Preschool curriculum?

Could you share what your DC learned during a 3 yo preschool class?

I toured one today, and was a bit surprised that they only really do colors and shapes at 3-they said they really don't focus on numbers until the 4 yo class

Thank you everyone. I'm actually touring a Montessori school next week, and think it may be a good fit.

I'm a teacher myself, and have done pretty substantial amounts of research about early childhood education, especially now that I have dd.

I guess the issue is that what I have as my ideal preschool in my mind may not even exist.

I would love to have the following:

Imaginative play (not a ton of battery powered toys/predetermined play)
A decent amount of time spent outside playing, but not with an overwhelming amount of play equipment
A focus on learning through an organic means-either through something like monthly themes of art, or a literature based curriculum through which the students learn by connecting everything together. I do some handouts at home with dd (tracing, letters, shapes, colors, numbers, etc.), but it's never just sitting her down with a handout and having her complete it.

Also, is it normal for them to provide snack vs bringing your own? I would really rather send my own

Message edited 10/4/2016 9:13:34 PM.

Re: Preschool curriculum?

In dd's 3 class, they will be doing colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. Everything is grounded in Literacy (so, they read a book and do activities/crafts associated with that book, etc.). They start with recognition, then will move into writing during the second half of the year.

I felt if anything, dd's daycare last year was more "advanced" than her nursery school (Catholic school) this year. They had them writing letters before they even turned 3. But it was almost too advanced - dd would spend all week learning a letter and then couldn't identify it to save her life by Friday! And there wasn't time for her to draw pictures. It was all about writing. I was actually getting worried about her development.

I'm sure age has a lot to do with it, but I'm seeing her grow so much more in the summer home with me away from Academics and so far 1 month into this new school. She draws recognizable things, and can id most of her digits. She can write her name. In June, it was all a blur to her. Long story short, yes, the 3s will do some letter/number work. But when comparing schools, sometimes more isn't necessarily better if they are not ready.

Preschool curriculum?

Currently she is learning how to write, they have a journal. Still going over colors, letters and numbers. Working on math. following rules and listening is really stressed. It's tough this year but I know they are getting her prepared for kindergarten in 2 years.

Re: Preschool curriculum?

My son's 3yr old class had different units throughout the year that focused on concepts. For example, they did an artists unit where they would learn about a famous artist's style and then they would make a piece of art in that style. I had no idea how impactful this was until he came home with tons of different artwork and he explained to me "this is a Van Gogh mommy..."

They would spend a whole month on things like animals, etc.

In terms of colors, shapes, numbers...not sure but we work on that at home so he's picked it up along the way, not from an intensive curriculum unit on it.

Re: Preschool curriculum?

One letter, number, shape and color each week. (This is the case for every age, including toddlers.)

In pre-school (3-going-on-4yo class) they're also learning letters and numbers out of sequence, writing, cutting with scissors, etc. DS is in a day care preschool, though, so he's there 11 hours a day. I'd expect less at a program with a shorter day.

Preschool curriculum?

A letter a week (recognizing, writing, beginning sound,show and tell, special snack, projects). They did numbers too, calendar, writing their name, colors, shapes, intro to cutting, intro to sight words.

I would tour a few schools for sure. I couldn't believe how different they were. One didn't even introduce letters at age 3!

Preschool curriculum?

In DS's 3's class they focused on color, number, and letter recognition. Cutting, coloring with crayons and being good citizens. They didn't really focus on writing too much. Many of my friends who are OT specialists think that teaching to write at that age can be more harmful than helpful. I wouldn't worry about writing all that much.

Re: Preschool curriculum?

Re: Preschool curriculum?

We did Montessori.
We did the artists like the previous post... It's really cool and really impacts the kids.
DD definitely did her numbers (1:1 correspondence and writing the numbers) when she was 3 (but they mix ages).
I think the academics at that age varies substantially... I'm not sure it makes a huge difference in the long run!

Re: Preschool curriculum?

colors, shapes, pre-reading which means learning to see things left to right, counting, one to one correspondence, reconization of first name, tracing and than writing first name, know address and phone number. They did themes every months and learn alot about the themes. 3 year old preschool should be a lot of socialization.

Re: Preschool curriculum?

Re: Preschool curriculum?

My daughter is 4. She is in a public universal pre-k, half-day programs with 4-5 year olds. They do practically nothing "academic". Mostly just shapes/colors/upper and lower case letters. It annoys me because I wish their were options for the gifted.

My 4 year old could literally enter first grade right now (academically, not emotionally/socially) based on her abilities. She was complaining since day one that the puzzles at her school are "so large and easy" because they are like 10 piece toddler puzzles. My daughter does 100 piece puzzles fairly easy at this point. She's bored.

She writes words and is so neat and legible. She is starting to read but needs more reading support but it just isn't given at her school. I am doing the best I can with reading but I'm not sure how to continue. For math... She can count by 5's, 10's, knows up to 100. Yet, they haven't addressed numbers at all in her school.

As a teacher myself, I basically homeschool her and let her go to regular school for the socialization and following rules/discipline type aspect. But I am disappointed.

They could expect a lot more out of these kids.

I agree with touring the school and finding something you love. I really loved a private school I could not afford. Also in a different state, I have a friend attending a school that is awesome with different months focusing on different arts and types of expression. I find that really useful for kids of this age, unable to communicate as well as they'd like and unable to write stories and stuff. They did it all through art and drama.

Message edited 10/4/2016 9:03:16 PM.

Re: Preschool curriculum?