What Children Learn in Preschool

  You probably have academic goals for your child:  to be a good reader and writer, to solve problems in math and science, to be a good citizen in the world, to appreciate the arts, and to use technology.  We share the same goals, but learning in preschool looks different from learning in elementary school.  Here's how we help our child learn.

Literacy

The ability to communicate with others - through speaking and listening, reading and writing - is essential for success in school and in life.  In our program, we plan experiences every day to help your child develop these important skills. 

§        Listening and speaking:  Children who know lots of vocabulary words usually have an easier time learning to read.  They learn new words when adults talk with them, describe what they see, name things, and explain what new words mean.  During these conversations children learn to listen to and understand what others say and to express their ideas in words and sentences.

When you visit our program, you will hear a lot of talking.  We talk with children as they play to describe what they are doing ("You made a tall tower," or "You used three colors in your picture:  red, yellow, and blue.")

We ask questions to encourage children to express their ideas in words ("What do you see the caterpillar doing?" or "What do you like best about this picture?").  We take time to listen carefully to what children have to say. 

We  also encourage children to talk with each other as they play.

§        Early reading:  Reading is about getting meaning from print.  Readers know that written words convey messages.  They understand how books work:  you turn pages from right to left; pictures show what the words say; stories have a beginning, middle, and end.  Readers know that words are made up of letters and letters stand for sounds.

In preschool, children begin to learn the names of the letters and their order.  Of course, the most important letters in the alphabet are those in each child's name.  So we start with those letters first.  We post children's names on their cubbies, on our job chart, on their work, and we encourage them to start writing their names.

Your child will also learn to explore the sounds in language:  words that rhyme (hop/pop, cat/mat), and words that start with the same sound (Peter, pet, pot).  This is called "phonological awareness."  To teach this skill we sing songs, recite poems, and read books that play with words.

Most importantly, we want children to want to read.  The best way to encourage children to become good readers is to read to them every day.  We have lots of wonderful books in our classroom, not just in the Library but in every interest area.

§        Early writing:  Reading and writing go together.  When children scribble on paper and tell us what it means, we know they are beginning to understand what writing is all about.  We encourage this beginning writing.  We show children how we use writing to convey messages - writing down their words, their names, making lists and signs for the room.  In our classroom you will see paper and writing tools in our Library and in other places in the room.  For example, we keep writing supplies in the Block Area so children can make signs for their buildings and in the Dramatic Play Area so children can take phone messages and write prescriptions.

"A Parent's Guide to Preschool by Diane Trister Dodge and Joanna Phinney"