Tools of the Mind feels like crap to me. My DC is in a Tools class and I wish I had known more before committing my child. Why would DCPS commit so many schools to this program.

14:49 here, yes this is all fair.

I acnt speak to studies but imknow reggio has also been acused of not nailing rhe basics of academics either... I know Reggio kids may not be that fantastic at some things leading into a structured environment at 1st grade, and they may not ne able to roll like a kid from Appletree, but it's all in the give and take: I'd rather there be some more socio-emotional instruction ("soft skills"?) than strictly academic focus at this point. I'm willing to embrace that my child might not be reading at a 3rd grade level if he's in 1st grade as long as other skills are taught. I'm ok with him reading like a first grader.

Don't all the Nordic countries who kill at education start teaching to the academics later as well? ...admittedly getting out of element a bit here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen a teacher in a school with Tools of the Mind call it Reggio-inspired.

I think this is wrong. The PPs description of Tools is spot on, it utilIzes play, but the play itself is highly structured. The kids have to pick a role in the play and stick with it for extended period of time (Doctor, patient, etc.) and they even plan out what their goals are in the role -- a lot of redirection is usually needed at first.

Reggio is much more child-driven, while not as loose as Montessori in that there is structure and expectation, but not nearly as, "restrictive" isn't the word I'm looking for, but as close as I can get. I really doubt anyone formally trained in Reggio would feel Tools fits the Reggio model perfectly.

I think of it this way: Both are great models for PS, and have their own pros and cons but Tools is the KIPP of an art-centered preschool education. Really effective for many kids who perhaps could use more regulation. Now that I'm thinking, I wonder if Appletree utilizes "tools"-like methods.

I think Appletree is more academic focused than Tools and they change themes more often.

I wouldn't call Tools a KIPP style program but it was piloted for children from lower economic background. One thing I've found interesting was that a lot of studies claim TOTM is not effective for academics yet the emphasis in Tools is not on drill and kill academics but on developing soft skills that children in lower income families have a harder time developing.

I don't think ToTM has a lot in common with Reggio besides that it uses a lot of art and that the classroom is dynamic and changing to reflect what students are learning.

And to amend: Montessori is my least favorite simply because I think kids need a little more instruction than they get there, especially from K on. There's only so much they can figure out on their own, and I like Reggio better because it does use more guidance than that. It's a community-centered approach to problem-solving and less individualistic...

Anonymous wrote:I have seen a teacher in a school with Tools of the Mind call it Reggio-inspired.

I think this is wrong. The PPs description of Tools is spot on, it utilIzes play, but the play itself is highly structured. The kids have to pick a role in the play and stick with it for extended period of time (Doctor, patient, etc.) and they even plan out what their goals are in the role -- a lot of redirection is usually needed at first.

Reggio is much more child-driven, while not as loose as Montessori in that there is structure and expectation, but not nearly as, "restrictive" isn't the word I'm looking for, but as close as I can get. I really doubt anyone formally trained in Reggio would feel Tools fits the Reggio model perfectly.

I think of it this way: Both are great models for PS, and have their own pros and cons but Tools is the KIPP of an art-centered preschool education. Really effective for many kids who perhaps could use more regulation. Now that I'm thinking, I wonder if Appletree utilizes "tools"-like methods.

I have seen a teacher in a school with Tools of the Mind call it Reggio-inspired.

What I know about Tools- in preschool/pre-k is that it uses a lot of dramatic play where students act out roles, based on a theme such as family life, grocery store, hopsital. The theme changes every 6-8 weeks (I think). Before the kids play they have to make a plan about what they want to do and draw a picture and/or write about what they are going to do. They also do this thing called scaffolded writing where the kids practice drawing shapes before they start writing letters.

The goal of tools is to encourage more self control and executive funciton (planning, strategizing, organizing, setting goals,)

CAn someone sum of the difference between reggio, tools of the mind and montessori. I am trying to read up on everything but it all comes across as basically children need to self direct and explore their own way of learning…for all three.

We're at a well-done Reggio preschool program and we have been amazed at how great the model works for us. That is not without saying, however, that it may lack a certain structure that some kids really benefit from (not as loose as Montessori.) If you're more intersted in your 4-year-old reading ASAP, or if your child thrives in a routine/structured environment then I would look closer at a model like Appletree... you need to embrace that the WAY the kids learn is being laid out before them, and the WHAT comes a little later in this model.

If Reggio would be fully embraced it could be the best EC approach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going to pipe in about Tools of the Mind too. I've seen it used very successfully at a few different schools now.

Reggio and Montessori definitely have to be the right fit for the kid and the family.

Expeditionary is great for kids who like to get out and about but some are more sedentary.

I agree that sometimes the best program is one that is a combination of approaches, well thought out and well done.

Thanks! I would love to hear your take on what makes Reggio better or worse for various kids.

Ugh, tools of the mind is terrible. It's so prescribed, and doesn't allow the teacher any flexibility. Reggio allows the teacher to follow the children's interests.

Agree with teacher comment. Teaching is a function of the school leadership, so a focus on teaching and student experience is another aspect to investigate.

Anonymous wrote:We have TOTM and find it to be wonderful.
The key, as with all of these things, is to get a teacher who truly knows and adheres to the methods. Ours has and our 4 y/o is writing short and rudimentary sentences. He's happy and inquisitive. Plays all day long. It's really great.

agreed. I've seen tools done really well and tools implemented poorly. Usually teachers flunk more on implementing meaningful play.

Anonymous wrote:Another LAMB parent here. My DC was in a Reggio program for 2 years before starting at LAMB, and it was disastrous. It was just like a free-for-all. DC has blossomed with Montessori - at 5, DC is writing in cursive, reading in English and Spanish, doing addition and subtraction (simple), and loves school. And is bilingual. I encourage people to sit in on a few classes at a Montessori school; hopefully this "rigid" reputation that the method has on this board will be dispelled, because that is certainly not what my DC's experience has been.

Either Montessori or Reggio need to be implemented by a experienced and skillful teacher fully knowledgeable of each philosophy. Your experience sounds like a great example that illustrates my point. Your DC was probably in a school where Reggio was beginning to be implemented or the teachers were not experienced Reggio teachers. And your current experience with Montessori probably is better because your DC's teachers know how to do the right thing. Reggio is a wonderful approach that is nothing like "free for all" A good program will have a studio teacher, a pedagogista or learning specialist who together with the teacher will plan creative ways to provoke children learning. With Montessori you will see a different structure. Learning occurs differently and it is not necessarily more orderly it just has different resources/ materials that teachers use. Both are great philosophies for kids as they both are supposed to respect children's different styles to learning. You just need to find a good school that cares for the quality of their teachers. training is not all, they have to be intuitively good about carrying on with each philosophy. A traditional teacher will be awful if unable to interpret either Reggio or Montessori.

Another LAMB parent here. My DC was in a Reggio program for 2 years before starting at LAMB, and it was disastrous. It was just like a free-for-all. DC has blossomed with Montessori - at 5, DC is writing in cursive, reading in English and Spanish, doing addition and subtraction (simple), and loves school. And is bilingual. I encourage people to sit in on a few classes at a Montessori school; hopefully this "rigid" reputation that the method has on this board will be dispelled, because that is certainly not what my DC's experience has been.