Wondertime's Preschool Checklists A preschool's philosophy — co-
op or Montessori, play-based, Reggio Emilia, or Waldorf — is
only one of the considerations when choosing a school for your
child (and family). The most important thing to take into
account is your kid's temperament — and your family's core
beliefs and needs. Then there are the basics that apply to any
school, no matter what its approach to teaching (or not
teaching) youngsters. Tina Grotzer, an assistant professor of
education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, principle
investigator at Harvard Project Zero, mom of twins, and member
of Wondertime's advisory board, provides this comprehensive
checklist to guide you through the process of touring schools,
interviewing administrators, and observing in the classroom.
Good luck! • Does the teacher get down to your child's level and
make eye contact when talking or saying hello? • Is her tone of
voice calm? Or does she order and yell? • Does she listen
carefully to what your child is saying