Moms w kids in pre-k

What do the kids do during the day? Is it more structured with activities or free play?

Do the kids work on projects in groups or does the teacher take them one by one?

Is the teacher very interactive with the kids ? Does the teacher communicate with you about what the kids worked on that day?

I have 2 kids in nursery / pre-k but 2 different schools. I'm happy w one program and disappointed in the other. Just wondering what the norm is.

Thanks,

Re: Moms w kids in pre-k

My DS's pre-k class is structured.

The room is set up in "Activity Centers", so there is a science center, math center, art center, reading center, dress-up center.

They learn through structured play, so it isn't sit down and write your letters and numbers on a piece of paper.

They will draw letters in a sand table, or sort different colored blocks by color, number, etc.

everything is in roughly 30-45 minute sessions, and then they move to a different activity.

Most activities are done in groups as there are about 20 kids and 2 teachers, though they do try to spend one on one time with each of the kids.

The one thing that is much different from daycare is that I don't get daily reports anymore, so the teacher will only communicate if something happened in school that day that is unusual and that she needs to bring my attention to, like DS is not eating his lunch, or seems overly tired, or if he is acting up.

Moms w kids in pre-k

I don't have a child in pre-k, but I work for a Montessori school that offers nursery, prek and k.

In our program, we go along at your child's individual pace. We encourage learning through playing, and will introduce sounds and numbers (repeatedly if needed) until the child is cemented before we move on. If they are ready to write, we will work with them! If they're ready to read, we will encourage that also (and this follows through to all the areas of the classroom).

There are different sections: Language, Math, Practical Life (spooning, pouring, beading, stringing, etc), Sensorial (shapes, building, hands on materials), Science, Geography and Spanish. The children are allowed to go from section to section at their own will. They are able to work on their own, or work with a small group.

There are 40 kids to 5 teachers, so they get a lot of one on one time as well as time to explore on their own and socialize.