Reply to Public/Charter Preschool types (Montessori, Reggio, Expeditionary Learning, IB, Tools of the Mind...

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Reply to "Public/Charter Preschool types (Montessori, Reggio, Expeditionary Learning, IB, Tools of the Mind..."

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have seen a teacher in a school with Tools of the Mind call it Reggio-inspired.[/quote]

I think this is wrong.  The PPs  description of Tools is spot on, it utilIzes play, but the play itself is highly structured.  The kids have to pick a role in the play and stick with it for extended period of time (Doctor, patient, etc.) and they even plan out what their goals are in the role -- a lot of redirection is usually needed at first.

Reggio is much more child-driven, while not as loose as Montessori in that there is structure and expectation, but not nearly as, "restrictive" isn't the word I'm looking for, but as close as I can get.  I really doubt anyone formally trained in Reggio would feel Tools fits the Reggio model perfectly.

I think of it this way:  Both are great models for PS, and have their own pros and cons but Tools is the KIPP of an art-centered preschool education.  Really effective for many kids who perhaps could use more regulation.  Now that I'm thinking, I wonder if Appletree  utilizes "tools"-like methods. [/quote]

I think Appletree is more academic focused than Tools and they change themes more often.

I wouldn't call Tools a KIPP style program but it was piloted for children from lower economic background. One thing I've found interesting was that a lot of studies claim TOTM is not effective for academics yet the emphasis in Tools is not on drill and kill academics but on developing soft skills that children in lower income families have a harder time developing.

I don't think ToTM has a lot in common with Reggio besides that it uses a lot of art and that the classroom is dynamic and changing to reflect what students are learning. [/quote]

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