Questions to ask of a possible new school???

[AmyinKY]

I just read your question to my husband and kids. My daughters (17) snarky question: Is the dissection kit from playskool or Little Tykes.... I won't repeat what my husband said

I agree with the others, let her learn social skills, hands on activities, etc.

Amy

 

[NikitaZee]

I taught pre-school for 6 years, and we had a curriculum as well as free play for the children. The two didn't cancel each other out - they sent perfectly happy and well-adjusted 4 and 5 year olds on to kindergarten. Our goals were for each child to know the alphabet - as well as write it - upper and lower case letters. They learned to write their first and last names, counting up to the number 20 (although most could go beyond that - to 30 or even 50), days of the week and months of the year, how to cut with safety scissors, and the beginnings of knowing their addresses. Not so much curriculum, but equally important - they learned how to wait their turn, sit and eat nicely at the table, kindness to others and expressing their feelings using their words. We accomplished this over two years - ages 3 and 4, and 5 if they didn't meet the kindergarten age cutoff. Time spent actively teaching curriculum was about an hour to an hour and a half a day. The rest of the day was free play, story telling, outside time, and monthly-geared activities around whatever holiday happened that particular month. In the summertime, we took a break from curriculum and just did artwork, coloring, etc.

Believe me, the children had plenty of time to socialize and just 'be kids', but they started kindergarten well prepared. We never had a parent complain about our curriculum being too much for the kids - in fact we received praise from kindergarten teachers on what a great job we did in our center. Good luck OP!

 

[jlmarr]

It's preschool..my only question would be "do you provide crayons or should I send some in?"

That, and do they provide smocks for finger painting?

 

[Alesia]

Honestly, I really did not imagin that people would assume that my expectations are too high. Yes, of course, I have expectations -all parents should! I expect that she will learn and have fun while doing so.

Believe me, I am well aware of age appropriate learning and behaviors. (I also have a 16 year old daughter so I am not a newbie at this parenting thing. lol)I just wanted to hear what other people have been through.

I just want to make sure it would be a place she would learn but in a fun way. Not sitting at a desk but using hands on type learning. Make sure there is outdoor play, make sure there is time for fun social interactions.

Thank you Luvsjack, Dorisk3, LuvOrlando, and BuzznBells'smom - that was what I was looking for.

You're right, it was an unfair assumption. Most of the threads that have been started on this subject seem to end up being a way for the original poster to show what a great parent she is for wanting to be in complete control of everything that happens to her child. I think assuming everyone is that way is a side effect of spending too much time on the community board. Sorry.

 

[ElliePeters]

As a preschool teachers, I think that unless your daughter has special needs, you shouldn't worry too much about the curriculum.

Agreed!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have three kids....36 y/o ds, 33 y/o dd, 16 y/o dd. They went to two different preschools. My eldest went to 'the' preschool' in town. They had a wonderful 'cirriculum'...lots of free play as well as teaching structured play. Colors, numbers, some word recognition. My issue?? They tried to hold him back a year, before hitting kindergarten, simply because some colors confused him. Are you kidding me??? My child can't move up because he doesn't recognize 'pink' consistently?? No, not happening. He moved on with his group. Finished second in his graduating class from college..in finance.
Second child...needed a more warm and fuzzy type school. What you would most likely think of as 'old fashioned'. No true 'cirriculum' to the best of my knowledge. Yes, she learned stuff, but not over the top academics.
Youngest??? She went to the same preschool that DS went to. She was going to a less academic school, but they only took kids that were 3...and she was ready at a younger age. So, she was placed in the more academic school. Yes, she learned 'stuff'. But...when I would go in for the parent confs, my question was always this...'Is Kate sought after as a playmate? Is she joining in on the outdoor fun? Does she have a friend, or friends?'. Those were the important things to me. Those are the true building blocks. Peer interaction is a learned skill. Now, this school had some wonderful stuff going on. They had a 'theme' each year..and everything they did that year was built around the theme. Terrific stuff going on there.
In fact, so much wonderful stuff that there were parents that decided the public school system wasn't going to be able to offer anything close to what their kids had had in this preschool, so they sent their children off to private schools, even for kindergarten, rather than take a chance with the public schools.
Now..understand...I live in a town where people move to simply because of the school system. To pay the taxes we have here (due in large part to our schools) but to pay for private schools for your children isn't the smartest move.

