Quotes and Well Wishes

“Play, Incorporating Animistic and Magical Thinking Is Important                       

Because it:                                                                                                                                  

Fosters the healthy, creative and emotional growth of a child;                                   

Forms the best foundation for later intellectual growth.                                            

Provides a way in which children get to know the world and creates              

possibilities for different ways of responding to it.                                                      

Fosters empathy and wonder.”  

“By suggestion and example, I believe children can be helped to hear the   many voices about them. Take Time to listen and talk about the voices                                     

of the earth and what they mean-the majestic voice of thunder, the                       

winds, the sound of surf or flowing streams.”

                                                                        Rachel Carson~ “A Sense of Wonder"

 My Dear Colleagues, 

I have learned a lot from your perspectives and the experiences you have brought to this learning adventure. You are perceptive smart women with a passion for wanting the best for children and families. As pictured above my family just grew with the birth of my first grandchild four weeks ago and my passion is fueled more than ever. I wish you all the amazing experiences, challenges and joy children bring. Thank you form the worlds children.

The Swedish Education System & Assessments

The country I am so interested in is Peru, but I really could not find much about assessments there. It is a luxury for rural children to even be in school so I chose my favorite system, which is Sweden. We have had quite a few families from Sweden who chose our preschool because of the similarities, we do not push academics there is more problem solving, discovery and we spend much of our time outside. Although I must add we do more academics than the Swedish system because our children enter the American public school and would be at a big disadvantage if they were not prepared at the age of 5.

In Sweden formal school begins at 7 years old, this is when children learn to read. The school system go’s through the age of 16. Sweden has some of the highest literacy scores; the question is; is it because the early years are spent feeling safe, socializing and playing? So when children begin to learn they are excited? Or is it because they do not teach to the test? I don’t have the answer but the system works in Sweden because it is supported by the culture as a whole. Preschools are heavily subsidized so parents pay a small amount so they can go to work, but quality preschool is available to everyone. The government and the parents trust teachers for the quality care they provide. Children feel safe and stay with their caregivers for years, then are excited to learn as they develop. Often by the age of 6 or 7 in the US or UK children are already feeling failure and comparison, in Sweden as they begin to learn they don’t have any of those negative pulls.

I found a great video in three parts, below is the last part of the segment that address older children as well as preschool.

Early years education: Sweden versus the UK Part 3 (of 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo1AJWqCIww&feature=endscreen&NR=1

As far as assessing young children I have experienced several different ways. I have done an online assessment for children in the CPP program (Colorado Preschool Program) for children who are at risk; it provides parents with a reduced tuition rate and a standard assessment using the Creative Curriculum tools.  By far my favorite are portfolios, although much more time consuming. We first do an observation, and then tailor each child’s needs to an Individual Learning Plan; we finish the end of the year with a portfolio of pictures, artwork and anecdotal notes. The teachers put a lot of work into these and they have a more holistic outcome because we include notes from our home visits and several family partnership pieces. Like the Swedish system I feel that this age should have such a focus on social and emotional development, along with that comes cognitive, language, fine and large motor development.