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Traditional vs Progressive Schools

Submitted by jencct on March 20, 2007 - 23:44
in

Do you have kids who need to take the exam to big school this year? You guys might want to read this first... I attended a talk by Didi Manahan, a professor at the Ateneo and the directress of Explorations Preschool and Keys Gradeschool about traditional and progressive schools. I think it is important to realize that progressive schools are present nowadays because there is more and more proof that people learn differently. And just because one doesn't go to a traditional school, it doesn't mean that he/she is "intellectually challenged". As a quick overview, these are the basic differences between a traditional and a progressive school.

 

 

You might be thinking that, hey, progressive doesn't seem so strange after all. In fact, if you've visited the school that our son went to, and listen to their philosophy, you will definitely think it makes MORE sense to send your child to a progressive school! What with 40 children per class in a traditional school??? How will your kid learn at all?

One thing that really draws me to a progressive curriculum is that the concepts are investigated upon. The kids aren't made to swallow things "just because". I think that that's what is needed now--to teach kids how to be critical thinkers.

However, for those who are not convinced, here is the list of pros for traditional schools.

 

 

Something to think about, parents. PS--and if you're wondering about us, well, Paul's going to his dad's school. =p We'll see how he fares. His dad promised me we'd assess and discuss this after Grade 1 or 2. We'll see...abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

March 10, 2009 UPDATE! Please consider using our School Reviews feature to leave and / or look for opinions on schools. Thank you!! - admin

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OB Montessori

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 7, 2010 - 14:49.

hi..i plan to enroll my kids at ob montessori, both are pre-school ( 4yrs and 6yrs old) any feedbacks would definetly help my in my descision, plus does anyone here knows how much is enrollment there?

i really need to know..

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 7, 2010 - 01:52.

hi..any feedbacks about creative learning., humpy dumpy..,casa instruccion de montessori..and mulberry..all in kapitolyo pasig..or maybe u can recommend me a best progressive school near to this place..i really really need your suggestions..thanks a lot..:)

i need your help..

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 7, 2010 - 01:37.

im having a problem looking for a best progressive school for my 5 yr. old girl and 3yr.old son...near kapitolyo, pasig..i need your suggestion guys..it will be a great help..thanks..

St Rafael St

jencct's picture
Submitted by jencct on February 7, 2010 - 07:35.

Hi I recall that a friend has a school on St Rafael St. Her name is Joanne Jesena. The school's name...I vaguely remember as St Rafael Learning Center (but I'm not sure). Hope this helps.

Jen

Update on Good Progressive School in Caloocan or Quezon City Are

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 2, 2010 - 18:57.

Hi,

Was looking for an alternative school for my kid near the Caloocan Grace Park area when I stumbled upon this thread. Read some of the post and it seems that "Early Achievers Learning Center" at Sgt Rivera, QC, is not so good an option anymore. Does anyone have a review of a school named Pace Academy also along Sgt Rivera?

Are there other schools in the Caloocan Grace Park area that anyone can recommend? Preferably w/ Chinese lessons and progressive style. If not Chinese at least Progressive style of teaching?

Thanks in Advance.

Hi Admin, I checked the

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 2, 2010 - 19:04.

Hi Admin,

I checked the school reviews first but couldn't see reviews for Pace and ratings for other schools in the area, hope its ok if I posted my inquiry here. Sorry if I broke any rules, you may delete my post if I did so. Thanks.

Better Preschool in Project 3 Quezon City

pia.inductivo's picture
Submitted by pia.inductivo on January 13, 2010 - 17:01.

Hi' i'm new here, just want to know, what is the best preschool (progressive) in Project 3 Q.C.? Anyone?

John Dewey School for Children/ QC

pcvf17's picture
Submitted by pcvf17 on January 25, 2010 - 11:14.

I'm also from QC. My kids are enrolled in John Dewey for almost 3 years already and I could proudly say that every penny paid is worth it!

You can contact them at 9220020. Look for Teacher Rochelle Razo.

Best Regards,

Mommy Portia Frando-Dauz

The Bridge School's Open House

Submitted by pinktoeshoes on January 5, 2010 - 22:00.

