| Traditional preschools are also known as structured or | | | | process. If you go into a classroom and see a bulletin |
| cognitive schools. Here are 10 features of a traditional | | | | board displaying 20 matching turkeys, you are probably |
| preschool: | | | | in a traditional school. |
| 1) There is a set curriculum with specific goals for the | | | | 6) There is an emphasis on school readiness so |
| children. | | | | children spend time working with worksheets to learn |
| 2) There might be a free-choice period, but there is a | | | | math and writing. |
| strong emphasis on formal instruction. | | | | 7) The environment is formal. Children call teachers |
| 3) Goals are built around teaching children math, letters, | | | | Mrs. X or Miss Y. You might find uniform or a dress |
| numbers, sounds, shapes, problem solving, classifying, | | | | code at this kind of school. |
| listening and more. | | | | 8) They will be strict about making sure your child is |
| 4) Here, teachers instruct, direct, explain, and organize | | | | toilet trained before the age of three. |
| each lesson. Children learn from their teachers instead | | | | 9) Studies have shown that kids who attend traditional |
| of their own exploration. | | | | schools are less aggressive toward peers, more task |
| 5) All the kids are likely to be working on the same | | | | oriented and do better on IQ and achievement tests. |
| activity at the same time. For example, at | | | | 10) On the downside, they show less independence |
| Thanksgiving, they may all work on putting pre-cut | | | | and initiative, their play is not as imaginative, and they |
| construction paper together to make turkeys. The | | | | score lower on tests of creativity. |
| emphasis will be more on the finished product than the | | | | |