A Model Program for Precocious Children: Hollingworth Preschool

• Published in: Gifted Child Today Magazine
• Main Authors: Wright, Lisa, Coulianos, Connie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 1991
• Subjects: Hannah; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/107621759101400508; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/107621759101400508

It is 8:30 on a cold, windy Monday morning in February. The cheery voices of children and parents can be heard echoing in the hallway. As the teachers open the “cubbie room” door (the room adjacent to the main classroom) the children race to their cubbies, stow their coats, hats, and boots, bid their parents a quick goodbye, and dash into the classroom. “Connie, look what 1 brought today!” exclaims Matthew as he holds up the most recent edition of the National Geographic. “I can see you are very excited about that. I wonder why?” responds Connie as she bends down to look at the magazine with him. “This is all about Will Steeger and Antarctica” Matthew points out as he holds open a picture of the Transantarctic Team. “How exciting. Do you have a plan for it?” questions Connie. “I want to show it to everyone at meeting time!” he says walking into the classroom with Connie. “Good idea. You choose the picture you would like to show the children.” Connie is pleased, though not surprised, that he has become so involved in the current unit of study in Antarctica. The other children have already begun activities in the classroom. Seth is at the art table making yet another book about animals to add to his growing collection, Theo and Jamie are building complex vehicles with the Legos™, Hannah and Beth are playing the penguin lotto game, and Sarah is rapidly assembling the new 40 piece floor puzzle. An energetic hum pervades the classroom as the 16 children, two teachers, and one graduate intern intermingle and pursue a host of activities. At 9:05 the children assemble on the red rug and the morning meeting commences. As the meeting proceeds, the children ponder such problems as what Will Steeger and his crew should take on their transantarctic journey, and how 16 children can share four scooters in the gym equitably. Their ideas demonstrate an extraordinary level of thought, their language development is astonishing, their enthusiasm for problem solving is infectious, and their delight in one another is endearing. This vignette is from the Hollingworth Preschool and these children are 3½ years old.