, other activities. Homeschool co-op group once per week. During co-op arents act as teachers and review the information for the week, they don’t go into detail regarding questions about anything not covered simply say ask your parents about that. There are usually activities of some kind that holds the attention of young kids. Weekly co-op has morning announcements, learning and review of historical timeline, a presentation by one family. Then kids separate into classes based on age and level class sizes 8-12 with one teacher and 1-3 helpers. Review of weekly information by teacher, snack time, kids present on suggested topic during snack and ask and answer questions of each other, outside time for 15 minutes, move to specials (varies every 6 weeks art, music, science, etc) Return to class, review game, kids disperse for lunch with their family in the cafeteria or outside if it’s nice. Sometimes dads join moms for lunch hour. Free play outside after lunch. Kids separate again to advanced writing classes or second language classes. Snack time again sometimes 15 minutes outside. Music class after that for younger kids and older kids focus on more advanced lessons. That’s the day. Kids have yearly recital where classes and individual kids show what they’ve learned. Usually friends and family come and buffet style meal follows. Lots of sense of community, teachers don’t get mad if a kid is out of seat as long as they’re paying attention. They read cues from class and incorporate activity based review when needed. Outside instruction takes place when possible. Parents and children help willingly with set up and clean up and kids typically listen to all adults that give instructions. The boys even hold the door open for the girls, I have done public school and would never ever go back. There’s a great sense of community, parents are happy to share curriculum suggestions and there’s a book fair once a year. Nobody has ever been judgmental of kids with different learning needs, parent occupations, race or skin color, they just kind of accept everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homeschool, 3-4 hours of academics each morning at home, afternoon free for tutors, play dates, other activities. Homeschool co-op group once per week. During co-op arents act as teachers and review the information for the week, they don’t go into detail regarding questions about anything not covered simply say ask your parents about that. There are usually activities of some kind that holds the attention of young kids. Weekly co-op has morning announcements, learning and review of historical timeline, a presentation by one family. Then kids separate into classes based on age and level class sizes 8-12 with one teacher and 1-3 helpers. Review of weekly information by teacher, snack time, kids present on suggested topic during snack and ask and answer questions of each other, outside time for 15 minutes, move to specials (varies every 6 weeks art, music, science, etc) Return to class, review game, kids disperse for lunch with their family in the cafeteria or outside if it’s nice. Sometimes dads join moms for lunch hour. Free play outside after lunch. Kids separate again to advanced writing classes or second language classes. Snack time again sometimes 15 minutes outside. Music class after that for younger kids and older kids focus on more advanced lessons. That’s the day. Kids have yearly recital where classes and individual kids show what they’ve learned. Usually friends and family come and buffet style meal follows. Lots of sense of community, teachers don’t get mad if a kid is out of seat as long as they’re paying attention. They read cues from class and incorporate activity based review when needed. Outside instruction takes place when possible. Parents and children help willingly with set up and clean up and kids typically listen to all adults that give instructions. The boys even hold the door open for the girls, I have done public school and would never ever go back. There’s a great sense of community, parents are happy to share curriculum suggestions and there’s a book fair once a year. Nobody has ever been judgmental of kids with different learning needs, parent occupations, race or skin color, they just kind of accept everyone.

