Yes that is what I do. I do free play for an hour in the morning. After free play, we move on to circle time or a large group activity for christmas. Outside or music and movement is followed after circle time or large group. I also agree with an hour being far too long for PreK. When I taught in GA we were required to do an hour of non instructed play. Being that I am now in florida, I decided to do an hour to this group because they lacked social skills and self help skills. I also rearrange and made new centers so that they will get accustomed to them. Now that I see they are gaining social skills and ability to clean and place toys where they belong I will cut centers to know more than 30 or 40 mins in January. Instead of Free play being early in the morning, it will be in the afternoon. I kind of like the idea of free play in the morning after breakfast because I have time for other activities throughout the day.
Ok. You made it seem like you were just going to do a non-structured "free day" (see title of thread)
I teach Pre-K/Headstart. My kids are required two hours and 20 minutes of choice time. I know at my daughters Pre-K Expansion progiram they only do center time for an hour. Hers is honestly set up more like a Kindergarten class in my opinion. Her class to be allowed in you have to be 4. Honestly, I think it just has to do with the program they are in and how it is set up. I definitely think the socialization at choice time is important. Throughout the day, I do 3 circle times and small groups during choice time. During this time, I will do letters, numbers, and other skills based on where the kids are at. We also do crafts in small groups to make it easier. My class includes 3, 4, and 5 year olds.
How long is your school day?! I'm also in Head Start and we're only required an hour, but they don't check so we do 45 minutes . We don't have time for an hour in our schedule (our printed schedule says 1 hour, but with bathroom breaks and transitions, the schedule is off)
It sounds as though you have a good handle on your plans. If you think they are behind in certain areas, focus their free play time on manipulatives. Include lots of letter matching, number matching, learning games. Focus hard on what you want them to learn. No,you don't need breaks around the holidays. Keep plowing through the things they should be learning.
I still don't understand that in the US why we're rushing the kids to learn things earlier and earlier. In Europe (in my country and in many others), we don't even start learning letters and reading until 1st grade. And first grade is a year later than here. Yet we catch up fast, enough to start a second language in 3rd grade, and some students start a 3rd language in 4th grade. We don't actually have kindergarten, although by the last year of preschool we learn basic number sense, and simple math. And the teachers ensure that we're ready for 1st grade (or be retained for a year). I think we need to let kids learn only as fast as nature allows, and the way it is now, well, in my opinion, most things are too early.
Um, I agree, BUT if they don't know anything for Kindergarten, they'll be behind. That's what has happened to our education system. They have to know all their letters and numbers and stuff before kindergarten
Oh I'm not saying not to teach them things they need to know before kindergarten. There's really nothing any one person can do to change things. I was judging the entire educational system lol
