About

Dandelion Preschool is a culmination of what we consider to be the best of the philosophies and practices in early childhood education. We’ve taken elements from developmentally appropriate care, anti-bias curriculum (valuing diversity, peace and justice), Reggio Emilia (emergent curriculum, in-depth conversations with children, a strong art curriculum more here), Waldorf (natural toys, connection to the seasons) and Hand in Hand training (valuing emotional expression, including crying and tantrums, as ways to heal from hurts and fears).

We believe that children learn best through play, discussion and modeling of behavior by adults. We will provide the children with a strong foundation in reading and writing, understanding the environment and the physical sciences, artistic expression, music and dance, socializing and manners, and we’ll practice sign language, Spanish and cooking. And lots more!

We believe in and will focus on the children’s ability to create and define their own learning through play. We will facilitate and augment their play with a strong knowledge of child development, developmentally appropriate practices and of them as individual learners.

Through our little community, we will create a place where children know and feel their importance to their teachers and parents and to the other children. We will have a culture of respect and kindness, where we like and care about each other and show that. To this end, conflict resolution between the children is one of the most important things that we do during the day, because it gives the children a chance to reach for real connection with each other, to practice working through hard feelings and to become better communicators.

 

Here's a great checklist of info from the MOMS club preschool fair

This information is provided by members of the MOMS Club of Seattle-NW, not professionals.  **This is not a script, but a tool.

Sample questions, not listed in order of importance:

  1. How is the day/morning structured – what would a typical day look like? Inside and outside play, child directed, open ended materials
  2. Please describe some of the activities the kids may engage in during “free play.”  blocks, dress-up, reading, sand, playdough, etc
  3. Are there art and music activities? We have 2 art periods each day, and music daily in our circle time
  4. Are creative activities such as painting & play dough available regularly?  Yes, varies, but usually every week at least 2-4 times
  5. How much time is given to teacher-initiated activities and child-initiated activities?  Most activities are initated by the children and facilitated and enhanced by the teachers
  6. Is there an outside play area, if so how often is it used? 1-2 hours in the morning and another 1-2 hours in the afternoon
  7. Are there field trips? 2 per week, once on the bus to walk at Discovery park, once to walk to the park, or take the bus to PCC or the downtown library, depending on the weather
  8. What method of discipline is utilized? Emotional and social awareness are modeled and taught to deal with problems so they don't escalate to the point where dicipline is needed.  If behavior is too problematic, child have one-on-one time with the teacher.  This is framed to the child as love and care, not dicipline.
  9. How often is feedback available to parents regarding the child's activities/behavior? Daily
  10. What is the parent involvement? Daily check-ins, bimonthly potlucks
  11. What days does my child’s class meet and what is the drop-off and pick-up time? varies, ask for more info
  12. What is the age range of kids in the class?  currently 2-4, soon 0-5
  13. What is the adult-child ratio and class sizes? 1-2 teachers for up to 5 kids
  14. How much individual time is given to each child? lots
  15. Does my child have to be potty-trained to attend your school?  Are pull-ups or training pants acceptable? Yes

Key features of educational philosophies:

I've kept all that apply to Dandelion, and highlighted ones that I think are hallmarks of our program


Reggio Emilia:

  • Emphasizes learning based on a child’s natural development, where children help to direct their own learning through play and hands-on activities
  • Programs are family-centered and seek to enhance children’s relationships with others
  • Students’ work is documented and displayed to make learning visible—children can trace and revisit their words and actions over time
  • Parents are deeply involved and welcomed in the classroom
  • Teachers work in pairs and invite children to explore their own questions and answers

Emergent Curriculum:

  • Lessons are created from the interests, questions and concerns of the students at a particular time, rather than following a prescribed lesson plan
  • Teachers brainstorm to create hands-on activities and experiences that help children learn about their interest in depth
  • Curriculum is constantly evolving as it responds to how and what the students learn

Piaget:

  • Emphasizes learning that fits the developmental stage that a child is in; stages are based on Jean Piaget’s theories of childhood development
  • Focuses on how a child learns instead of simply what he learns and offers learning experiences that build on a child’s current level of cognitive functioning
  • Students are encouraged to play and make discoveries through their own experience

Waldorf:

  • Emphasizes learning through experiences (using multiple senses)
  • Teaching includes the Arts and physical activity
  • Encourage strong bond between teacher and student.   Young children learn at their best when they have consistent relationships with the adults in their lives
  • Focuses on developing emotional capabilities as well as intellectual

Creative Curriculum

  • Fosters children’s social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development
  • Enhances learning in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts, and technology
  • Children are offered learning opportunities in the following interest areas: blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, library, discovery, sand and water, music and movement, cooking and outdoors.

Play-based:

  • Uses free-play, individually or in small groups, to develop cognitive, emotional and social skills

Cognitive Skill:

  • Emphasizes teaching the skills that help a child think, process and analyze
  • Includes learning to solve problems, think logically, use numbers and count, use symbols, understand differences and similarities, understand cause and effect, et