For parents hunting for a school...

The school my son attends... The Bridge School... is holding their Open Houses in January and February.

For incoming Younger Preschool (kids 3.6-4.5 years old), it's gonna be held this Saturday, Jan 9, 930am, and for incoming Older Preschool (kids 4.6-5.5 years old) it'll be on Saturday, Jan 16, 930am.

For more info, check out their website, www.thebridgeschool.ph

pre-schools in frvw/commonwealth

jpfabs's picture
Submitted by jpfabs on January 5, 2010 - 15:23.

Hi moms! Do you recommend any schools in fairview/commonwealth area? My 3 y/o kid will be studying next SY 2010. Help! :D Thanks!

REACH International School

august10's picture
Submitted by august10 on December 3, 2009 - 16:28.

Hi everyone! Do you have any feedback about "REACH International School"? Thanks a million!

traditional vs. progressive schools

garlic's picture
Submitted by garlic on November 8, 2009 - 20:06.

Hi mommies I'm a newbie here and have been reading your posts for two days now.
I've been seriously thinking about transferring my two kids, aged 6 and 3 to a progressive school next schoolyear. They're both enrolled in a Chinese traditional school this year. (Btw, the school claimed to be part traditional part progressive when I asked them about their curriculum before, but it turns out, upon observation that they're not really progressive but traditional).

I live in Sta. Cruz and I'm having a hard time looking for a good progressive school near our place. Two of my friends are suggesting COLF or the Community of Learners Foundation in VAlencia Q.C. , Waldorf in Heroes Hill or OB Montessori.

Kindly help me by posting your insights on these three schools konti lang kasi ang narinig ko about them and if you have any idea regarding the tuition fees please please help me.

thanks and more power to moms exchange!

Re: Traditional vs Progressive Schools

cute_alala's picture
Submitted by cute_alala on October 27, 2009 - 10:24.

Any mommy living in Pasig area? Do you know the Parkwood Playschool in Legaspi Ave., Maybunga, Pasig City? Is it a good school? thanks!

Re: Re: Traditional vs Progressive Schools

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 6, 2010 - 12:09.

hi! my son and daughter studied at parkwoodplayschool.i guarantee you its a very good progressive school.My children are very good in communicatng their ideas and they are able to analyze things beyond what I expect of them. My son is now grade 1 and my daughter is about to graduate now.

Re: Traditional vs Progressive Schools

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on October 12, 2009 - 10:50.

looking for a pre-school or
learning center in global,city

Reggio Emilia schools

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on October 11, 2009 - 20:32.

Hi!

I'm a mom with a 2year old daughter. I've been searching the web for preschools using the Reggio Emilia approach but I have been unsuccessful. Do you know of any schools (preferably within Paranaque and Alabang) that teach the Reggio Emilia approach?

Thanks!
Michelle

Reggio Emilia School

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on October 13, 2009 - 14:18.

Hi, I wonder what is Reggio Emilia Method is? Tnx.

Colegio San Agustin Makati

emsa0723's picture
Submitted by emsa0723 on September 10, 2009 - 14:27.

Hi there! Any feedback on Colegio San Agustin Makati. I want to enroll my son there for kinder... thanks

Registered?

banwah's picture
Submitted by banwah on October 31, 2009 - 20:50.

Had you registered your son there?
I feel that the school is ok.

Learning tree preschool

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on September 2, 2009 - 14:32.

Any mommies have feedback on the Learning Tree Preschool in Cubao, Quezon City?

The Learning Tree

fizzy1's picture
Submitted by fizzy1 on January 6, 2010 - 01:16.

TLT is a wonderful preschool, using a progressive developmental approach. My son has had 3 wonder-filled happy years there. It is child-centered, the teachers are great and highly competent (many graduated from UP FLCD), the facilities are ok (lots of learning materials & space to move around), the curriculum responds to preschoolers' developmental needs (academic, emotional, social, physical, etc.), and learning is not limited to the classrooms. Go and visit the school and you will see active, confident, happy children: for them, school is fun, fun, fun!! Their graduates easily get into (even excel in) 'big' traditional schools, but for The Learning Tree, that is not what is important: it is nurturing your child's full potentials. And isnt that what we want at this crucial stage of our children's lives?

