Classroom Exploration

Continuing our discussion on “what to look for in a preschool,” I asked a parent educator with a special education background what her thoughts were on this topic.  She emphasized looking for a preschool environment that provided a lot of opportunities to play with materials that can be accessed independently with opportunities to problem solve.  She would encourage parents to look for a teacher that encourages the child to explore materials without limits and provides your child with the ability to work with others and learn to compromise.  As you visit
different preschools, you might ask, “How are the children provided with opportunities to play and explore independently?” “How are the children encouraged to work with others and understand how to compromise with play partners?” Often by answering these questions, you’ll get a good sense of the teacher’s philosophy and if it matches yours.  The biggest indicator is to look around the room – ask what the different areas are for, what skills the children are learning, and how the staff members facilitate the learning.  There is more to come tomorrow. ~Marena Mitchell, Speech-Language Pathologist