Anonymous wrote:
It's amazing how American educators are deluded about "learning through play", or what's developmentally inappropriate for young children. Nothing could be further than the truth. I'm a research scientist. I've read the studies. Most studies in the education field are deeply flawed, because unlike the hard sciences, it's very challenging to construct objective studies about something so qualitatively and quantitatively difficult to measure as "developmental learning". This is something all soft sciences struggle with. It's not as easy as counting the rate of infection for the new coronavirus.

Children are going to learn through play no matter what. Every young of every species is hard-wired to do just that. It's not something you can stop or hinder in any way unless you lock a child in a closet or deprive him of basic necessities like food and shelter.

If you add something more structured for a few hours every week, where they need to sit, listen, follow directions, work on fine motor skills like writing, and logical reasoning like math, IT WON'T HURT THEM. It just adds to the learning they're already doing.

Every play based program I've visited does what you describe above. They have circle time, learn how to stand in a line, practice writing through plenty of writing materials available in the classroom, follow directions about what to do in the hall etc. So I'm not sure what you're arguing for here. Of course you are right that there are flaws in this type of research, it has it's limitations, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored. No one is saying kids shouldn't learn all those basic skills you described - of course they should a few hours a week, like you said. But more academic preschools are doing more than that - their goals are on what the OP said - teach certain topics in a certain very elementary school like way. I agree generally no children are HURT in this process ha, but I do think it sets parents on a path of focusing on certain "achievement goals" that are leading to many kids being anxious messes. If you don't work in the school systems you may not be seeing it, but it's a reality.

Op I think this article might be really helpful: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-new-preschool-is-crushing-kids/419139/ It talks about how the shift to more academic preschool is really hurting kids and making them less successful in school. But it also addresses why this is happening and the anxiety you're feeling about wanting to make sure you give your child the best start you can. It's so normal to feel this way.

As I said, I completely understand the anxiety around school readiness, as the article gets to as well. it's normal in today's culture to feel this. But it doesn't mean our anxiety is an accurate gauge for what our child needs or what will help them thrive - and become whole, full people. I know this sounds a little dramatic when talking about preschool, but I think it all really matters. When we start putting pressure on our kids to achieve at 3 and 4, by the time they are in high school they are pits of anxiety. I see it in the high school kids I work with. Very, very well intentioned loving parents making decisions out of anxiety and focusing on the wrong things.

Preschools are offering more academic curriculums out of pressure from parents, not because they are research based as developmentally appropriate. Before making such a big change I would try to do some research on this to better understand why play based is recommended and to really make sure your decisions are not coming from a place of fear. Try to go back to your goals for your child around school - for most parents this includes things like being happy, being able to support themselves, being kind, etc. Then drill down some of your goals around education - maybe, loving to learn and engaging well in school, being able to listen to the teacher, follow directions and complete schoolwork, thinking critically. It can be helpful to review these to consider if we're making decisions towards our goal or out of anxiety related to achievement. Here are a couple places to start:

https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/play-based-learning/

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2017/case-brain-science-guided-play

It's amazing how American educators are deluded about "learning through play", or what's developmentally inappropriate for young children. Nothing could be further than the truth. I'm a research scientist. I've read the studies. Most studies in the education field are deeply flawed, because unlike the hard sciences, it's very challenging to construct objective studies about something so qualitatively and quantitatively difficult to measure as "developmental learning". This is something all soft sciences struggle with. It's not as easy as counting the rate of infection for the new coronavirus.

Children are going to learn through play no matter what. Every young of every species is hard-wired to do just that. It's not something you can stop or hinder in any way unless you lock a child in a closet or deprive him of basic necessities like food and shelter.

If you add something more structured for a few hours every week, where they need to sit, listen, follow directions, work on fine motor skills like writing, and logical reasoning like math, IT WON'T HURT THEM. It just adds to the learning they're already doing.

I had my child in a play based preschool then had him go to Kumon twice a week (they get packets to do the other 5days of the week) a year before he went to kindergarten. It worked out well.

Anonymous wrote:I've become pretty unhappy with my 3.5 year olds preschool and its emergent curriculum. I'd like to find a place with more structure and more preparation for kindergarten, but I don't know what to search for. I don't like montessori for the lack of structure and mixed ages, and I am not having a positive experience with child-led/play based/emergent...they've made it pretty clear they won't do any differentiation to prep kids for K their final year and won't help with handwriting unless the child leads them to... I want a place that is fun but provides a bit of basic K prep daily...alphabet, numbers, how to hold a pencil and write (badly) your name... Can anyone advise me on what words I should be looking for as I search for a PK like this? What type of curriculum is this?

