My kids have outgrown (intellectually) the daycare/pre-k in which they are
currently enrolled.  I've been very satisfied with them til now, but find the
pre-k class to be much less than what my  son (4.5) needs.  We are now
investigating other possibilities - and, since we live in Whitmore Lake, the
local public school system is Not Appropriate.  We're currently looking at
Steiner, Emerson, and Concord/Summer's Knoll.  We have 2 very different
children in temprement, but would like to find one school that will do for
them both.

Does anyone know anything about Emerson or Summer's Knoll (Concord is the
preschool-pre-k associated with Summer's Knoll)?  

14 responses total.

Tim's in his second year of kindergarden at Steiner.  He loves it.  I forget
that most people find it odd to do two years of kindergarden, it made so
much sense for him.  He just turned 6, and they like kids to be already 6
when they enter 1st grade.  Michael worries that he'll be bored, but no
such thing.  If anything, the opposite; last year he complained that he
"wasn't learning anything" and I had to point out to him how he was learning
songs and stories, art skills, etc.  Now he sings a bit, loves art materials,
loves being a leader (no change) but is learning to accomodate others a bit.
Of course, his cognitive development is happening more or less on its own
and at home, so I really needed to further the creative and social components.
        His best buddy was in the other kindergarden last year (that teacher
is no longer doing kindgergarden) and didn't do well, so he went to Concord
and was quite happy.  I don't know Summer's Knoll, and wasn't aware that
Concord had an upper level.
        An other option for you might be a new charter school Honey Creek,
started by Child Care Connection, where both my boys have gone.  It's K-2 or
so right now, planning to add a grade a year as needed.  Really good; multi-
age classes, child-centered, with learning-centers and individual goals,
multicultural, open to handicapped kids- as a matter of fact, it's hourse
(er, housed) in the WISD building; I like my kids to be exposed to the widest
possible range of people.  The reason Timothy isn't there is that he's a
bit brick-headed, especially about transitions, so learning centers are a
bit of a struggle with him; getting him to do anything new, move along,
integrate with the group when there are choices.  I think Gareth will go
there if we're in Ann Arbor that long.
        Good luck, and have fun.  I enjoyed the process of finding the right
setting, although it's a bit more stressful for Michael since he doesn't 
know what he's looking at quite as well.

Thanks, Kami!  Actually, I'm not enjoying the process as muchas I thought I
would.  It's so hard to know what is right for *the kids* and not just what
appeals to me.  Our pediatrician doesn't think that Steiner is right for
David, altho he and I agree that it would be great for Tori - but the
logistics of having the kids in 2 separate schools makes me shudder.

What kind of child seems to do best at Steiner?  How would you describe the
"typical" steiner child?

-becca

Why aren't the Whitmore Lake public schools an option?

        I went to Burns Park, a public school in Ann Arbor, for most of
elementary school, although I spent a few years in other places.  For the most
part I liked Burns Park, although there were some bad experiences there,
mostly with just one teacher.  It was in response to that teacher that my
parents decided to send me to Emerson instead.  It ended up taking a year to
get into Emerson, since more people wanted to go there than could, , but that
was fine because in the mean time I spent a year with a very good teacher at
Burns Park.
        My year at Emerson (sixth grade) was a very good experience in a lot
of ways, and I really enjoyed it at the time.  Still, I have a lot of trouble
justifying it now.  It seems to me that while I probably got a lot out of the
academic side of things, what was neglected was just learning about how to
deal with people.  I don't know what Emerson is like now, but at the time it
consisted of a bunch of mostly upper middle class people from very well
educated families, with parents who could afford the tuition.  In addition,
all of these people were "good enough" to qualify as the kind of students that
Emerson wanted.  There was a constantly reenforced idea that were were the
smart and superior people because we went to Emerson, and that anybody who
didn't must have been inferior.  Getting back into the public school system
-- Tappan -- a year later was a much needed reality check.  Looking back at
my Emerson years, as much as I enjoyed it at the time I'm now very
uncomfortable with the idea of priavate schools, and I don't think I would
send any of my future hypothetical kids to one.

why aren't whitmore lake schools an option? they are notoriously bad; everyone
we've talked about  schools to, when we mention that we live in w.l.,
immediately says "oh." and nothing more needs to be said.

I have a couple of objections specifically, in addition to the low acedemic
standards and general vo-tech orientation.  First, they have Channel One in
the schools, which means that the kids are *required* to be exposed to 12
minutes of school-sanctioned advertisements every day.  Also, when they built
the new grade school, they *knew* that they were building it too small - they
built it just for the size of the incoming class requirements - so now, 4
years of so after it was built, they already have "portable" classrooms and
an over-stressed facility.

