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Choosing the Right Preschool: Waldorf Montessori, Progressive, traditional or Reggio Emilia

Preschool Admissions - Montessori, Progressive, Traditional, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia - What program is right for your child?

Types of schools to choose from

When I sent my daughter to kindergarten, I wanted more nurturing environment I could find. I chose a wonderful progressive program in my neighborhood. A few years later, when we were interviewing for a girls' school selective admissions director there told me that during the interview of my daughter, she is expected to draw circles, squares, triangles and rectangles. My eyes popping open in shock and said, "but my daughter does not know draw." He looked at our file and said (rather snootily), "Oh, yes, his daughter was one of those schools play the middle. "

I was offended that she saw the school he loved so much that way. But he did. Meanwhile, I found with a neighbor who sent her daughter to a top of the traditional nursery. She was applying to the same school for his daughter. When I told him that our girls would have be able to do to enter, she said, "Erica can do that. They spent a whole month in a form of unity in kindergarten."

So when choosing a preschool child, whichever is the kind of school you choose, remember that in the end, there is a test if you want the private school or a program for gifted and talented. Even if you choose public kindergarten, your child will be considered for placement in ability groups as soon as school starts. All children take the same test, no matter where they went to kindergarten. Some schools prepare children and others not. Frankly, I would have chosen the same school we choose then no matter what, because we loved it. But I wish I had understood from the beginning that there would be a major test at the end, and if I did not prepare kindergarten my son, I would have to.

I will cover five of the most common types or philosophies of preschool - Montessori, Progressive, Traditional, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia.

Whether you are looking for a preschool in a church or temple, a cooperative school, a public preschool or private program - Is likely to adopt some of these approaches to education.

Montessori

Personally, I love the Montessori schools and encourage you to a travel and see for yourself. Children not only learn a lot and are taught not to start a new project until you get the materials they were working outside the home. My daughter has always been messy and I wonder if she had not been I had started a Montessori school. The goal of Montessori is to develop independence, self-esteem and confidence in a child while promoting education in their own pace.

In a Montessori classroom, the principal is the interaction between the child and the materials, not the teacher and child. At first, the teacher shows the children the proper use of each package. Then, the child may have the materials out, place them on a mat, and used as the master taught him. When finished, she puts away before starting a new project. It emphasizes self-directed learning.

Once the teacher has demonstrated the use of materials, children work individually or in small groups. With this level of instruction, children with learning delays or who are gifted often did very well in a Montessori classroom.

The materials used in a Montessori classroom are built around three areas. 1) The practice of life skills (folding shirts, tying shoes), 2) sensory (manipulation of geometric shapes, putting blocks into holes on the right), and 3) language and mathematics (manipulation of sandpaper letters and numbers, rosaries in length strings). As you can imagine, children learn a lot from this curriculum - Numbers, letters, add, subtract, practical skills for life, information, and more.

The Montessori classroom is very bright, warm and welcoming. Usually, several different learning centers where children can explore through hands tactical materials. Classes are of mixed ages, usually 3-6, with the older kids help the younger ones. Children are encouraged to work at their own pace and create your own foundation knowledge. When they leave Montessori, who are cooperative, organized, respectful of the work of other children, and able to work independently.

Progressive (Also known as development, child-centered, Model of Bank Street)

This is the model I chose for my children and loved ones to it. Here, philosophy is that children need to explore and learn through imaginative play, art, and building blocks. The progressive classroom is usually set as a series "centers" where learning can be conducted using open-ended materials. There may be a fantasy play area, a group of counters for paint a block corner, water tables, an area of puzzles and more. Teachers set these settings in response to what they see that children are interested Move between the areas and encourage children to pursue their own projects and ideas in these centers. The game is considered the "work" of children and is taken seriously.

Here, no curriculum pre-planned that children follow. Since teachers are following the example of children, what children learn one year to another and between morning and afternoon sessions may be different. Children work at their own pace, learning through play. The interaction is between children rather than among children and materials (like Montessori). At no point are prescribed children expected to learn any particular skill. In fact, the specific learning through teaching is frowned upon. This explains why my daughter never had a unit on shapes. " Simply not done.

Social interaction among children is very important in a progressive classroom. There is much talk of "community." Separation between the child and the father is seen as an important step in the development and a lot of time and energy spent on this. The atmosphere is casual, children often call the teachers by name and you're never uniform in that program. The school is more relaxed when a child should go to the bathroom.

Children who attend progressive preschools tend to be more independent, curious, creative and willing to ask questions. Often, higher scores on tests of problem solving and curiosity, but lower in intelligence tests. If your child will need to be tested for private school or a program for gifted children after attending a progressive school, you want to be sure that they have won all the capabilities of the tests are evaluated.

Traditional

In the traditional classroom, no there is a structured curriculum with specific goals for children. The goals are about teaching children math, letters, numbers, sounds, shapes, problem solving and more listening. The talk around the water table is more likely to be led by the teacher instead of children, which he drove. Here, the teacher instructs, directs, explains, and organizes each lesson. Children learn from them rather than from their own explorations.

In this type of classes, all children may be working in the same activity at the same time. For example, in thanksgiving, everyone can work on the set precut construction paper together to make turkeys. Emphasis will be placed in the finished product to the process. If you go into a classroom and see a billboard that shows twenty bucks matching, you are probably in a traditional school. At these schools, children can work with preschool worksheets for learning math and writing. There an emphasis on school readiness.

