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Preschool and Daycare Discussion
A More "Academic" Preschool
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Anonymous
| I find this discussion interesting b/c I realize I have no concept of what kids "should" be doing in pre-school. My son is at a faith-based pre-school (he's 4) and he's learned to write his name and they're working their way through the alphabet. I don't believe he's expected to learn how to read before he hits kinder but he will know how to write all his letters upper and lower case by the time he gets there. Also, b/c it is faith based he's learning about god, the saints, etc. I'm happy and so is he and I don't think he'll be in the bottom of the pack when kinder starts but maybe I'm wrong. |
Anonymous
Hi, it's the Winchester poster. I loved going there. Granted, I'm sure it's a bit different now, given that was 30 years ago, but I don't have any memories of it being too rigid or not fun or any of those things you might worry about at a place with a real curriculum. And to the pp who doubted I could remember my preschool experience, all I can say is that I have some pretty clear memories from that age - not all relating to preschool, and those aren't even my earliest childhood memories. I can remember things that happened when I was 3. Now, the remark that I think reading boosted my self-esteem is with the benefit of hindsight, as I'm sure I had no concept of what self-esteem was when I was 4. But I do remember being 5 and being pretty darn sure I was one of the smartest kids in my class and feeling good about that. (My mother has told me that I told her as much - guess I wasn't too humble) I'd love for my child to have the same thing ... |
Anonymous
| Hmm...it seems like you are limiting academia to learning to read, but that seems kind of strange to me. It's not just a question of play-based v. academic, it's about learning how to think and how to socialize. My kids school is plenty "academic" without mindless flashcards. I see my kids' preschool education more comparable to a liberal arts education than to rote memorization, and I know that reading comes when they are ready. In my kids' Reggio Emilia preschool they are learning so much but not with flashcards. They are learning subtraction (for example) by counting how many kids are there in the morning and then asking how many friends are we missing today. They can talk fluently about all of the animal groups and can classify certain animals as mammals, etc. They write their names every morning. Etc., etc. They are learning about the world and how to think. |
Anonymous
| to the original poster, it sounds as if your priorities might point you toward a montessori type school or perhaps a more traditional neighborhood pre-school. however, in my opinion, don't lose sight of other aspects of child development aside from cognitive. those would include gross motor, fine motor, and most important of all, social/emotional. i didn't know much about any of this when i started looking for schools for my child several years ago. but looking back, i'm so happy we ended up in a play-based program that balanced all areas of development. and i cannot overstate the importance of selecting a school that really addresses the social and emotional development of a child. i'm not saying that a "rigorous" academic pre-school can't do this, but just be sure to ask about how important this is in their curriculum. it means a great deal when a school knows how to build and celebrate community, when children are taught how to accept differences, how to express both positive and negative feelings, how to make friends, how to be a friend, why not to bully, how to see their whole class as an extended family. |
Anonymous
| I'd recommend River School to you. The kids think they are just playing but the thought that goes into the curriculum every single day is amazing. I don't know how the teachers come up with such creative ways to build "academics" into their activities day in day out, but they do. We get 3-4 page progress reports on all the levels of DC's learning I think 4 times a year plus an hour long parent-teacher conference. They are thinking about cognitive skills, language and literacy, math skills, gross and fine motor... you name it. They are paying attention to it. I get the montessori in theory but part of me thinks it is just a easy way for teachers to not have to plan lessons to say "the child teaches themselves." River School (and maybe other schools) will organize all different options and activities for the kids all encompassed a main theme that they get soooo excited about that integrate all the "academics" that you'd want for a preschooler. Plus a good balance of outside time, and specials areas (including PE, drama, art, music, science, library) around age 3. It's phenomenal. |
Anonymous
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Quality of the teachers/teaching trump the teaching philosophy, whether play-based or Montessori.