You think a kindergartner should have FOUR HOURS of academics each morning? I don't know how to tell you more emphatically that you're wrong than telling you that you're completely wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homeschool, 3-4 hours of academics each morning at home, afternoon free for tutors, play dates, other activities. Homeschool co-op group once per week. During co-op arents act as teachers and review the information for the week, they don’t go into detail regarding questions about anything not covered simply say ask your parents about that. There are usually activities of some kind that holds the attention of young kids. Weekly co-op has morning announcements, learning and review of historical timeline, a presentation by one family. Then kids separate into classes based on age and level class sizes 8-12 with one teacher and 1-3 helpers. Review of weekly information by teacher, snack time, kids present on suggested topic during snack and ask and answer questions of each other, outside time for 15 minutes, move to specials (varies every 6 weeks art, music, science, etc) Return to class, review game, kids disperse for lunch with their family in the cafeteria or outside if it’s nice. Sometimes dads join moms for lunch hour. Free play outside after lunch. Kids separate again to advanced writing classes or second language classes. Snack time again sometimes 15 minutes outside. Music class after that for younger kids and older kids focus on more advanced lessons. That’s the day. Kids have yearly recital where classes and individual kids show what they’ve learned. Usually friends and family come and buffet style meal follows. Lots of sense of community, teachers don’t get mad if a kid is out of seat as long as they’re paying attention. They read cues from class and incorporate activity based review when needed. Outside instruction takes place when possible. Parents and children help willingly with set up and clean up and kids typically listen to all adults that give instructions. The boys even hold the door open for the girls, I have done public school and would never ever go back. There’s a great sense of community, parents are happy to share curriculum suggestions and there’s a book fair once a year. Nobody has ever been judgmental of kids with different learning needs, parent occupations, race or skin color, they just kind of accept everyone.

You think a kindergartner should have FOUR HOURS of academics each morning? I don't know how to tell you more emphatically that you're wrong than telling you that you're completely wrong.

3-4 hours presented in a structured play format and it can end early if we’re just having one of those days. Don’t be so quick to judge.

lionjill wrote:I know this topic has been brought up over the years, but with the pandemic influencing and shifting so many schools' policies and how they operate, it seemed like an update was in order about non-traditional kindergarten options in the area!

For example, several pre-k programs that my family visited this winter for next year's (Fall 2022) admission had drastically changed their amount of outdoor time since the last time we went round looking for our older children four years ago. Amount of screen time has changed too, and crucially staff. These are significant changes!

Please share Forest, Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio, Hybrid, etc (public or private) pre-k and kindergarten schools in the Northern VA, MD and DC area! Please include the location and the ages serviced (if you know) and what you admire about this school's offering.

New to the area, and new to the school scene families thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homeschool, 3-4 hours of academics each morning at home, afternoon free for tutors, play dates, other activities. Homeschool co-op group once per week. During co-op arents act as teachers and review the information for the week, they don’t go into detail regarding questions about anything not covered simply say ask your parents about that. There are usually activities of some kind that holds the attention of young kids. Weekly co-op has morning announcements, learning and review of historical timeline, a presentation by one family. Then kids separate into classes based on age and level class sizes 8-12 with one teacher and 1-3 helpers. Review of weekly information by teacher, snack time, kids present on suggested topic during snack and ask and answer questions of each other, outside time for 15 minutes, move to specials (varies every 6 weeks art, music, science, etc) Return to class, review game, kids disperse for lunch with their family in the cafeteria or outside if it’s nice. Sometimes dads join moms for lunch hour. Free play outside after lunch. Kids separate again to advanced writing classes or second language classes. Snack time again sometimes 15 minutes outside. Music class after that for younger kids and older kids focus on more advanced lessons. That’s the day. Kids have yearly recital where classes and individual kids show what they’ve learned. Usually friends and family come and buffet style meal follows. Lots of sense of community, teachers don’t get mad if a kid is out of seat as long as they’re paying attention. They read cues from class and incorporate activity based review when needed. Outside instruction takes place when possible. Parents and children help willingly with set up and clean up and kids typically listen to all adults that give instructions. The boys even hold the door open for the girls, I have done public school and would never ever go back. There’s a great sense of community, parents are happy to share curriculum suggestions and there’s a book fair once a year. Nobody has ever been judgmental of kids with different learning needs, parent occupations, race or skin color, they just kind of accept everyone.

You think a kindergartner should have FOUR HOURS of academics each morning? I don't know how to tell you more emphatically that you're wrong than telling you that you're completely wrong.

3-4 hours presented in a structured play format and it can end early if we’re just having one of those days. Don’t be so quick to judge.

Sounds like you should just keep your kids in preschool.