preschool questions

[biblionerd]

We toured a preschool today for Linus. We don't have many options around here that aren't religious, which we aren't comfortable with. The ones we do love are too far away or too expensive. We checked out the ymca preschool and liked it ok. It's reasonably priced, less than montessori or other private preschools, more than religious. The 3-5 year olds are all together. Is that "normal"? Right now the 2-5 are actually all together until August, then 2's will be separate. It's a new program, I don't think even a full year old (the ymca is new). It just seems like such a big difference. Our local school runs on a year round or balanced school year or whatever it's called. The preschool isn't in session any time the school is out. Is yours like that? I didn't ask but it reads like you pay the same every month whether you go 2 weeks or 5. 

[kkfeb04]

Kalvin has two 6 year olds in his class. His class is 3-5 typically. Out of 20, 17 will be going to kindergarten in August. The only ones not going are Kalvin and the two he moved up with. So he's still among the youngest. We are at a certified learning daycare so we pay if he's there or not. I have no idea what his other preschool entails, they are probably similar ages due to the school district.

[katfco]

Abby's preschool was broken up into 3 groups: 18month-3; 3-4; 4-5. At some points during the day, however, they would be in a larger group for staffing reasons. I would typically prefer to have them broken up because there's a wide range of differences between those ages, but if they're able to accommodate to the differences, I'd be okay with that.

Bigger questions are: how do they accommodate children's developmental differences? How large are the classes? and what's the teacher to student ratio?

Some might have large age ranges out of necessity, because of a small group size or less staff.

[imimahoney]

In Mass. pre-k doesn't officially begin until 2.9 years so children often do 2 to 2.5 years of pre-k. There usually year 1 which is 2.9 up to 4 and then 4-5 year olds. I think at this age a range of ages is fine and it allows children to learn from one another. As long as the older children aren't bored or under prepared I don't see a problem with it at all.

We are hoping to get into our town's integrated pre-k as it is much more affordable and I really want Ari to be in an integrated setting. But they only have 1 extended day room and there is a really tough lottery. Ughhhh, pre-k is so stressful!

[browndog]

J's daycare is separated by 1 year increments, so 0-1, 1-2, etc. They do lots of stuff during the day with older and younger age groups, which I think is great, but I would be concerned with them spending all day together, but maybe I will feel differently when we have 3 year olds, it is hard for me to picture J with 5 year olds right now.

[dixeedeluxe]

We use the Y preschool. The classes are all seperate now but next year there will be a 3/4 class.

They pray. Just so you know. Well ours does.

[biblionerd]

Thanks everyone. dixeedeluxe , I double checked and she said there's no religion whatsoever other than the overhead speakers/ads that play in the hallways and main building. Nothing at all in the class though. His class would be tues and thurs from 9-1, so not a whole lot. I think right now I obviously want him to learn, but really want the social skills for him since he hasn't done any play groups ans hasn't had a structured setting. He knows all of his colors, shapes, can count to 15, and can say his ABCs so he has some basics already, but doesn't know how to stand in a line or follow directions as well lol.


She explained how they handle different age groups and abilities. Each class has a teacher and assistant and during certain activities that need divided up on abilities the assistant will supervise the free play or other activity while the teacher takes a certain group to a table to do that activity. So they still divide them up within the class. They have a child centered approach and let them do their thing if they don't want to participate in the particular activity. I got to see one shy little girl who they said had just started last month. For instance when they did the circle time for music she just hung out and played with the blocks, but took part in other activities. 

It was still a really small group. Their max right now for the 3-5 is 1:8 and 1:4 for 2's, which he would start in if we started him before May. Fiona's not starting yet, but they said that when/if she started they would make it nut-free for her. 

[Deleted]

I don't think it's a big deal to have a variety of ages in a group. I'm all for it. That's a big part of Montessori, the younger kids learning from the bigger ones. And it's good for the older ones too, to pass on their knowledge so to speak, and develop leadership skills.

That said, my DS1 goes to the preschool at the private school he will go to. It's divided into 3 classes: 3 year olds, and the 4 year olds are in 2 groups - 4-4.5, and 4.5-5. Then after that they start Kinder.

DS2 will start Montessori next month, and his class is 2-3.5 year olds, so it's a big spread, which is fine with me. When he turns 3 then he will go to the same school as DS1, for convenience reasons.

[breezy8407]

The center we started at 3 weeks ago is a Montessori. To avoid yet another transition, my two started with the older toddlers, so they are in a room with kids up to 3. At 3, they go to preschool and the age range is 3-5.

[fusion]

J's is mixed 3-5 year olds. There are about 20 kids right now and 3 teachers. They split them up for activities and it works well. J has always thrived being the younger one though, he looooves older kids and is an angel when trying to keep up with them. It also helps the older ones with nurturing and learning to help as they assist the littler ones.