Are you sure your school really isn’t doing basic letters, numbers, and writing? Even in a play based setting, they usually incorporate these topics in the course of play.

I know my kids play based preschool does lots of games with letters and numbers and my kids knows most them at this point. They have the kids sign in every day to practice writing and have options during free play to look at words and write them, at least some days.

You want an academic preschool. You shouldn't, but you do.

Where are you? My DS was at a preschool like this and we thought it was too academic and moved to a more play based one. He’s happier now but he certainly learned how to write most of the letters at the former place.

As a former first grade and preschool teacher, I would advise against switching. Play based learning is the developmentally appropriate model for preschool. It teaches children curiosity, a love of learning, and vital social skills. Your child will not be behind in kindergarten if they continue in his/her current school. If you choose to switch him/her they will become bored doing academics they aren’t ready for and possibly develop a negative view of school.

Anonymous wrote:What type of curriculum is this?

It is called developmentally inappropriate curriculum.

+1

I don’t know anything about the emergent curriculum but we chose a preschool with highly qualified educators who understand that kids learn through play and set up stations that allow them to explore activities that expose them to all sorts of academic concepts naturally. They read books about shapes and lines and squiggles and there are pens and markers available for them to try to recreate those shapes and THAT is the correct way for preschoolers to “prep” for kindergarten. Not to sit down and start tracing out real letters and be told to master their name. (Naturally curiosity will bring a lot of preschoolers to the point where they ask about the letters in their name but a curriculum that says they all learn it is not appropriate.)

Try looking up Reggio Emilia schools.

You are looking for an academic preschool. But warning that your current preschool sounds like what they are doing is exactly right as far as current best practices.

Where are you? I can recommend an academic preschool in Arlington. Perhaps others can in other areas. (Or you could ask on the preschool board.) If you are determined to go that route.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you understand Montessori. If anything, people complain that it's too structured. And the vast majority of kids master everything you've listed before beginning kindergarten, at least from what I've seen at my kids' school.

+1. OP does not know Montessori at all.

You want a traditional academic preschool, OP.

Our accredited Montessori was academically-inclined and I loved it. My kids thrived. They knew how to read chapter books by the end of their Kindergarten year (the last year of Montessori preschool) and had completed their thousand chains, could add and subtract large numbers and were exposed to the concept of multiplication and division. They could write phonetically.

Montessori is supposed to be very structured, but within that structure the teacher allows the child to start with whatever work they choose. At some point during the day or week they need to complete all their work, corresponding to their age and competence. The mixed age works well, because children can work at their own pace. The older kids act as role models for the younger, which is very good for them, and the younger kid learn for the older ones. The environment is supposed to be calm and relaxed. There is also time to goof off and play outside, or with toys. The work materials are kept as work, not play, even though they are very appealing.

Be aware that the Montessori name is not protected and therefore you need to check that each "Montessori" you're looking at is property accredited with Montessori-trained teachers and aides. This may be why you started with the wrong idea

Also remember that ultimately it's not the method that matters most, it's the teacher! An excellent teacher will find ways of increasing your child's critical thinking abilities, communication skills, resilience and initiative, regardless of the activity. This is what made our Montessori so good: the teachers were excellent.

I don't think you understand Montessori. If anything, people complain that it's too structured. And the vast majority of kids master everything you've listed before beginning kindergarten, at least from what I've seen at my kids' school.

What type of curriculum is this?

It is called developmentally inappropriate curriculum.

I've become pretty unhappy with my 3.5 year olds preschool and its emergent curriculum. I'd like to find a place with more structure and more preparation for kindergarten, but I don't know what to search for. I don't like montessori for the lack of structure and mixed ages, and I am not having a positive experience with child-led/play based/emergent...they've made it pretty clear they won't do any differentiation to prep kids for K their final year and won't help with handwriting unless the child leads them to... I want a place that is fun but provides a bit of basic K prep daily...alphabet, numbers, how to hold a pencil and write (badly) your name... Can anyone advise me on what words I should be looking for as I search for a PK like this? What type of curriculum is this?