Reply to Are DCPS PK3-4 programs more play-based or academic?

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[quote=Anonymous]Well, I looked up my kid's actual PK3 schedule at a T1 DCPS.

8:30-9:00 Breakfast and "morning activities" whatever that is.
9-9:15: Morning Meeting
9:15-9:30: Writing or pre-writing activities like fine motor and alphabet manipulatives.
9:30-10:20: Centers/small group-- the centers were entirely free play so count as about 15 mins of academics.
10:30-11:15: Specials, which also involved some free play with specials materials such as paint. The teachers came to their classroom except for PE, so no transition.
11:15-12:15: Lunch in room, then recess out front so 5 mins transition out.
12:15-12:30: Transition back inside, do bathroom and hand-washing.
12:30-2: Rest time (nap)
2-2:15: Snack
2:15-2:20: Dance break 
2:20-2:45: Math in small groups
2:45-3: Interactive Read Aloud
3-3:15: Closing routine (song, jackets and backpacks) and dismissal.

So academically... 15 mins for writing, 15 mins for morning small group, 15 mins for small group math, and then if you're counting the read-aloud as academic that's another 15. So an hour on a normal day. Less on a day with anything unusual happening. I think the truth of it is, there wasn't that much free play-- not because of a huge academic load but because a lot of time is spent on nap, lunch, recess, toileting, and transitions.

My DD didn't take naps in PK3, so she would play quietly on her cot or look at a book. I think that was a big part of why she learned to read so well. But the teacher did intervene with a few key phonics things like "qu" and "ph" sounds, which gave her reading a boost. But I'm not counting that as academic time. It was just what she wanted to do during resting time.[/quote]

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