Anonymous wrote:My son is at Inspired Teaching: the examples in the story of a successful classroom sounded like the things they are doing. Although play based, they have been working on writing words, simple math, Spanish, and science concepts. He is in PK4. We are very happy with his time there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mixed bag at AppleTree LP. IMO good early literacy work but too much drill, sitting, discipline and not enough purposeful play. Really active kids suffer somewhat from a toddler boot camp approach geared at catching up poor kids from tough backgrounds. They clearly aren't used to groups of high SES parents who'd be happy to see more fun and exercise in the mix. It's a really top down program.

In my opinion, purposeful play is a bunch of crap that some parents play into. Some play is fine. But I Want some academics too. My DD is in PK at a HRCS and her best friend is at the up and coming neighborhood public. Bestie can write first and last name, count to 40, knows a few sight words and writes simple sentences. My daughter is drawing pictures and stick figures in one color and playing grocery store. No letters, name writing or counting. My DD can barely write her name and I'm upset about it.

Now my DD and bestie play a new game - school. Guess who's not the teacher, my DD! Play with academics too is my vote! Of course, I feel like I have to now really supplement because in kindergarten there is no play or naps. I plan to now visit my local public and see what the expectation is in Kindergarten because I'm sure that playing house and grocery store is not the expectation. I am seriously considering enrolling my DD in my local public next year but fear that she'll be behind. Perhaps, I'll try Appletree.

Anonymous wrote:Mixed bag at AppleTree LP. IMO good early literacy work but too much drill, sitting, discipline and not enough purposeful play. Really active kids suffer somewhat from a toddler boot camp approach geared at catching up poor kids from tough backgrounds. They clearly aren't used to groups of high SES parents who'd be happy to see more fun and exercise in the mix. It's a really top down program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has largely moved to embracing play-based and hands-on learning in early childhood, using Tools of the Mind, Creative Curriculum, or Reggio Emilia for example (to the point that you'll find some parents clamoring again for more tracing and flashcards). This was propelled by Charters moving in that direction as much as by scientific evidence that this is indeed the way to go, even for students who the system thought may need "a head start" on the letter tracing kind of academics. I'd say rather than to look for "the one" school that does this, you should be careful to avoid those that specifically don't. With just a little reading up and visiting schools and classrooms, you'll become quite proficient in spotting a well-run play-based classroom, in which you should see multiple well-organized activity and play stations take center stage complemented by small group tables.

Thanks. I know that DCPS has embraced "purposeful play" and it also seems like something that would depend on how well individual teachers are able to implement it in the classroom, so there may be some variation in how these approaches are implemented even within DCPS. I can totally see my DS just banging pots and pans together and other "gross motor skill" activities without a teacher who asks good questions to get him thinking. (BTW, he's not dumb, he just prefers to run around except when he needs to kick his mind into high gear to come up with ever more sophisticated bedtime avoidance strategies and arguments as to why he should be allowed to drive our car.)

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has largely moved to embracing play-based and hands-on learning in early childhood, using Tools of the Mind, Creative Curriculum, or Reggio Emilia for example (to the point that you'll find some parents clamoring again for more tracing and flashcards). This was propelled by Charters moving in that direction as much as by scientific evidence that this is indeed the way to go, even for students who the system thought may need "a head start" on the letter tracing kind of academics. I'd say rather than to look for "the one" school that does this, you should be careful to avoid those that specifically don't. With just a little reading up and visiting schools and classrooms, you'll become quite proficient in spotting a well-run play-based classroom, in which you should see multiple well-organized activity and play stations take center stage complemented by small group tables.