Sorry for the break. We just had our big community art fair (for which I volunteer) over Labor Day weekend, and things haven't really calmed down since it ended. I've been meeting with architects about working on the house, organizing my high school reunion, and researching preschools for Esme. I'm exhausted. (Do I say that a lot on this blog? Exhaustion seems to be a theme for parenthood.)
But on to the topic of the post: preschools. We have been researching preschools for Esme. She currently goes to daycare that has some preschool elements, but I'm seriously considering moving her to a more official preschool. It's not an easy decision, though. She loves the Secret Garden Daycare, where she goes now. It's run out of a friend's house, and is such a wonderful spot for children. But is she getting what she needs there? What's the function of preschool? Well, there are about as many answers to that question as there are preschools dotting the country. There are so many ways to break it down and analyze the various options. But lately, I've been smitten by the Montessori method.
While many teachers would say the purpose of preschool is to socialize children and get them used to a classroom setting, the Montessori method says that preschool should be about allowing the child to educate him or herself. The Montessori classroom is filled with games and activities all neatly arranged on child-size shelves. While the 3-year-old (or 4 or 5-year-old) is playing with the toys, they are actually doing work on an area of development. Each of the activities is designed to help the child's mastery of some specific skill. Of course, you can read about the Montessori method all day, but to understand it, I think you have to see a classroom in progress.
The first Montessori school we looked at was a small, two-room preschool. As we entered, the children were all quietly and happily working away at little tables, matching up pegs of wood that showed gradations of colors, spelling out words, scooping beads from one dish to another. The children were absolutely focused on their work. Of course, they're not expected to do that all day long. There are snack and meal breaks, outdoor play, etc., but the child is given the freedom to pursue their own activities during set work times, and the children seem to thrive in this atmosphere.
It's not that I'm worried about Esme's academics at this age. There shouldn't be so much pressure around preschool, as each child develops differently. But I think that providing an atmosphere that recognizes different stages of development and fosters a sense of joy in education is the best thing that we can do for our children.
Of course, getting into one of these preschools is another story, and another blog post. Thus far, we're playing the waiting list game. And I thought that would be something I would only hear when Esme was ready to apply for college!
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3 comments:
Ah, a subject close to my heart. After teaching at several Utopian Waldorf schools up in Sonoma County, which were fed by spectacular nurseries and home-based daycares, I now find myself dropping Imogen off every day for a morning at our village nursery.
It is not a deeply resonant philosophical match for me, but it does get a lot of things very right. Their emphasis is on manners, focus, social behaviour, individual choice in activity and following lead activities.
Although they go un-named, the core values of Truth, Beauty and Goodness are aparent in all they do. Every day contains art, music, story, organised (non-competative) games and plenty of free play.
For me, daycare is a home-from-home environment and nursery (or pre-school) an invitation into the world beyond home. When the child is ready for that distinct difference is particular to them.
As a teacher, I found it incredibly hard teaching at private schools, however closely they espoused my beliefs and in spite of their inclusive sliding scale fees or barter systems. As a result I found my niche in Charter Schools. Now that I look at schools from a parenting perspective, I have found that private schools may match my philosophy, but I am more at home in a government funded community school. Here Imogen can mix with the variety of people she sees around her every day, and outside of school she can socialise with the families who share our core values. Schooling her in a place that is not a Steiner/Waldorf school was hard for me at first, but I would rather do that than send her outside of the community in which we live. Our family beliefs are a part of the palate that makes her classroom diverse in its own way and although she may not be immersed in Steiner's philosophy at school, she is at home.
As for Montessori, there is a lot there which I enjoy and appreciate. The main distinction between the two approaches is to do with the individual vs the group. In a Steiner school the child learns to be a part of a cohesive and conscious community, breathing together, moving together, living and learning- together. A Montessori approach is, as you rightly identified, much more individual. Both contain the same warmth and creativity, many of the activities are also shared. My only beef with Montessori is to do with Maria herself. She shunned her own children to follow her teaching, that said Waldorf schools can become pretentious beyond belief. Essentially I think that finding a place which feels right is the most important. Bearing in mind geography, student-teacher ratio, and gut-reaction.
And yes, in California that usually involves waiting lists. We used to tell parents to think one school ahead. So you may be getting her down on pre-school lists right now, but do the same for kindergartens whilst you're at it!
Ahh ~ I went to a Montessori school from preschool through 2nd grade and have nothing but great, great memories. It was one of the best times of my childhood. I'd be happy to talk with you about my own experience there, if you're interested!
My favorite anecdote, specifically regarding education: at Montessori, I excelled in math, learning subtraction and simple multiplication on an *abacus* (really). When I transferred to Catholic school in 3rd grade, I was at the head of my class for all subjects, including math. By the time I reached all-girls, Catholic high school, my math scores were normal-to-low, and by the time I graduated high school, they were super-duper low (although English & Language Arts scores remained high). Nature or nurture? You decide :-)
I found an interesting comparison of Montessori and Waldorf schools here: http://www.michaelolaf.net/MONTESSORI%20and%20WALDORF.html
It seems to be fairly neutral and respectful of both philosophies.
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