Re: The Learning Tree

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on February 8, 2010 - 16:16.

Thanks fizzy1. The TLT preschool in Cubao is far from our place, but we are strongly considering TLT Sikatuna for grade school.

cambridge

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on September 2, 2009 - 10:32.

any feedback on cambridge pre-school? its a singaporean school.

Great!

banwah's picture
Submitted by banwah on October 31, 2009 - 21:06.

But, does it really follows all the Singapore syllabus?

Would appreciate feedback re COLF

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 25, 2009 - 18:47.
Hi! I'm pretty new to Mom Exchange, but I've been checking this blog out regularly for the past month. (Thank you so much for having this forum, by the way.) I wanted to ask if there are any of you out there who can give me feedback re Community of Learners Foundation (COLF). See, my son's graduating from Kinder this year, and I'm looking for a progressive gradeschool for him. The irony is, I actually teach in a very large traditional school. But, after years of teaching in this school, years of going through undergrad and MA in education, and, most importantly, knowing my son, I've decided that I would rather expose my boy to progressive education. We live in the QC area, so I've been trawling the web looking through progressive schools. So far, I've been really looking at COLF, but I wanted the parents' perspective. Hope someone can help me out. Thanks!

Re: Traditional vs Progressive Schools

rinna's picture
Submitted by rinna on August 22, 2009 - 06:21.
I think I remember reading an article by Panjee Tapales (who sends her kids to Waldorf) about how the school doesn't really encourage reading until age 8 or 9 and her son actually learned how to read at that age. I think in the more mainstream approach, we all would've started to panic and enrolled our child in Kumon or any one of those intensive tutorial places if that happened to us. But according to her, it never really hampered her son's love of reading and her son is a voracious reader. So in the grand scheme of reading, does it really matter if the child was able to read at 3 vs 9? Would I rather have a 3yr old who can read but does not really like/love reading? Or someone who learned how to read late but looooves reading? I'd choose the latter. IMO, progressive schools have somewhat different philosophies and priorities. We cannot expect children in progressive schools to develop at exactly the same pace as children in traditional schools. And vice versa. As the article above suggested, it is a matter of right fit for the child. Some would flourish in progressive schools and others would do better in traditional schools. We have to get to know our children and their learning styles too and not just go with what we(parents) want.

Re: Re: Traditional vs Progressive Schools

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 22, 2009 - 19:51.
Your observations make a lot of sense to me because these put emphasis on our responsibilities as parents, and not on how we exercise our prerogatives. I hope you don't mind my standing on your shoulders for a moment and saying that if we add the third option of home-schooling, it conveys the kind of conviction we parents should have, once we have chosen among the three--be it traditional, progressive or home schooling. Our child attends a progressive school and I still can only imagine the kind of doubts that home-schooling parents have to endure while still standing as educators to their offspring. I've met some very successful parent-teachers and their child-students and I have to say that they are impressive to the point of actually being intimidating. There will always be debate, some of it even healthy. But at the end of the day, the parent's choice of schooling is a promise that he/she will have to make good on, EVERY DAY, until graduation. :)

think long term

rinna's picture
Submitted by rinna on August 22, 2009 - 06:09.
well, I think when deciding on progressive vs traditional, one has to think long-term. If you're thinking, yeah, we'll do progressive schools for elementary and then send them to traditional schools for highschool, then I think it will somehow follow that in some aspects, the kids may not be "up to par" with whatever standards these traditional high schools have and will take some amount of adjusting to this new approach to learning.

Re: think long term

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 22, 2009 - 19:14.
An excellent point! Wish I had thought of it :)

Hhmmm...

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 20, 2009 - 20:35.
This thread is heating up. I just wished parents would try to calm down and be more mature about what has been written. I live in Pasig and I don't even know the school but am getting quite a good as well as bad idea of how it's parents are --- and maybe how the school is too.

