Three-year-old Michenzie Boyd piled blocks on top of one another, unaware she was incorporating planning and design concepts. And that was just how officials at Burr Ridge Elementary District 180 wanted it.
Making a seamless transition between fun and learning, District 180 conducted a block party at Jeans School where various stations, all with Legos and other block-related activities, were used to show parents of preschoolers the educational concepts their children will be learning this year. It took the place of the standard curriculum night and district officials couldn’t have been happier with the results.
It will likely change how future curriculum nights are conducted in the district.
“It is something different,” Superintendent Tom Schneider said of the 20 different block stations. “Parents came here already when there were student assessments. This is a simple way to get together with them and it is a lot of fun.”
He said the event, where Jeans pre-kindergarten instructors interacted with youths and parents at the different stations, was the kind of “outside the box” thinking the district wants to promote.
Parents seemed to enjoy the change of pace from the standard curriculum nights.
“It’s definitely been good for me as a parent,” Elliot Bruta said as his son, James, 4, ran between stations.
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Shavonne Boyd said she appreciated the effort that went into creating the party as her daughter Michenzie continued to build with her siblings, Miceyla and Micholas, joining in on the fun.
“I love that there are so many things here to do with the kids,” Boyd said.
Jeans Head Start teacher Janet Dorrance was thrilled.
“It was fun for everyone,” Dorrance said.
She said any time you get kids learning concepts while playing it is a good thing.
“Through playing, we can show families what children will be learning this year,” said Dorrance, who is beginning her third year at the school.
Principal Adam Parrott-Sheffer checked out youths’ Lego creations and talked with them about their efforts.
“This is an interesting way to address the open house process,” Parrott-Sheffer said. “The parents and kids are much more interested. This is a better way to show them what their kids will be learning this year.”
He said the interactive event helped create a connection between educators and parents.
“It helps build a bond, a relationship,” Parrott-Sheffer said. “Teachers see parents playing with their kids. Parents see teachers playing with their kids.”
Preschool teacher Elaine Weil spearheaded the idea after participating in a webinar that talked about the concept.
“It was fantastic that parents could have fun with their children and understand what we are doing this year,” Weil said.
The Jeans teacher said coordinating the event was a lot of work, but rewarding when she saw children playing with their parents, displaying the educational concepts better than would be done at curriculum night..
“It was so much more meaningful,” Weil said.
Kevin Beese is a freelance writer for Pioneer Press.