My main objection, however, is that David is attending a pre-k that is run
very like public schools are - good public schools, and we're having behaviro
problems like I've never seen before in this child.  His potty training was
pretty secure during the daytime, but has gone to hell in this new class. 
They are using worksheets that bore him silly, and so he becomes a clown and
is very disruptive in his class.

If we're having these problems in pre-k, what more will we get into in
kindergarten or first grade?  He was a happy, well-adjusted kid before he got
into this class - and these are pretty good teachers, with a class ratio of
86-8 kids per teacher.

BTW, we'ver pretty much ruled out Emerson, for reasons mentioned in the
previous post.  Emerson kids seem to universally have a reptuation for
arrogance, which I don't want so see in my kids.

We're pretty much looking at STeiner or Concord / Summer's Knoll, altho I'm
going to check out Honey Creek at kami's suggestion.

-becca

Becca, kids from Steiner often go to Community...
Seriously, I am a bit concerned that there is not more of a racial mix; there
are a few asian, indian, and black kids, and a number of religious 
backgrounds, but no handicapped kids that I know of.  As a matter of fact,
one teacher claimed that they just couldn't meet their needs.  I like the
fact that some of my boys' kid and adult friends have special needs; it
teaches them to be attentive and considerate, and not to judge people
superficially.  
What are the kids like?  Creative, independent, generally helpful and kind,
the 7th and 8th graders are often neo-hippies with funky clothes and braided
or purple hair.  I've had the usual trouble with a few kids in each class-
yankin' the sub's chain, mouthing off, etc. but mostly they are great to
deal with.  I really love the fact that they expect *everyone* to be able
to draw, do music, write, etc. I've never noticed the kids running down
their classmates' abilities, either, even in gym although everyone knows
who is *most* talented.
Why does the doctor think David would not do well there?
Timothy can be a difficult child to direct, which is one of the major reasons
I sent him to Steiner- a sort of gentle inflexibility which does not give
him opportunities to engage in head-to-head conflict and does engage him,
perforce, with materials and activities which he would not choose.  Now, in
this second year of kindergarden, he has begun to sing, choose art projects,
and even allow other kids to be leaders now and then.  I'm thrilled.

Of course, this time of year we have to deal with issues of religion; they
celebrate a cycle of festivals throughout the year, which I really love, but
in many ways they are based on the Christian calendar, so we talk about the
fact that (sorry Grace) the Christ child is just *one* sun-child reborn in
the time of darkness, etc.  Still, it's the closest thing I'm going to find
to a "pagan preschool", with the reverence for nature, sense of magic and
imagination, and delightful traditions.  And no worksheets...;)  Dunno, we're
happy.  Don't know what we'll do when Gareth comes to school- very different
kid, I think he'd do very well in an open school atmosphere; child centered
so he'll be forced to rely on himself more.  He'd also do fine at Steiner,
and they'd be gently supportive of him when he's timid, but it's very
expensive to have two kids in private school, I don't know if my dad will
go for it.  For that matter, he might be able to handle public school, since
as a second child he's more of a "team player".  We'll see.

sorry it's taken me so long to get back - first, the holidays were hectic,
and then we all got (and still have) the flu...

David had his first week at Steiner last week, and the change in him is
astounding - he's back to his old, relaxed, gentle self - well, as much as
an almost-5yo boy can be gentle... I was worried that it might take him time
to aclimate, to be able to trust the new teachers, as he couldn't trust his
old ones, but that simply didn't happen.  He's having a great time, and likes
it very much.

We have to get his ear infections cleared up (sigh) before we can have him
assessed for language problems - this may take awhile.  but the AA school
system will assess him since he's full time in Steiner, and will give him any
assistance he may need.

Tori is at Concord day care, about a mile down the road from Steiner.  I'm
not quote so pleased with them as I am with Steiner, but only marginally (I
think there are several fairly rough boys at Concord, who encourage Tori's
tendency to be roudy.)

still,it seems to be working well.  I gotta still check out Honey Creek, but
I think we'll stay with Steiner as long as we can afford it.  <sigh>

-becca

Yea!!  Which class?  Timothy did not mention a new "Bluebird", but then he
wouldn't.  He tends to be involved with his own thing.

I wonder if we can find homeopathic remedies for the ears, or something.
Antibiotics are not ideal, nor particularly effective.

I hear good things about Concord.  By the way, every so often I see an
"open house" sign at the church which houses Concord, if I remember correctly.
Do you know why?

