A Quick Look at Preschool Teaching Methods

Children today benefit from a wealth of new research and long explored ideas of teaching and learning. No doubt there is a learning philosophy just right for just about any child and family. And while the details of each are too much to explore in a blog, here’s a quick overview of some of the more popular teaching methods found today:

Montessori- a unique method of observing and supporting a child’s natural curiosity and development developed by Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. In a Montessori school children usually work individually in a mixed-age setting, with guidance from an older student or teacher. The materials available are often uniquely designed to allow a child to explore a specific concept or skill independently.

According to the International Montessori Index:

The basis of Montessori practice in the classroom is respected individual choice of research and work, and uninterrupted concentration rather than group lessons led by an adult.

When exploring Montessori schools, keep in mind that the name Montessori is not a brand or trademark. A school does not necessarily have to follow Montessori principles to call itself a Montessori school. For more information about the Montessori approach, try Montessori.org.

Waldorf- Another methodology developed in the first half of the 1900s, Waldorf schools use the arts as a vehicle for teaching and learning and often great care is put into the beauty of the school building itself. During the preschool years, imagination and free play are emphasized, as are domestic and practical activities (baking, gardening, etc.) Toys and manipulatives are made of all natural materials and designed to be a vehicle for creativity. Oral language is emphasized. Reading and writing are usually not introduced until first grade.

According to the website of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America,

Waldorf teachers strive to transform education into an art that educates the whole child—the heart and the hands, as well as the head.

Reggio Emilia- Developed in Italy in the mid-late 1900s, this approach to teaching is child-directed and project-based. Using children’s interests as a guide, teachers encourage children to explore a particular theme or topic in-depth, usually culminating in a large-scale group project. Photo documentation is used extensively by teachers as a teaching tool, an assessment tool and to aid in directing children’s explorations. Children are also encouraged to explore concepts using a variety of symbolic representations including the visual arts, dramatic play, music  and storytelling. One comprehensive online article on this approach states:

In a nutshell, Reggio approach articulates children to acquire skills of critical thinking and collaboration.

Creative Curriculum- A popular teaching approach among a variety of private preschools and Head Start programs, it was developed in the late 1980s by an academic (who later formed the company Teaching Strategies) and is based on current information on how children develop and learn. Emphasis is placed on 4 developmental areas; social/emotional, cognitive, physical and language.  Teachers are encouraged to arrange the classroom and select materials to create a child-centered learning environment. Teachers observe children’s interactions with their learning environment to assess skills, interests and abilities and come up with activities or learning experiences  that encourage social, emotional and new skill development.

According to the Teaching Strategies web site:

children learn best when they are actively involved with materials and with others. That’s why our resources for preschool programs place so much emphasis on setting up the proper learning environment and building positive, meaningful relationships with children and their families.

HighScope- Developed in the 1960s, this is one of the most studied and documented teaching approaches for preschool and is used in a variety of programs including Head Start. Much like the Creative Curriculum, High/Scope emphasizes the importance of the learning environment and encourages a child-centered approach where teachers are “partners” rather than “directors” of learning. One element unique to this model is the emphasis on routine. The daily routine is consistent and includes the pattern of “plan-do-review” where children plan their activity choice, do the activity and then reflect on the experience.

The HighScope web site states:

Active learning — whether planned by adults or initiated by children — is the central element of the HighScope Preschool Curriculum.

In my opinion, all of these learning models have very positive attributes. When choosing a setting for your child, think about your child’s personality and interests. Look for a program that will be a good match. At this stage, you want your child to love the idea of school and learning, so that attitude can carry forward.

So how does our curriculum compare?

World of Wonder’s theme-based curriculum draws from the many positive aspects of all of these models (experiential, child-centered, using a variety of venues for exploring skills including the arts and dramatic play, the importance of social and emotional development, the teacher as a partner in learning) and then uses the idea of a theme to bring together and give a real-world context to the many skills that children will be introduced to and practice during their preschool years.

Our preschool activity binders can be used as a supplemental resource with any of the above mentioned approaches. When used all together, they create a complete, comprehensive theme-based curriculum.

If you would like to share your experiences with these or other early learning models or approaches, we’d love to read your comments!