Of Hot Words and Offended Parents

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 20, 2009 - 22:06.
I noticed that too! Things seem to heat up when people make sweeping statements about the KIDS in the schools. Like this one parent who said "If you want your child to be laid back, take him to that school. But if you want your child to be an achiever, scout for other schools." Then the thread really heated up! Not surprising since I think that unhappy person went way out bounds and already offended the parents, and belittled the kids, at that particular school. Maybe, you would like to see things in this context, and not to judge too quickly the parents or the school that, on the surface, seems to be the cause of their argument. I mean, we wouldn't want to commit the same mistake that this unhappy parent made. Would we?

Re: Of Hot Words and Offended Parents

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 20, 2009 - 22:28.
I see your point. I found that "unhappy parent's" comment and read it very carefully. As a parent, I also would have reacted very strongly! The schools are what we are reviewing as fellow parents. But this person was so angry at the school that he over stepped and finished his comment with an attack on the kids and their parents. Thank you for bringing this up.

please, not cradle of joy, or any other small grade school!!!

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 19, 2009 - 13:23.
WHEN MY BOY WENT TO CRADLE OF JOY, i thought they will be able to teach my child the basics of elementary education. lo and behold, my kid did not even pass 1st year! the high school told us my child needs to go to grade 7 bec he was not taught the basics...!!! this is my advice, any "big" school with gradeschool but not a small school with gradeschool. they will not be able to teach the minimal requirement of gradeschool. little did i know, his classmates had to go through grade 7 in another school because of the same problem!!!

regrets in RAYA

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 19, 2009 - 13:17.
I brought my daughter in Raya School and I regret bringing her there. There is no structured curriculum yet. I have been warned by my friends, then, that I should think twice before enrolling my child in new schools because curriculum would be experimental. When my child took the entrance test in another school, the child psychologist who administered the exam told us that our child's technical side is superior but only average on the other aspect. According to the examiner, that would be attributed to her former's school lack of training on reading comprehension. If you want your child to be laid back, take him to RAYA. But if you want your child to be an achiever, scout for other schools.

regrets at Little Apprentice

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 19, 2009 - 21:06.
That sounds exactly like our experience at the Little Apprentice in Alabang. So much concentration on play but no structure nor concentration on the technical aspects....That was relayed to me by the guidance councilor at De La Salle Zobel. I now found a good pre school called Cradle to Crayons in Marcelo Green Village. It's a small school but I swear, the education that my daugher is getting is comparable to none...and the few weeks that she's been in school, she's showed a distinct improvement in all aspects. She's more disciplined and her joy for learning is now so evident. No more calls from the teachers that our daughter wants to go home.... Teachers don't have to be Harvard trained to be considered good....trust me, our daughter's previous teacher was Harvard trained for all the good it did for us....

looking for a chinese progressive preschool

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 15, 2009 - 16:31.
hi everyone! i just joined this site and i'm learning a lot from all of you. i just want to ask if you guys can suggest a chinese progressive preschool in qc. we live near cubao. our daughter just turned 2 and we're scouting a school for her for next year. many thanks! :)

looking for a chinese progressive preschool

Submitted by Mom-Friday on October 31, 2009 - 22:43.

hi, there are very few chinese progressive schools, but you can try St. Marks near E.Rod, i think they are more traditional but good feedback from parents. The Learning Connection (TLC) in Pilar st. Addition Hills, Mand. is a progressive school where I will enroll my daughter. There's also Yu Ming. DML Montessori in 7th st. New Manila has weekly Chinese lessons.

RE: Looking for chinese progressive school

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on October 11, 2009 - 16:43.

Hi there,

You may try Meridian School or John Dewey School for Children at Quezon City. They are offering mandarin subjects for kids.

Thanks.

Chinese pre-school

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on October 13, 2009 - 14:29.

Hi, do you know any chinese preschool or chinese big school near marikina? Tnx.

