What Do High-Quality Pre-K Programs Look Like and Why Do We Need Them?
Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties collectively serve 3,231 children in early learning VPK programs as of 2018. That number of students makes for a lot of pre-k programs across the two counties and even more options for you.
The importance of high-quality pre-k programs cannot be understated. It begins the rest of your child’s academic career and development to come. You want to be sure you choose the right one, both for you and your child.
Here are some aspects of what makes a pre-k program high quality and why you need one to help you get this important decision right.
A Well-Equipped Classroom for a Well-Equipped Class
You can have a classroom without a class, but you can’t have a class without a classroom. A high-quality preschool has high-quality classrooms to match. They are filled with materials of endless possibility to keep children invested and discovering new things every day.
Materials are not just used for one specific activity. Materials can be used and reinvented by the students for what they decide to learn. This makes the opportunities for learning infinite.
The classroom environment and curriculum both start in the classroom. As do new interests, adventures, and relationships. When so much starts in one place, high-quality pre-k programs make it a priority to nurture it.
Family Engagement that Keeps You Informed
Clear communication between teachers and family is vital to the emotional and social progress of children. This communication goes in both directions in a high-quality preschool.
Studies show that family engagement can improve a child’s behavior, social skills, and outlook on education in general. This is especially true if it starts from a young age. What makes a pre-k program high quality is knowing this information and putting it into practice daily.
Families voice concerns or goals for their children and teachers keep families informed of that progress. The learning of the children becomes a group effort with everyone taking an investment in it.
Educated and Respectful Teachers
You want a teacher that is going to respect you, but more importantly, that respects your child. This is something that can only come from years of formal education and training in early childhood education. Teachers who are trained to identify social, emotional, and academic progress are those that know how to best respect your child.
High-quality pre-k programs nurture the all-important teacher-child relationship. This is key to getting students to voluntarily partake in educational activities in class.
Teachers supervise children while allowing them to choose their learning opportunities. Or a teacher that can speak to children on their level, wherever that may be. Children always feel heard.
We All Need High-Quality Pre-K Programs
Many aspects make up high-quality pre-k programs. The most important is that it gets your child ready for success in kindergarten.
If you would like to see how your child can flourish in a high-quality pre-k program, contact us at Grow With Us Learning Academy today. Organize a visit to your local learning academy and see the importance of high-quality pre-k programs for yourself.