OP, how are you new to the area if the schools you visited this past winter have changed drastically since you originally visited them for your older children?

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.

Until you walk in my shoes you have no idea what I go through to give my dc the best possible educational experience. My special needs child tried preschool in public school at age 3, that lasted for about 2 weeks. They were much much worse as they began copying the problem behavior of others in the class and no skills were being taught. My dc has received 15- 25 hours of ABA early intervention provided by a BCBA since age 2 in addition to myself and dh doing the programs when the BCBA wasn’t there. We did this for 10 minutes every waking hour. We changed their diet and did many other things to create the healthiest environment possible for them. My dc had absolutely no communication skills besides screaming and crying and no language before starting ABA. The first sessions lasted an hour at most and there was more screaming than anything else but we stuck with it and I’m so thankful we did because the improvements were incredible. Social skills were always an issue, I remember the first play date at age 4 dc had consisted of them hiding under a desk and screaming for an hour while the BCBA tried everything to coax them out. By Kindergarten they were ready for homeschool in the morning and also continued ABA in the afternoon because they spent most of their life in a modified teaching environment. 3-4 hours is nothing when you’ve worked your way up from 30 minutes to 3 hours of daily ABA. We cut back on ABA once I began homeschooling and dc didn’t start kindergarten homeschool co-op until age six because they weren’t ready for the group environment. I still taught them to read at age 5 despite hours of painstaking repetition they got it. They struggled at first but learned to read and write by fluently by 7. They’re now 10 and in a homeschool group with kids a few years older and younger than them and can memorize information better than anyone in their class. Sure they have issues with presentations but their 1:1 has worked on this and they do great presenting now they just have problems answering novel questions. They’re in the same class as that kid we had our first play date with and the 1:1 told me he said “dc is like the smartest person I know “. Wow how things can change. DC has many strengths and also deficits especially with expressive language that I don’t think public school could address the same way I can. I have a team of like minded homeschool parents, doctors, speech and language pathologists, BCBAs and professionals surrounding my child and I’m grateful for all of them. If public school works for you so be it, you do what is best for you and your family and I will never judge you for that. It just wasn’t right for my child and probably never will be because they require a different way of learning. Next time you judge someone else you should try living their life for a day because you have no idea what their circumstances are.

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!

This makes no sense. I am sure you can’t realistically attend schools all over the DMV, so how will this help you?

Jill,
It's interesting that you've kept your findings to yourself but are asking us for our opinions. What exactly have you discovered about outdoor time and screen-time? It's obvious that there has been a lot of staff turnover, but have you found the quality of staff has declined? Please share.

- Me

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.

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.

My children’s Montessori program follows the same schedule and curriculum as prepandemic. No screens, multiple recesses. The only thing that changed is recess used to be school wide for all kids at the same time, and now it’s class by class to keep groups separate.

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.

PP^^ and no screens at co-op for children it’s all hands on learning. Obviously parents have cell phones but step out to take calls. I know some older kids use computers for some programs at home but that varies by individual families.

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.

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!

You go first.

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!