Although there are many many preschools out there, if you are lucky enough to have a choice of preschools here is a run down of 3 popular ones!
What do you think about play in education?
a- Children should be encouraged to practices imaginative play for large parts of the day.
b- Children's should be able to play freely with materials that set them up for later learning other parts of the day is free fantasy play.
c- Children should have designated play time and academic learning time.
Preschool should be a place where
a- children learn through play and imaginative iteration with their natural environment.
b- children gain independence and play to build skills for later learning.
c- students are challenged and their academic foundation is built.
Teachers should
a- create a rhythm so students know what to expect each day.
b- guide the children as they choose their they work on the lessons of their choice
c- lead instruction and students learn in large and small groups.
Children should learn
a- how to think not what to think.
b- problem solving and independence.
c- a specific curriculum designed to assure students are well informed democratic citizens.
The preschool classroom should encourage
a- a child's physical and spiritual development through teamwork and play in the natural environment
b- individuality, positive self-esteem, courtesy and self discipline.
c- memorization, self control, free expression, and cooperative learning.
If you chose mostly As:
If you agreed with the As your child would probably fit best in a Waldorf or Waldorf inspired preschool. Rudolf Steiner created the Waldorf idea of education in 1919 (right after WWI). He believed in nurturing a child's spirit by immersing them in the natural world. In nature they can play and engross themselves in fantasy. In this peaceful and natural existence they learn through modeling reality in creative play. They are encouraged to problem solve and learn through experience. Apart from emphasis on nature, Waldorf schools have a great emphasis on teamwork. Students play, read stories, sing songs and express themselves through physical expression. You won't find technology in a Waldorf classroom but rather natural toys that encourage imagination.
If you chose mostly Bs:
By going with the Bs you probably would best line up with Montessori education. In a Montessori classroom students are encouraged free learning time. Students choose their desired tasks from a range of manipulative in the classroom. These tools are fun but all geared toward a setting the child up for further learning. Students build autonomy and self esteem by controlling their own learning. The teacher guides them to get the most out of their lessons. Montessori separates "work" time and play time to resemble real life. Students are also allowed separate free play time for imaginative play. Montessori emphasizes independence by structuring lessons to teach young students life skills. You will probably find children learning to wash their own snack plates and certainly putting their play things away in the proper place. Students also learn social skills, like making eye contact when someone is talking to you. In this way Montessori feels more structured than Waldorf.
If you chose mostly Cs:
By choosing Cs you show that you value academics in early childhood. Your child might attend a Common Core school. This methodology is rather new compared to Waldorf and Montessori but is becoming increasingly popular especially in charter schools. E.D. Hirsch creator of the Common Core foundation believes that if we are going to maintain a democratic society we need to educate our young people to speak the language. He rejects the idea that learning comes naturally. He believes that education should build on it self and what a child learns in Preschool will be added to in Kindergarten. For that reason he has designed very specific curricular guidelines by age. These include challenging academic milestones as well as developmental ones. Students must learn specific skills often memorization is involved. It is up to the teacher to meet students where they are and help build their learning to the level needed to exit a given grade level.
If you chose a mix of letters you might consider a cooperative preschool or charter school. In a cooperative preschool parents guide the practice of their teachers. Similarly, Charter schools are often set up with a board of parents that specify the mission of the school. These theories are often times modified to fit a combination of ideas.
If you are looking for educational toys that line up with your choice there are some great choices out there depending on your persuasion. Waldorf inspired toys are the easiest to find and are fun, natural, and inspirational. Montessori materials are not considered toys but can be found around as well, but in less abundance. The Core Knowledge foundation has lots of resources but doesn't specifically have toys that mach the philosophy. Most educational toys can help build the Core Knowledge Skills, you will just have to be creative!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8110561
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