Progressive Preschool

I feel that the Portland area is pretty progressive in most aspects. We have a number of "co-operative" pre-schools. We live in Lake Oswego and we're still on a wait list for the Oswego playschool for my 3.5 year old. There also a program in Cedar Hills that I've been recommended to, but that it a bit far to drive for pre-school.
Not sure what area of town you’re looking to move to, but I know that the SW Portland burbs, almost all have wonderful public school systems. The Portland Metro area schools are also improving. I have heard that in LA the public schools are not good; I got this first hand from a teacher and some students from the area. Anyways wanted to give a shout out for the Lake Oswego schools, we have a private foundation that supports our public schools, and I know many parents here who took their kids out of a private school to go to the public schools here
If you want some advise on where to look replay back and I would love to help you!

My 3.5 year old goes to A Child's Way and loves it. She is in the afternoon class from 1- 3:30. They also have morning classes, but it is a lottery system to get in, so get on the list asap! They have a two's program also if you want your youngest to attend in the future before she's three. We did this, and I absolutely loved it. You go with your child, and there is a half hour period of 'mommy time' to meet with the other moms and the kids start to get used to you leaving. It was a great intro to school and Victoria was ready to go this year. The teachers are super nice and the school just has the right philosophy about teaching kids through play. If you have other questions about it, please ask!! I can't say enough good things about it!
K.

Come check out the preschool at Portland Jewish Academy. It's a wonderful school with talented, experienced teachers, a good and flexible schedule, a wonderful and warm community of parents and excellent administrators. You can check us out at www.portlandjewishacademy.org or call ###-###-#### to schedule a tour for when you might be in town. Good luck!

We have our son in the Wilson Preschool program up at Wilson High School. It is 3 days a week from 8:45-12pm. It is a highly structured program with different work stations and one-on-one supervision.

I heard about it from another mom at Burger King playland and she told me that by the end of the first year there, not only did her son know all of the names of the other kids (24 total), but that he was very close to being able to read.

Each child has a different teacher for every 45 minutes, but it is the same teacher for that particular 45 minutes every day (if that makes sense?).

The children rotate through about 8 different stations of play time, learning basic computer skills, crafts, reading, counting and interactive share time. Also mixed in is when the children gather together for story time and songs. Each week is a different letter of the alphabet in which children bring something from home that starts with that letter and share it with the rest of the class. Tomorrow the kids will dress up and go trick-or-treating from high school room to room. They also get to take little field trips in the immediate area (a total Leave It To Beaver neighborhood) on occasion.

They are currently concentrating on the concept of family and what it means and their family trees, etc. Each week two children are focused on with parents interacting on a family tree with photos and all about that child. The class learns about two different kids each week. The parents are given a weekly curriculum of what will be covered so they can prompt their children at home about what they have learned.

Wilson has a year waiting list, so I would highly recommend that you get in touch as soon as possible. The most beautiful thing about this....are you ready for this? It is $50/mo. That's right, a savings for us of over $200/mo.

Lastly, in the summer the high school pool is open for the general public. This is a resort style of pool with a water tube slide, a baby slide, a lazy river, and a baby pool area covered with permanent protective umbrellas. It is so wonderful and Joshua now feels like it is his school year-round.

The phone number for more info is: ###-###-####

Kids must be potty trained and able to pull up their pants. It only runs two years: for 3-4 yr olds, then for 4-5 yr olds depending on where the birthday falls. Once in the first year, you will be grandfathered into the next year.

Hope this helps!

J.