Understanding Different Preschool Education Programs and Philosophies

There are many different theories about how to best teach young children. It seems like new theories are becoming known each day! Some preschool programs are structured, others are unstructured. Some are based on academics, others on play. Some focus on relationships, others on concrete objects. Which is the best preschool for your child? Here is a collection of basic information about the different styles of preschool programs, what methods of teaching are used, and what subjects are taught.

Montessori
Taught By: Teachers who've been trained in the Montessori method. However, teachers are referred to as "guides." Children are also encouraged to teach, and learn from, each other.
Core Belief: A child's learning environment should be adapted to his or her own needs and developmental level. Children can become independent, self-directed learners.
Methods of Teaching: The classroom is a "prepared environment", specially designed to make learning adventuresome and inviting for the children. Children learn what they are ready to learn, when they are ready. Even in a classroom full of children, each child's individual learning needs are considered. The goal is to get children to be self-guided learners. For this reason, most Montessori classrooms are multi-aged, so that older children can mentor the younger children.
Subjects Taught: A Montessori classroom is divided into five basic sections. In "Practical Life," children learn how to take care of themselves, others, and the environment. This is where children practice getting dressed, fixing or retrieving their own snacks, cleaning up after themselves, etc. In "Sensorial," children learn with their senses. They learn how to describe and classify objects by using their five senses. In "Mathematics," children learn math by using manipulatives such as different kinds of blocks, counters, puzzles, etc. In "Language Arts," children learn to read and write doing activities such as playing with sandpaper letters and tracing letters. In "Cultural Activities," children learn about the cultures of other countries as well as their own. They learn about animals, art, movement, music, geography, history, and more.

Waldorf
Taught By: Specially trained Waldorf teachers.
Core Belief: A child is made up of three main aspects... spirit, soul, and body. These three aspects must be stimulated and nurtured in order for a child to learn. Children should not be rushed into academics, but should be allowed to learn naturally through creative play.
Methods of Teaching: The Waldorf classroom is a warm, homelike environment. The group of children in the classroom is kept small.
Subjects taught: Waldorf education is usually divided into eight subjects:: Music and Movement, Art, Nature, Cooking, Play, Handiwork, Helping, and Stories.

Goddard
Taught By: Qualified preschool teachers with Goddard training and/or experience.
Core Belief: Goddard is actually a specific franchise, more than it is a method of teaching. They strive to help children have a lifelong love of learning, by giving them a safe and nurturing environment to grow in. The focus is on developing children's emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills.
Methods of Teaching: Teachers create theme-based lessons, and children go through multiple Learning Centers to learn about each theme in many different ways.
Subjects Taught: Learning Centers include dramatic play, creative art, science, quiet reading, and puzzles.

Reggio Amelio Approach
Taught By: Teachers trained in the Reggio Amelio Approach. Teachers give lots of attention to the environment, which must be specially set up to invite children to learn and explore. The classroom itself is sometimes thought of as a teacher. Parents are also encouraged to be very involved, and parents even help design lesson plans with their own children's needs in mind.
Core Belief: Children must be able to control their own learning, learn through their senses and actions, be able to explore their world, and be given endless opportunities to learn.
Methods of Teaching: Teachers are careful not to talk down to children, and encourage them to find their own ways of solving problems. Long-term projects, such as growing trees from seedlings, are often used. There is a lot of emphasis put on giving children as many ways as possible to express themselves. For instance, through painting, playing with clay, dramatic play, writing, etc.
Subjects Taught: Specific subjects are not really taught, as children learn from their environment. For instance, instead of receiving lessons in math, children learn math naturally through doing art projects, participating in other activities, and just observing their world. In one school, the stairs were numbered, so that as children walked up the stairs to their classroom, they would naturally get used to seeing the numbers and thinking about them.

High/Scope
Taught By: Specially trained teachers, who think of themselves more as facilitators or supporters of learning.
Core Belief: Children learn best when they are able to be actively involved with the people and things around them. Strong teacher/student relationships are important, and teachers are considered partners in learning.
Methods of Teaching: A plan-review-do method is used. Children first decide and plan out what they want to do and which materials they will use, in small groups.. Then they go do what they wanted to do. Afterwards, they get back together and talk about what they did.
Subjects Taught: Activities are divided into ten categories. "Creative representation" is what other preschools might call "Dramatic Play," where children pretend to be other people, imitate others, and role play. In "Language and Literacy," children talk, describe things, and begin to write stories by drawing pictures and dictating words. In "Initiative and social relations," children form relationships with others, make choices, and solve problems. "Movement" includes physical activities. "Music" involves listening to music, singing, and playing instruments. "Classification" involves describing, sorting, and matching objects and symbols. "Seriation" involves arranging things in order, and "Numbers" involves counting. "Space" involves filling and emptying things, and "Time" involves stopping, starting, and putting events into sequential order.

Bank Street
Taught By: Specially trained teachers who think of themselves as facilitators.
Core Belief: Children are active learners, explorers, experimenters, and artists. They learn by using their imaginations and exploring the world around them. Children make discoveries from their own observations, explorations, and experiences.
Methods of Teaching: Children learn by doing. Toys that leave things up to the imagination, such as blocks, art material, and dramatic play equipment, are used.
Subject: There is a heavy emphasis on Social Studies topics... cultural anthropology, history, political science, economics, and geography. Other subjects, such as art, math, science, movement, etc, are incorporated into Social Studies centered activities. .

Academic Preschool
Taught By: Certified preschool teachers.
Core Belief: Children are always "ready to learn." A teacher's job is to figure out where the child is at, and use it as a starting point to teach the child new concepts and skills.
Methods of Teaching: Large and small group activities, learning centers, hands-on experiences.
Subjects Taught: Movement and Coordination (including relaxation, physical games, hand-eye coordination, and creative movement), Autonomy and Social Skills, Work Habits, Language, Mathematics, Orientation in Time, Orientation in Space, Science, Music, and Visual Arts.

Developmentally Appropriate/ Play-Based Preschool
Taught By: Certified preschool teachers.
Core Belief: Children learn best through hands-on activities.
Methods of Teaching: Some teacher-organized games, activities and projects, balanced with free time to play with toys and equipment designed to stimulate children's minds and bodies.
Subjects Taught: Typically Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social-Emotional Development.

You can see that there are many different methods and theories of teaching young children. None of these options is the "right" option for all children. It is a good idea to observe many different preschool programs in your area, and decide which one is the best fit for your particular child. Good luck!