Hi ladies -

I need to go and observe at a preschool that I want to send my ds to when he turns 3 in the fall. Registration is 2/7 - so I have to go in the next month to check things out. My SIL works at the church and says good things about the program, director, teachers, etc. Questions: How long should I stay and observe? The classes are 2x per week for 4 hours at a time. Oh, and what should I be on the lookout for?

Thanks!

By Kim on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 07:32 am:

I would stay at least an hour during the core learning time, although for a four hour that would probably be the whole time. I would look at staffing and ratios, discipline techniques, adequate space indoors and out, what is being taught, whatever concerns you or you want to focus on. I am forgetting a million things, maybe COlette could answer better. I always encourage parents to come and check us out any time but nap time. Some Moms like to come during the day and just hang out for a while too. There is more I want to say but I need to leave for work. Look at the teacher/child interaction also. Good luck!

By Kittycat_26 on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 08:14 am:

These are just little things to some but very important for me.

Do the teachers address each and every child by name?

Do they spend one on one time with each child?

How welcome are you made to feel when you are observing?

Does the teacher address your child when you first enter the room?

Do they again address your child when you are leaving for the day?

By Kittycat_26 on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 08:15 am:

Oh and I forgot. Check out the bathrooms.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 09:49 am:

Supplies - do they have enough supplies so that several children can be doing the same thing if they want to (paper, crayons, etc.)?

Safety issues - outlets, hard corners, can a child open the door to leave the room/building without difficulty? Fire exits, fire alarms. Fences around play areas and how easy is it to open the gates; safety in play areas (i.e., wood chips or gravel, the kinds of play equipment); is the outdoor area large enough so children can play in different groups without getting into another group's area/face? Safety in the parking and drop-off/pick-up areas. How do they handle pick-up? What is the process for another parent picking up your child?

What about medications - is your child on medications presently? If the doctor says it is OK for your child to go back to nursery school but needs to continue medications for, say, strep, what is the procedure? Does your child have any allergies? What is done to take precautions about food sharing if a child has food allergies?

The program is in a church - what is the means of separation from the church offices/rooms? One of my concerns is what, if anything, is done to make sure that casual visitors to the church can't easily wander over into the nursery school area.

Are the nursery school rooms also used for Sunday School programs? If so, do they share toys, books, etc.? And if they do, what is done to sanitize things between program changes - I suspect people are less careful in Sunday School about taking in a child who has a cold, for example, because it is only for an hour or so.

My boys went to nursery school in the church across the street from me, and for a while I did cleaning work to pay their tuition. It was, all in all, a very good experience for them and a very good program, with nothing negative to remember.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 10:10 am:

Lunches/snacks - check out what foods/beverages they serve - mainly for *sugary* stuff or junk food.

Sanitary conditions, as regards to toileting, hand washing, etc.

Policy regarding *major illnesses* - do they require doctor's notes to return to school following major illness, such as chicken pox, etc.? And also, do they inform parents when one or more of the kids has one of those type illnesses?

By Feona on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 01:35 pm:

I would stay for the whole session. As long as they let you.

I would say 1 in 10 people experience a horror story treatment at preschool. I have two horror story experience. One just bad, another just a mean teacher that ruined my life for 5 months.

By Amyk on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 02:31 pm:

You guys rock! I just sent a bunch of things that could go in question form to the preschool director - the other stuff - such as how the teachers/children interact and sanitary conditions - I'll make a checklist to bring with me! If you think of anything else, let me know. I wouldn't have thought of all this.

By Debbie on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 02:36 pm:

Amy, ask if you can take your ds and sit in on a class with him. I did this when we moved here, and ds had to change preschools. Two of the schools I was interested in, let me attend the class with ds. He was allowed to participate and observe, I just had to be with him at all times. It was great to be able to see how the teachers interacted with the other children and with my ds. It was a big help in making our final decision.

By Colette on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 04:16 pm:

Pretty much everything everyone else said, but if you are focusing on just a couple of things then I would watch how kids are disciplined, staff/student ratio, that kind of stuff. You should get a pretty good feel for the place and if your mom instinct sends you any kind of warning, listen to it. Is your son the type of kid who will go off happily to preschool or will he cry? If you think he'll be upset then really watch how they handle that with other kids. Some teachers are cold and think the kids should just grow up (yes, even at 3) and others (usually ones who are or want to be mothers) are more loving towards the children. I've worked with a lot of teachers and that tends to be the norm.

