Montessori
The Montessori philosophy was founded by Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. She developed innovative ideas on teaching young children in the early part of
the 20th century. This philosophy emphasizes the individual child's initiative
and independence, allowing him or her to progress through an orderly series of
structured learning activities at his own pace. Special materials which
emphasize the use of all the senses in learning are employed.
To a visitor, a Montessori setting may seem remarkably calm
and quiet for a preschool, and the children poised and self-assured.Montessori teachers receive specialized training; usually
two trained teachers are assigned to each classroom.
Be aware that since the word "Montessori" is not
trademarked, anyone can use it.
Waldorf
The Waldorf program was developed by
Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist and educator. It emphasizes developing
the child's intellectual powers in harmony with the feeling and active aspects
of his nature.
Waldorf schools try to create a "nurturing, home-like
environment" that stimulates your children's "bodies, spirits and
souls." Waldorf believes that creative play, imitation and teamwork and
togetherness are the best tools to help your child learn.
Preschool-aged Waldorf students learn to concentrate, be
interested, and love learning. They'll likely be singing, cooking, playing
dress-up, doing lots of art projects, and have story time. The natural
environment is emphasized and media is heavily discouraged - Waldorf parents are
usually asked to eliminate TV and computer use from their children's lives as
much as possible, and will never see plastic toys in the preschool.
Parent Co-Ops
The history of parent participation preschools dates back to
1915, and these hands-on programs remain as popular as ever. Schools are
structured as nonprofit cooperatives and usually hire an early childhood
professional to direct the program. Parents are required to work regularly in
the classroom and at a variety of other tasks, from building maintenance to
preparing snacks. Co-op programs are normally part-time.
Developmental
Children are encouraged to learn through activities that are
appropriate to their ages and individual stages of development. Kids can
usually choose among several activities and can play alone or in small groups,
while the whole group often comes together for songs, stories, or other
"circle time" activities. Rote learning, worksheets, and early
reading are not part of the program (although many reading readiness skills may
be learned informally).
Play-Based, Child-Centered
These terms don't necessarily mean "unstructured."
Some early childhood educators use one or the other to mean a developmental
approach.
Head Start
Preschool is only part of the federally funded Head Start
child development program. Programs are free and designed to serve low-income
children and their families. Head Start is found in virtually all urban areas
and in many suburban and rural communities as well. Local programs are
administered by many different private, public, and non-profit agencies.
Religious
Many preschools are sponsored by churches, synagogues, and
other religious organizations. They may incorporate much religious training or
very little, and may follow one of the other preschool philosophies outlined
here. It is important, of course, to have teachers who are trained in early
childhood education as well as religious tenets.
Academic
Academic programs stress serious preparation for elementary
school, with early reading or formal reading readiness activities, an
introduction to pencil-and-paper mathematics, and a general air of
studiousness. The preschool day is quite structured, often with separate times
for "work".
High/Scope
The High/Scope Foundation is a nonprofit research and
training organization founded in 1970. Its detailed program was originally used
for teaching preschool-age children from low-income families, but today is
found in other settings as well. It stresses learning through "active
involvement with people, materials, events, and ideas."
Additional information: http://www.highscope.org/
Bank Street
Say "Bank Street" and educators are likely to
think "preschool education." New York's Bank Street College of
Education has been a leader in early childhood education for more than 80
years, emphasizing a child-centered, developmental approach and learning through
experience.
Additional information: http://www.bnkst.edu/
Reggio Emilia
Like Montessori, this relatively new preschool philosophy
originated in Italy. This whole-child system of early childhood education
emphasizes art, creativity, and the child's environment and interests. Reggio Emilia has intrigued many educators in the United
States, although there are few wholly Reggio-style preschools here.
Projects
The goal of these programs is to let children learn by
experimentation, exploration, and collaboration. Teachers and their charges tie
the work they do in the classroom to real-world experiences and lessons. They
play with materials that inspire exploration and pretend play, such as blocks
and art supplies, and take lots of community field trips.
By introducing children to extension activities related to
their studies, the project approach looks to accomplish four kinds of learning
goals:
- to increase knowledge of fundamental concepts by making them interesting to learn about
- to improve behavior by allowing children to learn independently and in cooperation with fellow students
- to improve dispositions about learning
- to discourage negative attitudes that might hinder the educational process
In a projects-based program, children work independently.
The teacher serves as a guide, providing advice or help when needed but largely
standing back and letting the children decide how to handle a problem themselves.
The children negotiate with their teacher about the rules and directions for
the project, and what they want to accomplish with it. They learn to apply the
skills acquired earlier, and develop associations between those skills and how
they can be used in the world outside the classroom. Children also tend to
become more interested in a topic when they feel they can be actively involved
in learning about it, instead of just being lectured on the subject.
Children also get a chance to showcase more of their unique
skills and proficiencies than they would with more traditional instructional
learning. These programs emphasize educating the "whole child,"
including physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth.
Ananda Marga
"Ananda Marga ("Path of Bliss") schools
worldwide foster personal spiritual development, academic learning, artistic
creation and community service." Ananda Marga is based on a yoga
philosophy, and a quick reading of their social statements seems like a version
of mystical, spiritual socialism. They believe that utilization of human resources,
from the material to the spiritual, should be distributed according to the
common good and the will of the "collective body" "for the
prosperity of all."
Ananda Marga was developed in India in 1955 by Prabhat
Rainjain Sarkar, known by his spiritual name of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii.
*Information from http://www.contracostapreschools.com
While investigating which type of program to send your child to or utilize at home, look at your values, your childs abilities and interests. Whichever philosophy you choose your child will thrive if you remain a large part of their education.
*Information from http://www.contracostapreschools.com
While investigating which type of program to send your child to or utilize at home, look at your values, your childs abilities and interests. Whichever philosophy you choose your child will thrive if you remain a large part of their education.
