Book Description

Drawing on the most creative and humane early childhood methods of this century (Suzuki, Montessori, Reggio Emilia and others) as well as insights from eastern philosophy, this significant new work represents an innovative approach to preschool education. The author brings a thoroughly integrative orientation to bear in her understanding of how children can best develop academic and creative abilities. Based on her experience of designing the Houston preschool, Allegro Conservatory, the author’s approach is at once high-minded and down-to-earth. She offers the reader clear and simple explanations of rather profound philosophies as well as a practical means to put these ideas into effect. The first chapters delineate the school’s philosophy and discuss in some detail the qualities of a nurturing environment. Those sections also offer specific guidelines on developing positive parent, teacher and child behaviors. In step-by-step fashion, the book then demonstrates an imaginative, yet academic curriculum for young children. It emphasizes the early teaching of basic skills as well as training in the fine arts, especially music. Research on the “Mozart Effect” has stimulated recent parental interest in the powerful influence of music on the young child’s brain. This book takes that research one step further by advocating the child’s exposure to all types of greatness in subjects such as literature, art, drama and philosophy as well. This work represents a bright new expansion in the field of early childhood education. It leads the preschool educator from a narrow focus on letters, colors, numbers and socialization skills to a vast new realm of higher learning. Hopefully, its concepts will spark creative thought in the minds of all parents and educators who read it.