Certainly, there could be a period of free choice, but there is more emphasis on formal instruction. Children call the teacher Mrs. X or Y. Miss You might find uniforms or dress codes in this type of school. In a traditional program, will be strictly seeks to ensure that your child is trained before the age of 3. Studies have shown that children who attend traditional schools are less aggressive towards their peers, more task-oriented and do better on IQ and achievement tests. On the downside, which show less independence and initiative, his game is less imaginative and less creative.

Waldorf

Developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919, Waldorf programs to educate the whole child - "head, heart and hands." The classrooms are warm and welcoming, creaCtive play is the order of the day, with a heavy dose of teamwork and community. The teacher gets the same class from kindergarten through eighth grade, leading to a strong relationship that the teacher knows your child really.

The learning is practical, cooking, art projects, storytelling, songs, puppets, dress and play. Academics are not emphasized in the early years, reading readiness, beginning in kindergarten and the actual instruction starting in first grade. "Key lessons" are taught in blocks of 1.5 to 3 hours a day with each block of hard stuff for three to five weeks. Thus, curriculum children experience deep and vividly as possible. The activities to be considered as extras in many schools are key Waldorf's philosophy - art, gardening and foreign language. In the early years, much learning takes place through art teaching and learning against rote. All children learn to knit and play the flute.

In the early years, Waldorf schools do not use textbooks. Instead, children have their own "main lesson books", which are filled during the year, recording their experiences. Later, textbooks were introduced for certain classes as math and grammar. Grades will not start until middle school. Instead, teachers write detailed reports on each child's development and progress. Use electronic media for young children, especially television, is not recommended in Waldorf schools.

Schools of Reggio Emilia

Loris Malaguzzi founded the Reggio Emilia approach in a town in Italy called Reggio Emilia. Newsweek magazine hailed the best preschool programs in the world in 1991. His approach values children as competent, resourceful, curious, imaginative and inventive.

In a Reggio Emilia school, teachers pay close attention to the appearance of classrooms, which is often referred to as the teacher "third." The aim is to create a room that is beautiful, cheerful, welcoming and stimulating. Child labor on display together with collections of leaves or rocks that have been made after the excursions. There is no natural light, plants, mirrors, photographs, and children working to attract attention. Several centers are located throughout the room devoted to drama, art, writing, sand and water exploration, mathematics, manipulatives, blocks, and science. Much thought goes into designing a Reggio Emilia classroom in order to support its multi-sensory approach to learning.

After that the teacher organizes a class rich in possibilities, it invites children to carry out the exploration and resolution of problems. By observing children, learns all interesting and uses that information to act as a resource to them, asking them questions, discover their ideas, helping them create hypotheses and theories test. No pre-set curriculum. Teachers and parents are seen as partners in learning with children.

Teachers document children's discussions, comments, notes and activities through, videos and photographs. This makes learning visible, helping parents understand what their children are learning, teachers to better understand children and the children see that their work is valued.

The long-term projects arising from the spontaneous play and exploration with children. They can last from days to several months. Depending on the interests of children, the themes of the projects are decided (with input from children.) Teachers bring in materials, books, questions, and opportunities for children to explore the issue further. Exploration may be carried out through field trips, debate, drawing, sculpture, puppetry, drama, shadow and dramatic play, and writing.

Combination Schools

Some schools use a mixture of the above methods. You may find a program using the best of Montessori, while also spending time in the separation and socialization pure class that is not Montessori. Some schools have very structured and traditional shot of a few progressive elements in the mix and say they are a combination of school. That's not combined approach would be a true unless the teachers are allowing academic work to develop from the interests of children.

How Do you know that the educational philosophy of the school's next?

Look at your materials. Ask when you visit. But above all, watch. Many schools are very clear about who they are and what philosophy they follow. Other directors will say they are a mixture of progressive and traditional, but when you watch, you will clearly see that are one or the other.

That philosophy is the best?

Children who attend are traditional or a Montessori school are more likely to "graduate" with the types of private schools seeking skills. Traditional schools teach the skills and Montessori materials are provided to children these skills so independent. This does not mean that children who attend a progressive, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia school or not to acquire these skills through the program - many do. But if your child does not, you will not get a call from the Director raising a red flag that the child can not draw circles and squares. They are more relaxed and I think children learn these skills when they are interested and willing development.

One approach is not necessarily better than another. My recommendation is that you visit each type of school and try to determine what type of program it feels good to your child and family.

To see the reviews of kindergarten materials testing of preparation you can use to get your child prepared for the admission test for private school, the grade of the program for gifted and talented students and the ability of public school placement group, visit www.kindergartentestingwithouttears.com.

About the Author

Karen Quinn is the author of Testing For Kindergarten, a parent's guide to getting your preschool child ready for ERB, Stanford-Binet, WPPSI-III, OLSAT or other IQ tests for private school admission and GATE or gifted and talented program qualification. She is a former kindergarten admissions advisor from NYC and is the inventor of IQ Fun Park, an IQ test prep kit (that feels like play) for children ages 3 to 6. Visit her at
www.testingforkindergarten.com.

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