Preschool With a Twist
April 21st, 2008 by Alison
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This year my son isn't attending a traditional preschool, instead I've gotten together with a few other mothers from church and we run a Joy School for our children. In a Joy School, a group of mothers rotate teaching duties (using the detailed lesson plans you purchase) and hold school in their own homes. The lessons are more values-based as opposed to academic, and they strive to teach children the joy of things such as order, creativity, honesty, the Earth, and service. It's been a lot of fun for us. I enjoy having such an active role of my son's preschool education and we are looking forward to doing it again next year. If you're still looking for a preschool for your child, I'd encourage you to learn more about this, it might just be a perfect fit for your family!
Note: I in no way benefit from sharing this information with you - I just think it's a wonderful program that I want to share with others.
Photo by bies
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April 21st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I didn't know this was still around! I participated in (as in, I attended!) a Joy School over 20 years ago, and I LOVED it. My mother, however, saw some drawbacks…some of the other mommies weren't as honest as she was. Instead of sticking to lesson plans, they dumped us (all 7 of us) into daycares they ran in their basements for extra income. Instead of lesson time, a girl showed me how she could pee in the toilet…standing up. Not that I'm scarred.
(Then again, I vividly remember a Values Lesson….where my mother taught us all to dust. 
Free labor anyone? However, we all LOVED that lesson. I remember getting SO excited when I found a spot my mother hadn't dusted in a few months…I think it was a crosslegs under a table, in a spare bedroom.)
I LOVE the idea of getting together with friends and doing this. It's like a playdate…every day!
April 21st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I love this! Thank you for sharing this information and great links!
April 21st, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I participated in Joy School with my 2 kiddos and loved it. Another great benefit, other than the ones that you already mentioned is that the cost is a lot less than traditional preschool. My kids loved it and so did I!
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
What a wonderful idea! Unfortunately I'm just about done with the preschool age but I could have really used this information back in October when my youngest's Montessori school was closed down and he was too late to get into another one close enough to us.
He's starting kindergarten in August.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:31 am
I have never heard of this before. I might look into it. Thanks for sharing!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 am
This is fun. I'll have to look into it, I have not heard of a Joy School before. Thanks!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
How very cool! I love the idea!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Sounds great! Wish I had kids to teach!