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What is School Readiness? |
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Academic readiness is not really the issue. Your child is not on trial. Whether your child can count, identify colors, use scissors properly, etc. is not the focus. The teacher is interested in the whole child, the child’s ability to communicate and cooperate, and most importantly, the child’s willingness to accept and master new experiences. Based on this approach, it is important not to push skills on the child to make him or her ready. “You must learn your colors or you will not know what to do in school” is an anxiety–producing statement. Avoid connecting home discipline matters with what will happen at school.
Your child is coming to this school because you have perceived readiness. Perhaps it’s because your child has exhausted his or her toys or seems bored, or you need a break - maybe your child has already had some experiences away from you, and these have been positive. Also, readiness has been determined by our preschool team. They have observed separation. They have interviewed your child. Your child is ready. Everyone agrees.
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What Did You Do in School Today? |
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It is an old and familiar question: “What did you do in school today?” The answer is an equally old and familiar one: “Nothing.”
This common after-school exchange is a frustrating one for most parents. You genuinely want to know what went on at school. You want your child to know that you are interested. But you don’t want her to feel that you’re prying. Should you keep asking and repeat the same fruitless dialogue day after day? Or should you give up and clam up? The fact is, those are not your only choices. There are some things you can do to make those after school conversations more pleasant, informative, and meaningful for both you and your child.
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Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood
Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
Angeline Stoll Lillard, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius
Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen, Montessori Right from the Start: The Child at Home from Birth to Age Three
Paula Polk Lillard, Montessori Today
Paula Polk Lillard, Montessori: A Modern Approach
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
Lise Eliot, What’s Going on in There?
Alfie Kohn, Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishment to Love and Reason
Alfie Kohn, Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
Dr. William Sears, The N.D.D. Book: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child's Learning, Behavior, and Health, and What You Can Do About It--Without Drugs |
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Parenting Resources 