You will be surprised how much a child can learn in a play-based school, and conversely, how little in a Montessori environment. |
Anonymous
| I was shocked during my visits at the "sterile" and static environment from a traditional montessori. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can see that as compared to maybe the way children were taught at the turn of the century (and probably even 30 years ago) montessori seems progressive... But now I feel that most preschools (all I've visited anyway, whether purporting to be "play based" Reggio based, etc. incorporate the free choice time, child directed learning, etc. mantras of montessori.) All the traditional montessoris are left with to be unique are those same- can I say kind of boring?- toys that I'm sure would be fun for a few weeks but I'd prefer some variation in the classroom offering, the mixed ages, the lack of lesson plans or "themes", and the higher ratios. Seems like it allows teachers to not have to plan and schools to fit more kids in, all being part of the montessori "way." Like I said, I'm probably missing something, but it definitely wasn't the warm and nuturing and "academically" stimulating environment that I want for my DC... I want bright colorful things on the walls, new things to be exposed to coming into the class all the time, and umbrella lessons embedded into which there is plenty of choice time and child-centered activity. And 3 years of that same stuff? My child would go crazy. I just don't get it... and I went into it very anxiously.... |
Anonymous
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I must be missing something here. Isn't preschool about creating a positive school experience? about social interactions? about learning to do things for yourself without your parents around? about learning basic life lessons?
The creative environment my children are surrounded by daily in their Reggio philosophy school astounds me. They are learning patterning (early math skills), sign language, they use a calendar daily, they use items like ink droppers to strengthen their fine motor skills in preparation for writing (age 3), addition and subtraction, have 2 letters a week that they use in all sorts of fun and challenging ways and there is art galore. And this is all within a play-based and FUN learning environment that is constantly evolving to meet the needs and interests of the children. I can't think of anything MORE boring or useless than mindless worksheets to color, flashcards and home work for a 3/4 year old. Are you kidding me? That seems like a surefire way to make your kids hate school. Why is everybody in such a hurry for their child to read? write? do long division? Just because your kid reads when they are 3 or knows how to write all their letters and numbers in kindergarten does not mean they are brighter or will turn out more accomplished than my child. I want my kids to be kids as long as possible, and learn to enjoy school first and foremost. The rest will come on its own. |
Anonymous
| The PPs preschool sounds great. What is it called? |
Anonymous
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I prefer Montessori to play based. At the end of the day, the kids in either environment are really getting the most from simply learning to socialize with other kids but I think Montessori teaches more concepts that the kids may not get at home. DH is one of those high achiever math/science types and loves the way they introduce measurements and early math concepts. Science and math are much more about observation than memorization. The Montessori we go to also offers Spanish, Mandarin, and drama classes.
I'm more right brained but really like how the kids are taught how to use their materials and then given lots of freedom to work with them as long as they like and do creative things. Its also nice not to have all the plastic toys and commercial characters floating around. I'm not a big fan of some of the arts and crafts that my kids did in a play based program. DD was also excited to paint at home with me because she could paint abstractly or whatever she wanted on an easel. In the play based program they were always gluing foamies on some outline the teacher drew which IMO isn't all that creative. The play based program that were in also seemed really chaotic. Very loud, kids running around, and then being constantly told to sit down and X,Y, or Z only to shift onto something else. I was so surprised when I saw a Montessori with twice as many kids to teachers and it was calm, happy, and engaging for the kids. Kids today seem to be overly structured and running in multiple directions at the same time if you know what I mean. |
Anonymous
| PP here. I think alot of this also depends on the school you are at and how well they teachers can teach. I spent sometime in my child's play based program and quickly realized that while they presented the parents with an ambitious curriculum full of interesting themes each week this was not being conveyed well to the kids. |
Anonymous
This sounds like a bummer of a preschool on several fronts -- but it is not representative of the better play-based programs with which I am familiar. In fact it in no way resembles them. With all the respect due a fine Montessori school, I believe you are making an unfair comparison of the general school types because you had the misfortune of attending a badly conceived, badly executed non-Montessori school. |
khouston
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We have just relocated to DC from NYC and I am trying to figure out the preschool market here in DC. I looked at some post from last year where people spoke of NCRC, St. John's, St. Columba's and School for Friends as good options. Does anyone have experience with any of these schools? Also, what age do they accept child? My son is 2years and we are looking for something 2 or 3 half days now (if I can even get in anywhere at this late notice) and 2/3 full days starting in Sept 2009. Thanks in advance for any advice you all might have in this challenging matter!
Kourtney 
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Anonymous
You might be able to get in to Metropolitan Methodist in NW DC, but call soon. I believe that they have a part time program, 2/3 days a week. If I recall correctly, registration is in January for the following September. My kids go to Franklin Montessori in NW DC and we absolutely love it. It's a 5 day program from 9:30 to 12:15. I'm not sure if you can still apply for next year, but it's worth a call. |
Anonymous
| P.S. Franklin also has a full day option until 3:30. |