My children had at least 12-18 years of education ahead of them. I didn't feel the need to meet with a cirriculum director in their preschools. Sure, kids will ask for homework at home....perfectly normal. But I have to tell you...it isn't a sign that they 'need' more advanced learning..at the ripe old age of 4!! Once it becomes commonplace, homework and learning isn't all it seemed to be when you were 4 and playing school at home.

Oh.....by the way. That middle child? The one that needed the warm and fuzzy preschool? She is now a preschool teacher herself. She won't work in a true cirriculum based school. She feels that kids need to be kids and learn some social skills rather than focus on reading, writing and 'rithmatic in preschool. Have to agree with her.

Find a school that loves kids, that provides them with a safe, secure place to be. The learning will happen along the way. I can't imagine what parents think their children should be 'getting' in preschool. Preschool should be giving kids a chance to be away from mom and dad, trying things out on their own, learning to be a bit independent, learning to coexist with the others in school.

Being a parent who is in the schools, helping out in the classroom is great. I worked in my dd's library for 3 years as a volunteer. Actually got paid there to sub for 5 months. It was eye opening. I am still right there, helping out in the school..even though my dd is now 16. I pick my spots. Her teachers have always known we were there, watching. But I doubt any teacher felt differently about my child simply because I was in evidence. That strikes me as incredibly unfair. What about the poor kid who's parents both work and can't be in evidence? Or the kid who is in a one parent family, with a mom who isn't available?? Based on what some of you are saying, these kids just aren't getting the same 'attention' as their counterparts with hovering parents.

 

[golfgal]

You're right, it was an unfair assumption. Most of the threads that have been started on this subject seem to end up being a way for the original poster to show what a great parent she is for wanting to be in complete control of everything that happens to her child. I think assuming everyone is that way is a side effect of spending too much time on the community board. Sorry.

It was also asked what her expectations were and she declined to answer so honestly how can you say that we think her expectations were too high when she never said what they were--and most likely they ARE because she wouldn't post them.

 

[Erin1700]

My former job as an inclusion teacher had me going in to many different preschools. There were some I loved and some, well, not so much!

Ask them if the learning and activities are done by the entire class or small groups or if the child has a choice of whether or not to participate. I would go into these 2 schools that gave the 4 and 5 yr olds a choice to do story time or projects, etc. So if Johnny wanted to just play all day or run around like a crazy man, that was ok b/c it was his choice. Well, when I ran into kids from these schools in kindergarten, guess who had a terrible time following the teachers instructions??
I think a class of 2 and 3 yr olds should maybe not be so structured, but the year before kindergarten, the child needs to know that you are expected to do things as a group and participate.

 

[1stluvispooh]

I think that it would be more beneficial if you instead of talking to the director but if you could observe class. This way you could see if their teaching style meets your daughters needs. Also do you know anyone who had kids go to that school? They will help you. Or just ask friends with kids slightly older what school their kids went to and what their thoughts are. Quit frankly I sent my kids to 2 different preschools partly because my DD and DS have differnt learning styles and need. And secondly the "great" preschool we went DS to had well gone down hill in the 2 years that he was there.

 

[luvsJack]

OP, I am afraid that when you say the words "curriculum" and preschool together, too many people think you want your child in a desk all day doing lessons intended for much older children. That you want you child to read, write and do advanced math by the time they are 5. That is not exactly true of most parents. Wanting your child's preschool to have a curriculum is not expecting too much.

Preschool curriculum IS play, or should be. It IS about social interaction, learning to line up and getting used to being in a "school" setting. But, its also about learning about the world around them. Being introduced to the alphabet and that words are letters put together and that they can put letters together to make their name (whether they actually learn to write it or not). Saying that a preschool should have a curriculum is not expecting them to be ready for advanced learning next week and it should NEVER be about holding a child back--that is way beyond the scope of what preschool should be about.

The ideal preschool teacher can have free play in her classroom but use that free play to teach. She can sit down at story time (which is language lesson and should be part of the curriculum) and read "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and use that story to set up the centers/play areas in her classroom to teach: math (one to one matching--each bear gets a bowl in the pretend play area, science/cooking (making oatmeal, measuring is a really good lesson here), language (use props to tell the story) and the list goes on and on and there doesn't have to be a pencil or piece of paper used at all. The children should never think of the things they are doing at centers as "work", if they do something is wrong. Playtime and learning time should be all rolled into one.

