**This post has been sponsored by The Westwood School to bring you this experience. All opinions are 100% our own!**
One of the most important tips I can give you about choosing the right preschool is this:
Do not leave it until the last minute.
Take some time to do a little research, figure out what kind of teaching philosophy you connect with, and visit schools to get a sense of the atmosphere and general vibe.
After looking into The Westwood School myself, I’m going to practically insist you add their Preschool Parent Preview event to your calendar if you live or work in the area. Let me give you a rundown, because I know you’ll agree.
Wednesday, October 24th, 2018, 9:30 – 11:00 AM
Super quick, essential info:
- The Westwood School is in Dallas near Addison/Farmer’s Branch. Convenient to Dallas North Tollway.
- They teach toddlers through high school, with a Lower Campus and Upper Campus.
- Preschool is either half-day or full-day (with 3- and 5-day options available).
- They are a diverse school with no religious affiliation.
- Application deadlines are at the end of January!
Westwood follows a Montessori curriculum, emphasizing personal ethics and individual responsibility, self-confidence and independence, responsibility and critical thinking, all in a supportive, caring environment that allows children to retain their uniqueness. The more I read about Montessori, the more I like it. And The Westwood School in particular gets effusive praise from their families.
My favorite, favorite part of Westwood’s preschool program are the Grace & Courtesy Lessons, which they use to help preschoolers understand what peace feels like and to help them practice peace in the classroom (and in life!). I want to paste every single lesson into this post, but I’ll restrain myself and share just a few:
How We Greet Someone
Every day we practice how to make a person feel welcome when they enter the classroom – look your teacher in the eye, shake her hand, and use your words to greet her. This is basic to a child’s inner peace and to helping others feel peaceful.
How We Move in the Classroom
Each preschooler’s personal work space is marked by a rug. Our students practice being mindful and considerate of others’ personal space—they learn to walk around the rugs of others rather than through them.
How We Resolve a Disagreement
We help our preschoolers learn that we all see things in our own way. Little by little, they learn to deal with the frustration of someone they’ve hurt.
They practice polite wording to resolve a conflict. For example, if one student steps on another’s work or rug—say, “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t pay attention and I just ran over your rug. What can I do to help you fix it?”
If they can’t resolve the problem among themselves, they can “Bring the Problem” – speak with a teacher and ask for help. This specific Westwood practice helps them learn about the alternatives they have for resolving disagreements.
It makes me feel so good to know there are people out there helping teach our young children to move through this world in a respectful, considerate, empathic, and conscientious way. If you’re nodding your head “YES” to all this, get yourself to The Westwood School’s Preschool Parent Preview to find out more!
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