Our son is attending a new preschool this year. It is a Montessori-based non-profit school, and it has quite a different philosphy than our previous preschool. The children work individually on different academic tasks that they chose from shelves in the classroom, and then there are group activities that are very imaginative or practical. Their progress, including photos and work, throughout the year is recorded in a binder that they will receive at the end of the year. Montessori school has a "softer" feel. The classrooms are cute and cozy, organized, and welcoming. The children are quiet and very well-behaved.One part of the Montessori philosophy is "practical life." The preschool director and the teachers work with the children on real-life tasks such as lacing/tying, buttoning, pouring, cooking, carrying groceries, setting the table, feeding the dog, folding laundry, and so on. I have noticed our son even more willing to help than he is normally. He has done his share of hanging and folding laundry and has no problem doing something like peeling 20 carrots for me while I prepare dinner. Not only is this portion of school good for helping at home, manners, influencing younger siblings, but it really gives the children themselves a sense of pride and independence.
The children made a doctor's office and spent quite a bit of time learning about the human body. They also explored skeletons, did yoga, and learned to rattle off the five senses as quickly as they can count to five. Then, before I knew it they were scientists, complete with badges and laboratories. They cooked vegetables (even kohlrabi), and related the food preparation process to the five senses. They learned how to weigh things with real laboratory scales and pretended to be paleontologists. Now, they are creating bar graphs based on the types of clothing that they wear as they explore how different people dress around the world. Our son has entertained himself at home drawing/coloring/cutting/gluing pieces of clothing together to create the people in his family over the last week. The ideas and concepts they explore are very exciting to him!
Perks with this preschool that I like: Tuition discount if you pay on time; Make-up days if one of your regular days falls on a scheduled day off, such as an inservice or holiday; No sweets or treats on Birthdays or Holidays; No field trips and few programs (which allows for more real learning time); Small class sizes; Healthy snacks only (our son chose carrots, hard boiled eggs, plums, and peaches for his first snacks); No free play / recess time; For outside activities, children must dress themselves completely in warm gear; No "show and tell;" The choice to attend between 2 and 5 days per week.
I noticed our son's writing skills are already improved after just over a month. Part of this is because he has grown in body and mind so much from last year, but part of it is because this school is focused more on academics than self expression and socialization. He can write practically anything you spell and always signs his work with both his name and his brother's name (probably used to doing this when he and I make birthday or thank-you cards). He often brings home books that he made based on the "letter of the week" and is excited to read them to us. He can count almost to thirty, and his teacher tells me he will be one of the few kids this year who make it to one-hundred.In addition, the preschool is attached to a church so we are welcome to take part in the church community events. For example, I have started quilting once a month with some very nice ladies. The quilts we make will go to families whose homes have burned.
Our son is so excited about is school and the things he is learning. I and am so happy New Hope Montessori Preschool is close to our home, and that we found it as soon as we did. It should be a great year!
