Working at the preschool today. Hope I come back with some good stories.

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (57944)

• Centralia, Washington

20 Jul 16

@TheHorse You're the Miracle on 34th Street Santa.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

@sallypup Ho ho! He was acquitted too!

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

We do encourage imagination and creativity.

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marcyaz

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

20 Jul 16

I think that children learn better by by making learning a joy rather than a choir. I do believe they learn through play like with blocks with numbers on them they can learn to count or the same with the alaphabet.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

We sneak adding and such like into our scaffolding for their play. But we don't have a math curriculum, or anything like. The kids at the preschool love to be read to, and they love to hear stories. I always tell stories at lunch when I'm there.

marcyaz

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

20 Jul 16

@TheHorse They will learn as long as they are having fun.

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Jabo

@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

20 Jul 16

They can learn while they are playing. I taught both my children to read before they ever went to school, but I never sat them down and said ''I'm going to teach you to read''.

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Jabo

@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

20 Jul 16

@TheHorse Oh yes, I did the finger thing too.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

I do some "developmentally appropriate" things I learned doing research on whole language- and phonics-based instruction, like running my finger along the words so the kids can follow along with me as I read (if it's to one or two kids). But I don't force them to spell things.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

@jaboUK Sometimes I'll spontaneously spell a word, but then quickly move on.

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

20 Jul 16

blend of both

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

23 Jul 16

@TheHorse reading, colors, numbers. sitting and be read too. tracing things. then later more complicated stuff. I see a need for free play and structured learning. but no tests or anything, just the experience when younger is enough

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 16

@Jessicalynnt Certainly no tests in preschool! A lot of art projects, learning by doing, reading, doing plays, free play, etc. I really enjoy the environment when the kids involve me in their fantasy play. When I'm served a cup of coffee made of sand, I ask for a touch of cream. It comes back to me with a wood chip on top and I drink it up and describe the blend. The kids don't know that my talk is called "language extenders" by ECE experts.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

What "book learnin'" do you think they need?

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

20 Jul 16

sounds like a delightful day! i think that preschool young'uns ought to jest play. they learn lots from such, e'en team work 'n critical thinkin'.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

20 Jul 16

@TheHorse sounds like great fun' a super learnin' 'xperience! dang...i missed the mandolin yet 'gain.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

@crazyhorseladycx It was pretty relaxing.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

Exactly. Today they were making "kites." The threes were learning basic stuff like how to tape their yarn strings to their piece-of-paper-with-art kites. Of course several also got to "play" mandolin today.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306386)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

20 Jul 16

I think you can have fun while you learn if you know how to make learning fun and the kids aren't aware they are learning something while they're having fun. Seseme Street has the right approach to learning and having fun. I wish I had that when I was in Kindergarten. I don't remember doing anything but playing.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

I know that I went to a fun Kindergarten, and was a decent reader and mathmetician by first grade.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

@just4him A test? In Kindergarten? What was the test about? Identifying colors?

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306386)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

21 Jul 16

@TheHorse Kindergarten was where I got my face slapped by the teacher for cheating on a test - I couldn't read. I never cheated again.

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Dominique

@dodo19 (47082)

• Beaconsfield, Quebec

20 Jul 16

I think learning through play is a good way to do it. They are learning and having fun, which is always good. It can show them that learning can be fun too.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

Learning is fun, not a chore. That's one on the things I try to teach.

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Dominique

@dodo19 (47082)

• Beaconsfield, Quebec

20 Jul 16

@TheHorse I'm glad you do. Learning is definitely fun. I love learning. It's something my husband and I try to pass on to our kids.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458279)

• Switzerland

20 Jul 16

Only play is not the right way to go, but teaching in a way that it looks like playing is the best way to make them remember.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458279)

• Switzerland

21 Jul 16

@TheHorse You know, we had no children and I never deeply thought about this topic. I know that I would expect that they come out from preschool knowing at least a bit of good manners, and how to avoid dangers. This is the most important.

@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

What would you want them to come away from preschool knowing?

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$herryericha

@sherryericha (1806)

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

21 Jul 16

Hope you made it out of there alive

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

I survived. It was a good day.

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S George

@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

21 Jul 16

Let them play but you can learn them through play. Never make any burden of carriculam on them.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

Yeppers. We have a good learning envirnment set up there. The garden. A large sand box with good digging tools. A sensory table. Good stacky blocks. Magnet tiles. Teachers who play musical instruments and share with the kids. Let them play in that environment, and they learn.

Jessica

@JESSY3236 (18923)

• United States

21 Jul 16

I hope you have a good time with the kids.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

Thanks! It was fun as it always is.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325854)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jul 16

I don't know about good stories but you get some great photos of the littlies. I don't really learning should be too structured at preschool age but they can learn a lot through play and activities if a bit of thought is given to it.

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jul 16

That's pretty much our philosophy.

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Scott Ganschow

@teamfreak16 (43421)

• Denver, Colorado

20 Jul 16

Just please don't do anything to get arrested!

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@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Jul 16

Heh. I have permission to plant (virtually) anything I want there.

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Ruby Hawk

@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

20 Jul 16

I believe little kids that young learn better through play, when older academic subjects. I like to see little kids playing and enjoying themselves.

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