By Amyk on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 04:54 pm:

I think the ratio is 2 teachers per 8 kids for his age group... is this acceptable?

By Kim on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 06:09 pm:

actually Amy, that is a great ratio! Our ratios here are MUCH higher.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 08:39 pm:

I haven't read all the posts, just scanned them,but all of the above and also look for:
Is it a developmentally appropriate curriculum? Are children engaged and actively involved in the learning?
What kinds of things are they teaching?
Does it look like babysitting or a learning environment?
Are the children treated with respect and love regardless of their discipline situation or actions?

And yes, that's a great ratio!!
Are cleanliness procedures taught to the kids? (Washing hands before snacks, after bathroom, after going outside, etc.)

By Reds9298 on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 08:40 pm:

Oh and I'm always for the pop-in observation, as long as you know it's not during a nap time. Unannounced observations are the really good ones and shouldn't be a problem if no one has anything they don't want you to see.

By Groovepickle on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 08:54 am:

I have to admit I have only been on the teaching end of this question. I taught in China for a while and there it is customary to have parents sit in when they like, especially the first week or so. I was a foreign teacher so some of the parents sat there the entire time I taught. As a teacher this should not make you nervous unless you have low self confidence or if the parent tries to get involved. Look for safety things and since it is only preschool, which should be more about children interacting, see if there's adequate play time and that it is not all just learning time. You will be able to tell if the kids look happy and comfortable or not in your first 5 minutes.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 02:49 pm:

When I signed Emily up for preschool, we just went to the church across the street that has a preschool. I never did a visit ahead of time. Although, I did know other people who went there and they really liked it, so I had no qualms about signing up with them. The teachers were nice and Emily loved it. She thought 2 hours wasn't long enough. Hers was 2 hours on MWF. Now, I think they have a slightly longer day.

By Mazoku85 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 12:54 pm:

I am considering sending my 2 year old son, Avery, to pre-school...the Sunshine House to be exact. Avery is a little behind in his talking and I thought interation with other children his age and teachers helping him learn would really be good for him. Does anyone here have any expierience with the Sunshin House at all ? They want to charge $91 a week, and I have no idea of how long the classes are nor do I know what days they are on. I don't want him going no more than 2 or 3 days a week, and maybe 4 hours at a time. But I'd love to here more about other mothers experience with the Sunshine House.

By Amyk on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 06:27 am:

Hey there -

I enrolled my ds (who will be 3 in Sept) for preschool starting in Aug - 2 days a week for 4 hours- $110/month. It is at a local church. HTH.

BTW - do you go to storytime at the library? Have a playgroup? Classes at the YMCA? (Just some cheaper alternatives for a 2yo than $91/wk. Let us know what you decide and good luck.

By Breann on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:19 am:

Ohhhh that is so expensive AmyK. Wow! I'm glad I don't live in your area, lol.

We pay $40/month for private preschool. Same time frame - 2 days a week, for 4 hours.

I haven't ever heard of the Sunshine house, Leigh.

By Kim on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 07:38 am:

Where I live for a one year old it is over $600 a month for full time. Not sure for half day, probably half of that!

By Mazoku85 on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 03:02 pm:

I found out that the sunshine house has part time. its $55 per wk. And they can stay up to a max of 20 hours a wk. I'm going to start off with letting my son stay 4 hours each Tuesday and Thursday until he gets use to it and wants to stay longer. All the daycares around here range from $45 - $100 a wk.

By Kym on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 03:16 pm:

Amy, I have not read all of the responses but will give some advice on my experience of being the President of a preschool for 2 years as well has putting 3 kids through the school

Observe: Class room management, this is the MOST important aspect in a preschool
Ratio: I like one to five
Safety: furniture, acitvities appropriate for kids, back door locked at all times, front door self closing and locking.
Snacks: healthy, follow state guidelines
Activities: Developing social strengths, creativity, love of learning, use ALL 5 senses, don't worry about academics at this stage, study after study prooves this "stresses" kids.

I would stay for a full class period, and bring child with you.