Learning to interact socially is a big lesson at this age and should definitely be incorporated. One of the great things about groups in centers is that the children learn to play and interact with all the kids in their class not just one or two kids. It also gives the shyer kids the opportunity to make friends in a small setting. And then during outside play she should encourage friend making and interaction between all the kids.

I taught 4 year olds for 12 years and made sure I was able to show any parent that came in exactly what the kids were learning for the week or month and exactly what our goals were for the year. For them to just come in and watch, they may not realize that the block tower that Jason is building is important because it includes 12 blocks and 12 is the number for the week. Or that the tea party Suzy is having is important because she has 3 guests and each guest must have a cup, a saucer and a chair and that it is an important math skill.

You should go and observe the class but make sure there is also time to sit down and talk with the teacher and the director. Ask the teacher about her knowledge of child development and what she thinks is important in the PreK classroom. Ask what skills the children are hoped to master by the end of the year. Also, ask about what degrees the teacher and director hold and if there are background/criminal record checks done on all employees of the school.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Differently , how?

I have been very careful to cultivate good relationships with all my kids' teachers. Last week I took my children out of school for a week to go to WDW. Because we had snow ahead of the trip my DS12 never got any extra work or instructions to follow for while we were away. Over the weekend he & I went over his best guess for what he missed. On Monday, when he went back, I sent his pre-Algebra teacher a note asking her what her impressions were of his ability to keep up. Since it is an advanced class they move very quickly and a week could be damaging and I told her I understood she was busy but that I would follow her directions to the letter if she had any suggestions. Anyhow she said they were scheduled to have a test Wed but she'd let him wait. After school I discovered she sat with him 1 hour Tuesday in school. Then Wed. I sent her a message thanking her up and down for taking her personal time to work with my son and what a great job I think she is doing. Thursday she spoke with his other team teachers about helping him catch up with Math and arranged to have him pulled from Science and Social Studies where he already has A averages. Then she sat with him one on one for 3 hours AND she let him take the test in 2 parts. He did 1/2 on Thursday after she was done with him and had him this entire weekend to work on the 2nd half for Monday.

No-way she would go this far out of her way for a kid &/or parent who is apathetic. Respect and appreciation go a really long way.

 

[Tinijocaro]

You base your questions on your expectations-do you know what you expect from a preschool program?

 

[declansdad]

I have been very careful to cultivate good relationships with all my kids' teachers. Last week I took my children out of school for a week to go to WDW. Because we had snow ahead of the trip my DS12 never got any extra work or instructions to follow for while we were away. Over the weekend he & I went over his best guess for what he missed. On Monday, when he went back, I sent his pre-Algebra teacher a note asking her what her impressions were of his ability to keep up. Since it is an advanced class they move very quickly and a week could be damaging and I told her I understood she was busy but that I would follow her directions to the letter if she had any suggestions. Anyhow she said they were scheduled to have a test Wed but she'd let him wait. After school I discovered she sat with him 1 hour Tuesday in school. Then Wed. I sent her a message thanking her up and down for taking her personal time to work with my son and what a great job I think she is doing. Thursday she spoke with his other team teachers about helping him catch up with Math and arranged to have him pulled from Science and Social Studies where he already has A averages. Then she sat with him one on one for 3 hours AND she let him take the test in 2 parts. He did 1/2 on Thursday after she was done with him and had him this entire weekend to work on the 2nd half for Monday.

No-way she would go this far out of her way for a kid &/or parent who is apathetic. Respect and appreciation go a really long way.

Wow your son's teacher had 3 straight hours of class time to sit with him. That is amazing.

 

[kirbsam]

why not just do what you did when your 16 year old daughter went to preschool. oh wait, you probably just sent her and everything turned out absolutley fine. that is what i would do. if every parent had to interview the curriculum director, they wouldnt get any work done. and curriculum would suffer.

 

[Cornhusk]

I have been very careful to cultivate good relationships with all my kids' teachers. Last week I took my children out of school for a week to go to WDW. Because we had snow ahead of the trip my DS12 never got any extra work or instructions to follow for while we were away. Over the weekend he & I went over his best guess for what he missed. On Monday, when he went back, I sent his pre-Algebra teacher a note asking her what her impressions were of his ability to keep up. Since it is an advanced class they move very quickly and a week could be damaging and I told her I understood she was busy but that I would follow her directions to the letter if she had any suggestions. Anyhow she said they were scheduled to have a test Wed but she'd let him wait. After school I discovered she sat with him 1 hour Tuesday in school. Then Wed. I sent her a message thanking her up and down for taking her personal time to work with my son and what a great job I think she is doing. Thursday she spoke with his other team teachers about helping him catch up with Math and arranged to have him pulled from Science and Social Studies where he already has A averages. Then she sat with him one on one for 3 hours AND she let him take the test in 2 parts. He did 1/2 on Thursday after she was done with him and had him this entire weekend to work on the 2nd half for Monday.