Re: looking for a chinese progressive preschool

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 24, 2009 - 20:13.
Learning jungle in Sct. De Guia Quezon City has Chinese Class. Learning the basics of the language. Not for 2 year-olds . For 3s and up

Re: Traditional vs Progressive Schools

dice1104's picture
Submitted by dice1104 on August 12, 2009 - 12:53.
Any mommy living in taguig area? Do you know of the Integrated Montessori Center? Is it a good school? thanks!

don't enroll in a small school with grade school

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on July 25, 2009 - 06:38.
if you plan to enroll your child to the big schools like ateneo, la salle, st. theresa's or others, pick a school which has no gradeschool. from my experiences, schools with gradeschools do not prepare the kids for the big schools bec of course, they would want them to enroll the kids in their school. pick a school that really prepares them for the big s chools. ask the director about preparing the kids. this is a mommy advice;-)

Re: don't enroll in a small school with grade school

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 16, 2009 - 11:30.
How sad to hear about some preschools with grade schools that do not prepare kids for the other big schools! Well, my son studied preschool in Paref Rosefield near T Morato. It is a preschool but with a grade school and high school for boys (Northfield) at the other street and grade school/high school for girls in Antipolo (Rosehill). Knowing the quality of education that all Paref schools give (academic and especially the values that kids learn), I was confident that my son's preschool years will be excellent with them and I was not mistaken. During his senior kinder year, I informed his teacher that we plan to take the entrance exam in ateneo and his teacher cheerfully stated that they will prepare him for it which they really did and also for their other students who were taking exams in other schools. And I'm proud to say that they prepared them well because all of my son's batchmates got accepted in their preferred big schools like Ateneo, LaSalle, Xavier, Merriam, ICA, St Therese, Holy Spirit,etc. My point is, they gave good quality education and values and the much needed support that every parent looks for in a school. And I believe that they are also proud to know that their students are now happily enrolled in their big schools that they choose. This just shows that even if they have their own grade school and high school, they consistently give good quality education and high values and they are very supportive and compassionate to their profession. I highly commend them. By the way, they also accept late enrollees and don't worry because I can assure you that your kids will cope with the lesson in no time while still having a great time!

Paref

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 20, 2009 - 20:29.
I have friends who think Paref is a good school. Very Catholic. Very strict. But good.

you are so correct!

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on August 16, 2009 - 10:44.
Small schools with gradeschools DO NOT PREPARE children (in preschool) to take entrance tests in big schools- that was my experience. My boy was studying in cradle of___ and wanted ateneo when he goes to prep. Because they have gradeschool, I asked them if they can help my child take the exams for ateneo. To cut a long story short, they did not. Luckily, a neighbor told me that a tutor from another school near there teaches kids to take entrance exams. I had him tutored for 4 sessions and luckily, my boy passed!

Acacia School and Homeschool

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on July 23, 2009 - 16:27.
hello everybody! are there any mothers out there who send their children to acacia school in sta rosa? what is the experience like? and any parent who currently homeschool or have homeschooled their children? I'd really like to get in touch :)

homeschool

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on September 19, 2009 - 00:54.

am a homeschooling mom :)

hello everybody! are there

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on July 23, 2009 - 16:26.
hello everybody! are there any mothers out there who send their children to acacia school in sta rosa? what is the experience like? and any parent who currently homeschool or have homeschooled their children? I'd really like to get in touch :)

progressive school

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on June 20, 2009 - 17:36.
hello, i’m a mom of two girls ages 7 and 9 and just happened to visit this site, i’ve been looking for a progressive school for the past 3 days. my kids are currently enrolled in an international school for the past 4 years and i think it’s about time i find them a new school for the school year 2010-2011. I am not happy anymore with the system of the school. the school administration is so unorganized and the turnover of teachers is so unbelievable! every 2 or 3 months my kids get new teachers, they leave for some reason. (i heard bec of the salary, curriculum, etc) i guess that would be a cause for concern. i heard keys gradeschool in mandaluyong is ok, but they don't have highschool. i don't want my kids to transfer AGAIN for highschool. also am contemplating on REEDLEY, any comments about the school? if you have any suggestions of schools i could visit (katipunan, pasig, antipolo area) please let me know. i really appreciate the help:) many thanks Grace

Re: progressive school

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on June 26, 2009 - 20:19.
Hi! Why don't you try domuschola in pasig or creative learning in kapitolyo. I like creative learning, but still no high school. Multiple intelligences has high school already. its in katipunan. :) Hope this helps.

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