Lisa Miller, reporter for New York Magazine, writes of a groundbreaking study on how Pre-K can inspire or discourage students' interest and motivation in elementary school. The study was done in a neighborhood in Tennessee, where children who would not have ordinarily attended school until kindergarten were put in Pre-K to see if it would prepare them for the demands of elementary school. The study found that these children "rated less well, on academic and behavior scales, than their peers, most of whom stayed at home and presumably watched TV."
What is the learning here for New York City residents? While many Pre-K programs have wonderful learning environments, it's important for parents to know what environments are best for their children.
Here are some guiding questions that may be helpful:
-Does the classroom environment reflect signs that children are engaged in play throughout the day?
-Are there worksheets in abundance?
-Does the curriculum seem age-appropriate?
-Do the kids seem happy? Are the teachers happy?
New York City's Universal Pre-K is just a year old and will be evolving for quite a while, which means it's important to be as informed as possible when choosing a learning environment for your child. If you want to know more, contact Home Works NYC to schedule an appointment.
