Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re describing all DCPS/DCPCS preschools….

Unfortunately, that is not the case at all. Some have very little play -20 minute recess, 30 minute center times. At some schools it’s a mini K.

That is not what the OP asked about. And no idea what “mini k” means but the vast majority of the preschools are play-based.

I’m telling you they are not, your little NW experience is less than 30% of schools. And you certainly have not been to them all.

I’m sorry you didn’t understand that pre-k is not kindergarten and should not be like it.

No but if OP likes a middle ground better skip a majority of title 1 and a handful of other schools.

+1 Our family had kids in PK at two DCPS elementaries and they were very different experiences. First school was more traditionally academic. The kids spent more time in a chair at a table, or seated on the rug, listening to a teacher-led lesson. They did more worksheet-oriented work, including worksheet homework sometimes. Sure, there were centers in the classrooms and they did things like morning meeting with silliness and fun routines/songs, but the program was far from play-based. Second school had a project-based curriculum for PK and the kids were hardly ever sitting down listening to lessons (including screen-based lessons and I really appreciated the absence of these). They moved around the classroom much more, planning and working in small groups, creating art, activities more along the lines of playing.

Thank you for the perspective! This is what I was seeing when researching, which is why I initially made the thread. There also seems to be a variance when talking to schools at EDFest recently, which is great because everyone has a different focus and emphasis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re describing all DCPS/DCPCS preschools….

Unfortunately, that is not the case at all. Some have very little play -20 minute recess, 30 minute center times. At some schools it’s a mini K.

That is not what the OP asked about. And no idea what “mini k” means but the vast majority of the preschools are play-based.

I’m telling you they are not, your little NW experience is less than 30% of schools. And you certainly have not been to them all.

I’m sorry you didn’t understand that pre-k is not kindergarten and should not be like it.

No but if OP likes a middle ground better skip a majority of title 1 and a handful of other schools.

+1 Our family had kids in PK at two DCPS elementaries and they were very different experiences. First school was more traditionally academic. The kids spent more time in a chair at a table, or seated on the rug, listening to a teacher-led lesson. They did more worksheet-oriented work, including worksheet homework sometimes. Sure, there were centers in the classrooms and they did things like morning meeting with silliness and fun routines/songs, but the program was far from play-based. Second school had a project-based curriculum for PK and the kids were hardly ever sitting down listening to lessons (including screen-based lessons and I really appreciated the absence of these). They moved around the classroom much more, planning and working in small groups, creating art, activities more along the lines of playing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re describing all DCPS/DCPCS preschools….

Unfortunately, that is not the case at all. Some have very little play -20 minute recess, 30 minute center times. At some schools it’s a mini K.

That is not what the OP asked about. And no idea what “mini k” means but the vast majority of the preschools are play-based.

I’m telling you they are not, your little NW experience is less than 30% of schools. And you certainly have not been to them all.

I’m sorry you didn’t understand that pre-k is not kindergarten and should not be like it.

No but if OP likes a middle ground better skip a majority of title 1 and a handful of other schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re describing all DCPS/DCPCS preschools….

Unfortunately, that is not the case at all. Some have very little play -20 minute recess, 30 minute center times. At some schools it’s a mini K.

That is not what the OP asked about. And no idea what “mini k” means but the vast majority of the preschools are play-based.

Anonymous wrote:You’re describing all DCPS/DCPCS preschools….

Unfortunately, that is not the case at all. Some have very little play -20 minute recess, 30 minute center times. At some schools it’s a mini K.