Preschool and Big Bucks, Hum!

Preschool education is not rocket science.
However, you need the following:

A good rocking chair. Use as much as possible. If you please, include yourself for a few rocks.

Set of blocks
Some old clothes
Books with nursery rhymes and pictures
water paint and paper
puzzles and legos
plastic bug and plant jar
tape measure and ruler, your husbands fishing weight scale and plastic measuring cup
plenty of simple plastic/cardboard containers
puzzles, e-mail me for instructions on how to make your own
homemade drum, simple string and make your own percussion instruments
A few tables and chaires

And, that is about it (x10 M/L)...most of which you have at home or can buy cheap at Walmart

Oh! don't forget...teaching technique requires that grown-ups interact with children at eye level, verbalize what she/he/they are doing and encourage questions and decision making.
Also, only child creations/work are allowed on walls.

Reader ideas...

Finally, going back to humble beginnings, parents must visit class at least once each week.

Have a happy day!

Bert Wainwright

Preschool: Time Out Please!

Close all preschool for thirty days.

Suspend practice of scheduling preschool enrollment and attendance based on needs of working parents.

Preschool programs must originate from the home. Preschool must be an extension of home with parents engaged as primary caregivers.

Institute preschool program design based on needs of children. Flexible programing must allow children to access resources, activities and flexible time schedules.

Social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs must be viewed holistically. Child development must be viewed holistically.

End preschool time out when all of the above prescriptions are implemented and function satisfactory.

Children must remain priority one!

Begin the revolution now!

Bert J. Wainwright

Stimulas Money and Special Education

How should money be spent?

Spend it where it will do the most good for the most people for the longest time possible.

Having said that mouthful, the next step is to define "good".

Why not ask local school districts what they need . Check the stimulus package. Does it say anything about need assessment?

Pontification from either direction, top down or down up does not make any sense.

Here we go again. The flies will spoil good meet!

Nexus: Knowledge, Teaching and Learning

Work in progress...

A set of limits applicable to knowledge, teaching and learning is necessary to help establish a working paradigm.

• Knowledge is information identified and organized through objective experimentation, and social validation or consensus.
• Teaching assumes a teacher who strives to convey directly knowledge or facilitates the construction and discovery of knowledge by any learner.
• Learning assumes any person interested in the discovery and construction of knowledge for self improvement and the improvement of others.

Possible connections between knowledge, teaching and learning follows:

• All elements require objectivity
• All elements necessitate free flow of information.
• All elements are interactive

Your ideas...

School: Like A Temple

All money changers must leave now.
The work of education is not for sale.

Money without vision will fail education.
Vision without science will fail.

Foremost, Dignity must reign for all.
Shall we begin our task earnestly?

I'll Be With You Always!

Oh, another day peaks through the morning haze.
I walk alone down a dusty road that does not faze.
I'll be with you always!

School building can be seen just down the road.
My thoughts run wild and I forebode.
I'll be with you always!

Doors reach out without a kind enbrace,
My legs refuse to pick up the pace.
I'll be with you always!

Stop, is this a place for me?
My body shakes for all to see.
I'll be with you always!

Past that threshold and face the day.
Please, please listen to what I say.
I'll be with you always!

Never fear, my brave cohorts.
For I share your lonely hearts.
I'll be with you always!

Whisper to Me: First Day of School

Quiet now!
I'm so excited.
But, so small.

Quiet now!
Is there a place for me?
I don't need much space.

Quiet now!
I shutter...
She touches me gently.

Reader thoughts are welcome.
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Shout now!
It's just like home.
Yours and mine.