Oh, if you don't care for Concord and have the money or can get some sort
of scholarship, Gareth is at Child Care Connection on Miller- about 5 minutes
from Steiner.  Timothy went there.  It's quite good (although the teacher I
thought was most amazing has moved on, sadly), and Gareth loves it.  They
do not permit bullying or roughness, and work hard to encourage cooperative
play.  Also, they run a charter school, as I said- Honey Creek, so their
kids get first refusal of spaces there.  One good reason for me to keep
Gareth on at CCC even when I'm having money troubles.

Gee, we should get together with the boys after kindergarden some.  Want
David to come riding with Timothy on Friday afternoons?  I'm putting together
a group for that.

Best of continuing luck.  
Kami

Kami, I don't really know, but from the placement of that sign & the frequency
with which it's been left out on Sundays I suspect that they put it out just
for the arrow on it, to steer parents to a particular driveway.

Thanks, Dave.  I suspected something of the sort.

Hi, Kami!  David is a "yellowbird"  - in Mrs. Black's class.  He stays in
aftercare until 3:30 or so, most days.  He has made a buddy in aftercare  -
youmay know him: Geofery is also in the "bluebirds".  He's been teaching David
how to fold paper airplains, and our living room is almost literally knee-deep
in them.  For David, the joy is not in the playing with them, but in the
making of them.  He's going to be perilous when he gets into Origami!

David tends to be afraid of large animals - dunno why.  Control issue, maybe?
so I don't think he'd be interested in riding.  Tori, on the other hand, might
love it.  let me know what friday you're going, and I'll bring both kids and
we'll see.

OTOH, as soon as there's enough snow to do it, we'll be going sledding on the
little hill back of Steiner -maybe Timothy could join us some day?

I think Tori will be in Mrs. Mall's class when she starts next year - Will
Timothy still be there, or will he have gon on to 1st grade?

re: Concord - it is a *very* good school, as is the associated elementary
school, Summer's Knoll - they just aren't right for David, and it's too much
of a pain to have the kids in two different schools.  (plus, Tori *loves*
Steiner!)  They have an open house every Tuesday - the sign is, indeed, just
there to help people know which way to drive.

-becca

Oh NOOOOOO!  Has Geoffrey "turned David into a dragon" yet?  It's going
around.  Timothy informs me that he is now a blue dragon, and he's made
Gareth into a brown dragon.  Cute, but annoying.  Fortunately, no one
seems to be as into it as Geoffrey.  And I think Timothy started the
airplane craze.  And he expects me to keep *all* of them.  I think NOT.
Why do his airlplanes require tape and scizzors?  Mine don't.  But then,
I'm not a six year old boy <g>.  Mrs. Black is super!  

We ride pretty much every Friday- I pick Timothy up by 2, in the hope (yeah,
right) of riding by 2:30, and more often than not, I do his lesson.  I'm
rather tougher on him than Kathy would be, but I'm very proud.  As a matte
 of fact, I've been telling everybody this story; Tim had his first real
fall on Friday.  Becky found something to shy at (I think she was tired
of the lesson.  We were nearly done), dodged slightly, picked up a canter
and put her head down.  Timothy grabbed her neck, rolled off her shoulder
and onto the ground, got up and stood there.  I said; "Whose holding your
horse?" and he went and grabbed the rein.  *Then* he started crying.  He
said "I think my whole body hurts to much to get back on."  So I asked him
to walk once around his horse so I could see.  He did, and remembered to
touch her as he went around behind, so she'd know where he was.  No limp.
So I gave him another hug and tossed him back up, handed him the reins and
told him to walk out on the "rail" (edge of the arena) once around.  THen
I had him pick up a trot one more time.  No problem, and no complaint. Yea!
And he only started last summer.  I'm so proud of him.  He's really getting
it.
Timothy will be in first grade next year.  I'm really glad he had two
years of kindergarden.  They are so right about the confidence it gives the
kids.
See ya!
Kami

kami: I don't know how to contact you other than this way - will you call me
at work between the hrs. of 9 and 3:30? 741-3099.
-becca

r
Becca, my phone # is 761-1137.  I wonder if I'd recognize you and/or David
if I ran into you picking him up at aftercare?

Hey folks!  Rudolf Steiner schools Xmas bazaar is this Saturday, the 7th,
from 9-3.  It's a lot of fun; the "Stone Soup Cafe" with coffee-house
entertainment in the gym and in the music room, story telling, puppets, etc.,
a room *just* for the kids with $1.00 or less gifts they can buy and have
wrapped, an activity room where they can make crowns, decorate candles,
make ginger bread houses or felt crafts, get their faces painted, etc., rooms
with books to buy, yard-sale type stuff, and lovely artistic goods to buy
for gifts, a toy room with creative stuff for holiday gifts, and so on. It's
a fun way to spend the day, and a good fund-raiser for the school.  Hope I
see some of you there.  Becca, are any of you helping out in the toy room?

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