Preschools

Hi,



I am thinking about preschools now because it's only about a year from now that my girls will be ready for it. I've got two main questions:



- Does anyone know about the comparative benefits of Montessori to other types of more traditional programs? (Montessori has caught my interest)



- What have the parents of older children experienced with various preschool options? If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?



Thanks!

Janet

Janet,



The biggest piece of advice that I would offer is to go and visit as many different preschools as possible. When we moved here and I was looking for a preschool for my daughter I called several...one in particular, a co-op preschool sounded really neat. The price was right and the program seemed very parent/child oriented. I went to visit them and knew within about 15 minutes that it definately wasn't the place for us. Also, ask friends and family what school they use and their impressions.



I also checked out a Montessori nearby because some friends had recommended it. The basic "curriculum" at least at this school was play-time. I asked about learning the alphabet, etc...because my daughter is pre-k and most pre-k programs do have some alphabet stuff worked into their "playtime". The woman told me that at montessori schools children learn when they are ready and they don't "push" a child in any direction.



I know that many moms don't really mind what the curriculum is at this early of an age, but I do....I don't think my 4 year old should have homework or anything..but I think that pre-k is a place to start hearing about the alphabet etc...(of course, they do hear about it at home).



I also looked at a variety of christian schools. Many of them seemed to be more focused on rules and consequences than curriculum. Being a science person who is also a christian, I have a problem with children only being taught creationism....personal choice.



We sent Amanda to a school last year that was affiliated with a presbytarian church....and she did fine. They had a nice "curriculum" for three year olds which included reading about the alphabet, etc...and they offered spanish , music, PE. This year we are sending her to the preschool associated with our son's kindergarten....



Hope this wasn't too long,





Kris

Kristen,



Thanks for the info! There are so many options. The thing about Montessori that piques my interest is that they focus on developing the creative learning abilities that many schools don't foster enough of. For example, many kids are what they call "passive learners". These kids might be more interested in giving the "right answer" than in exploring what they find facsinating. I know higher year Montessori schools (in the early grades, etc.) don't focus on the 3Rs as much as creative learning. I agree with you that kids need that. They need to learn how to memorize AND also be creative and explorative learners. So I'm thinking that the early preschool years might be good for developing a self-motivated learning style. There are different schools of thought on learning styles, but one simplistic model argues there are 4 basic learning styles, and these translate into how we work in our adult lives. There are RESEARCHERS (people who like to read everything they can before doing something), KINETIC learners (people who learn by physically doing something--the "i'll know if if I do it myself" people), PASSIVE learners (people who want to be told how to do something), and I forget the other type (oops!!!). Of course, we're all a combination, but what seems to be very successful in later life is having a good set of skills that let you be self-starting, that is read and find out what you need to know and then do it by yourself. That's the model that many careers require and the model universities use. So, I'd like to develop that side of my girls' little brains early in life.



What I did was order a book from Amazon.com called "Montessori Play & Learn : A Parents' Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six". I've got time on my hands, but my play repetoire needs beefing up!



I also agree about the breadth of teaching in schools. I wouldn't want my child to learn only creationism. However, I wouldn't want them to hear only an evolutionary perspective and not to hear that there are others who think the world was created differently. I'd want them to hear how all the different religions feel so they have an accurate view of how diverse people are in their views.



I just feel like the preschool years are such an opportunity to learn things and become fascinated by the learning process itself. I don't think I got enough of that, so I'm trying to not follow what my parents did.



I'd love to hear more about what people think on this subject!



Janet

Janet,



I can give you no help on Montessori schools as I have never checked into one and know virtually nothing about them. We have however, taken all three of our children to "mother's day out" programs. Our oldest started at 2 and in that class they worked on counting, letters, colors, and name recoginition. He went 2 days a week until 5 years then started in kindergarten at 1/2 day and now he is in 3rd grade. We would not change one thing done with Aaron. Brennon has been in mother's day out also. He started at a little earlier age as I just needed some days away from kids. The city of Tulsa put in a 4-year old program a couple of years ago. It is 1/2 day M-F. This is what he did last year. It is free and held in the elementary school so it is much like kindergarten. He loved it and it was a GREAT help in learning for him. He is now in 1/2 day kindergarten. I would like to see the kindergarten go to all day since they have already been exposed to 1/2 day 4-year old program. For the 4-year old program it was the parents responsibility to get them back and forth to "school". So if you did not want to participate in this or could not get your kids there you just didn't do it. After talking with his teacher at parent teachers conference we did the right thing and she said she can sure tell the ones that did take advantage of this program. Our little Evan is in mother's day out on Tuesday and Thursday. They are working on letters and colors now. He loves it and is truly learning way more than I have the patients to give him. I function better having the kids out of the house for a couple of hours each week. With Richard schedule I just need time to regroup and do Devera things and mother's day out has given that to me. The boys are doing fine in school and at this time we would not do anything different. All day kindergarten would be nice but would not give Brennon anthing more in the way of education.

Devera,



I know what you mean about needing some time for yourself. That's part of my motivation, but I also think that the social interaction would be good for my children.



I've never heard of Mother's Day Out, but I'll see if it's available in my commmunity and, if it is, I'll visit and check it out.



Thanks!

Janet

I thought I'd bring all of you up to date on what I've learned about Montessori schools since I last inquired to the group. I asked my very good friend about it, as I know she had looked into that program for her daughter. This friend of mine reads up on absolutely everything. Everything she's interested in she researches to death. She's also got a minor in child psychology, so I figure she knows more than I'll ever glean from cursory readings.



So, here's the low down: Montessori schools spend an enormous amount of time teaching daily chores and activities. They call this "Purposeful Play". I'm all for teaching a child to mop up a spilled me, pick up toys, help with dishes, etc. However, I think the Montessori program goes a bit too far with it. And I think it's at the expense of playing, which is enormously important to child development. For example, some programs teach preschoolers how to iron clothing (using real irons, I kid you not), set the table (that's not so bad), make snacks (that's OK too), and fold laundry. I just think there's too big of an emphasis on the domestic chores.



When you think about it, some of these programs (Waldorf and Montessori) were conceived many years ago in another era. When the founders died or retired, the programs sort of "froze" in time. They didn't change. Take something out of it's context, and in time it will either change to keep up with the context or it will stagnate. I've decided, after all, that I'm not that interested in the Montessori program for my girls. I'd like to find some play program that was really great with creative play and also taught a lot of social and group skills as well.



Any thoughts?

I have heard such mixed reviews about montessori/waldorf schools. It is such a tough decision to make...Really, Janet, I have to say that the best thing to do is go to the school.....and check it out. I have had info sent to me from different schools that just sounds great and then I go there and realize that it may be good on paper but it stinks in the practice...at least the way that particular school is doing it!



I was going to send my children to a co-op preschool where the parents are active participants and all of that neat stuff. I thought it would be so neat and was really excited. They told me all kinds of great things about the program over the phone and I even told my children that they would be going there...becuase I felt so great about it...They had an open house and told us to bring our swimsuits because they had a pool...and to even have me bring mine....and we got there and all they had were a couple of old plastic wading pools....so I didn't change into my suit! The building was run-down and the care-givers seemed strange to me....



Have you been doing any more looking?





Kristen

That's good advice, Kris. I think I'll just have to visit a lot of the different schools. It won't be for another year or so, as my girls are only turning two in December, but I do want to start thinking about it now.



Maybe in the spring I'll start looking into it seriously. I'll let you know what I find...



Thanks for the ideas!