Teaching Methods II

I listed the below teaching methods in two categories structured and less-structured. Each program would offer a different environment, culture and way of communicating for your child. The other big difference is "modeling". Where Waldorf & Montessori has children modeling the parents & teachers, Reggio Emilio's students model Reporters, Progressive Learner model Scientists.

Less-Structured Teaching Methods
Waldorf - Originated in Germany - Emphasizes creative, child directed learning, protect child from overuse or misuse of technology such as television and computers, education of the whole child, stress the importance of the natural environment, absence of plastic toys and in general, keeping in touch with nature and natural materials, provide a rich variety of art, music, dance, and theater at all ages. Often use stories and puppets during lessons for small children. Older children keep a learning journal.

Note: Academic subjects are not introduced to children, most often, until age 7 or first grade.

Reggio Emilio - Originated in Italy - Emphasizes creative child directed learning, stress the importance of the natural environment, absence of plastic, keeping in touch with nature and natural materials. They emphasize observing and learning from the world around them. A lot of art and creative play. The schools keep an art teacher on site even in preschool. The biggest difference is the child is though of as an independent thinker observing, learning and communicating a lot like a news paper reporter.

Note: Subjects like geography and math are indirectly learned (if the child introduces it) and not in the curriculum.


Structured Teaching Methods

Montessori - Originated in Italy - Emphasizes , protect child from overuse or misuse of technology such as television and computers, education of the whole child, stress the importance of the natural environment, absence of plastic, keeping in touch with nature and natural materials, provide a rich variety of art, music, dance, and theater at all ages.

Note: subjects like geography and math are introduced in preschool

Progressive Learning - United States influenced by Germany - Emphasizes learning like little scientist, problem solving, critical thinking, why things happen, hypothesizing. The teaching methods do adapt as new teaching ideas become available. The method is not stagnant just as the students are not sedentary. One project directed by the teacher might be the phases of water and why a snowball melts when warmed.

Note: Subjects like geography and math are introduced in preschool. Communication, public speaking and presentation skills are developed.

	Student Model	Student Model
	Parents/Teachers	"Reality-Based" *Professionals
Less Structured	Waldorf	Reggio Emilio
Structured	Montessori	Progressive Learning

*The term "Reality- Based" is new and is tied to an objective reality that can later come back to kick you in the butt to put it bluntly. It refers to careers that are tied to the natural world including those that are anthropological. A scientist is "reality-based" whereas a stock broker is not. A microbiologist or reporter is "reality - based" a painter or marketer is not. I did not make up the term.

Play Kitchen

I have been looking at play kitchens for my babe. There are many nice wooden sets out there. But a friend of mine recently sent me a link that showed how to assemble a "kitchen" out of Ikea parts for under $50. Check it out here.

Holloween Costumes

There are several ways to have a Eco friendly Halloween costume. One could be going to your local consignment shop. Another is to buy costumes that can be handed down in a family. If you buy gender neutral costumes they can be passed on whether the sibling are same sex or not. A girl or a boy can be dressed as a teddy-bear, or astronaut. A parent could also make a costume. But I am not that talented. As an alternative to the make your own ...

Tom Arma is a popular baby photographer who also has a line of baby animal costumes. I really like the Monarch butterfly and Frog Costume.

But how is his costumes green? See quote below.

" Insert printed using recycled paper. Poly Bag is recyclable. 100% of the electricity used to make this Tom Arma costume is offset with 100% Green-e Certified Renewable Energy.

For those of us who lack the talent to stitch cute costumes made from organic or recycled cloth, Tom Arma's are a good alternative.

Voter Registration

Oddly enough people sometimes find themselves not able to vote. This is due to them not being registered anymore !

Whatever the reason: change of address, name change, politicians playing games...etc there is a way to see if you are still registered. For NYS residents you can go https://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/votersearch.aspx and type in your info then click search.


As a side note when it comes to keeping my private ID safe I often close out my browser completely. This includes right clicking on the browser Icon on my desk top and clicking on "quite". I also clear history when prompted to. I wait a few seconds and then reopen my browser. These steps seem time consuming at first...but if you just got done ordering a product on line, gave out your credit card number, or do online banking it is wise to clear your history or another person can easily pull up the last page you were on.

Blogger

Blogger is a very fickle application to work with. It has blocked me for the last week.

It asked me to change my non-Google email to a Google email but when I tried their 2 step transfer system it would not except the Google email. It said that Google accounts are not set up for control over my blog. What is up with that?

I have heard that I am not the only one that runs into these problems. I think this is what happens when a ton of people all want to use the same application and the company can not keep up with the demand.

Well, if this account ever goes down for more then 30 days you'll probably see the Eco Chic Parents blog pop up on another application.

Reggio Emilia

For many who contemplate which teaching method is best for their child; Waldorf, Montessori, or Progressive Learning the process could not be harder. But I am tossing in another choice that may not be available yet in your area but to keep your eyes out for, Reggio Emilio which was developed in the municipal school system. "The town’s approach to early childhood education was born in the 1940s when a young journalist and psychologist named Loris Malaguzzi decided to rebuild the war-ravaged school system."

The NYTimes did a piece on the Garlanded School and the devout following of parents and teachers. It reminds me a bit of the Waldorf but the children are encourage to document their efforts with photos and text and are directed to learn how to stay focused on projects of their own choosing. There is also a "Atrium" central room (like in so many Italian homes) for the children to gather and exchange thoughts and ideas. They even have a separate room for a resident art teacher and the children's creations, photos, and other are prominently displayed throughout the rooms.

It is less structured and does not spend a lot of time on the testing requierments for many competitive kindergartens. You would have to make up that difference at home or with a tutor.

Terra Cycle - Pays to Recycle

Terra Cycle is and impressive company started up by Tom Szaky. They make all natural fertilizer for the home garden. They even use a 100% recycled packaging. See the video about their company Video.

They have started to offer $0.02 per pound of health bar wrappers that you would normally throw out ! They also take cookie packaging and drink pouches. Check out the site Terra Cycle .