Elementary school students must be able to process new information.
Preschoolers practice by exploring sensory materials.
Elementary school students need to use their imaginations when reading and writing.
Preschoolers practice by dressing up and role playing.
Elementary school students need to have a strong curiosity, to be able to ask questions, and to be interested in learning more about the world around them.
Preschoolers practice by playing outdoors and observing nature.
Elementary school students must be able to work in groups to collaborate and plan projects.
Preschoolers practice by playing together in the block center.
Elementary school students are most successful when they are kind and caring toward their classmates.
Preschoolers practice by playing with baby dolls.
Elementary school students who have rich speaking and listening vocabularies learn to read and comprehend more quickly and easily.
In preschool, we build our vocabulary by reading and re-reading our favorite books.
Elementary school students need to dream big and believe that anything is possible.
Preschoolers practice by pretending.
The more children play in preschool, the smarter and more ready for elementary school they become!
I have to say I have not read your article yet but children learn through play. I am the assistant director at preschool in Texas and pre-k teacher and the children in our center learn so much through play. This very morning I watched my children work together to build a ramp in the block center for the marbles I put in the block center. I just got to observe them and watch them work together until they figured out how to make a ramp for the marbles but also have the marble roll down the ramp and and roll back over another ramp. They learned so much from playing.
I completely agree! It sounds like your students are very lucky to be at a center that values play.
Great post!