No-way she would go this far out of her way for a kid &/or parent who is apathetic. Respect and appreciation go a really long way.

How amazing but one question, this was going on during school hours?

 

[Magic Mom]

I have been very careful to cultivate good relationships with all my kids' teachers. Last week I took my children out of school for a week to go to WDW. Because we had snow ahead of the trip my DS12 never got any extra work or instructions to follow for while we were away. Over the weekend he & I went over his best guess for what he missed. On Monday, when he went back, I sent his pre-Algebra teacher a note asking her what her impressions were of his ability to keep up. Since it is an advanced class they move very quickly and a week could be damaging and I told her I understood she was busy but that I would follow her directions to the letter if she had any suggestions. Anyhow she said they were scheduled to have a test Wed but she'd let him wait. After school I discovered she sat with him 1 hour Tuesday in school. Then Wed. I sent her a message thanking her up and down for taking her personal time to work with my son and what a great job I think she is doing. Thursday she spoke with his other team teachers about helping him catch up with Math and arranged to have him pulled from Science and Social Studies where he already has A averages. Then she sat with him one on one for 3 hours AND she let him take the test in 2 parts. He did 1/2 on Thursday after she was done with him and had him this entire weekend to work on the 2nd half for Monday.

No-way she would go this far out of her way for a kid &/or parent who is apathetic. Respect and appreciation go a really long way.

First of all, I seriously question the judgement of any teacher who would take 3+ hours away from her class to spend with one child.

Secondly, her attention to your child doesn't prove that she wouldn't do the same for a child whose parents are apathetic. In fact, kids who get little support at home are often give extra attention at school to keep them current and supplement what they don't get at home in terms of homework help.

 

[kirbsam]

I have been very careful to cultivate good relationships with all my kids' teachers. Last week I took my children out of school for a week to go to WDW. Because we had snow ahead of the trip my DS12 never got any extra work or instructions to follow for while we were away. Over the weekend he & I went over his best guess for what he missed. On Monday, when he went back, I sent his pre-Algebra teacher a note asking her what her impressions were of his ability to keep up. Since it is an advanced class they move very quickly and a week could be damaging and I told her I understood she was busy but that I would follow her directions to the letter if she had any suggestions. Anyhow she said they were scheduled to have a test Wed but she'd let him wait. After school I discovered she sat with him 1 hour Tuesday in school. Then Wed. I sent her a message thanking her up and down for taking her personal time to work with my son and what a great job I think she is doing. Thursday she spoke with his other team teachers about helping him catch up with Math and arranged to have him pulled from Science and Social Studies where he already has A averages. Then she sat with him one on one for 3 hours AND she let him take the test in 2 parts. He did 1/2 on Thursday after she was done with him and had him this entire weekend to work on the 2nd half for Monday.

No-way she would go this far out of her way for a kid &/or parent who is apathetic. Respect and appreciation go a really long way.

if this is true the teacher should be reprimanded. because even if it was during prep time, it took away from other kids learning. nothing to brag about actually.

 

[luvsJack]

First of all, I seriously question the judgement of any teacher who would take 3+ hours away from her class to spend with one child.

Secondly, her attention to your child doesn't prove that she wouldn't do the same for a child whose parents are apathetic. In fact, kids who get little support at home are often give extra attention at school to keep them current and supplement what they don't get at home in terms of homework help.

I agree. I think the kids with non-supportive parents are the ones who actually need the 3 hours of personal time from the teacher.

 

[luvsJack]

why not just do what you did when your 16 year old daughter went to preschool. oh wait, you probably just sent her and everything turned out absolutley fine. that is what i would do. if every parent had to interview the curriculum director, they wouldnt get any work done. and curriculum would suffer.

All preschool programs are not created equally. Just as there are parents with different expectations for this age, there are teachers and programs with different philosophies of what should happen in a preschool program.
Anyone putting their child in a preschool program should question and observe to make sure the program is best suited for their child.

 

[nuke]

Wow your son's teacher had 3 straight hours of class time to sit with him. That is amazing.

If I was a parent of her other students I would be ticked that she neglected them to catch up one child.