Can we talk about kindergarten?

[hotmamacita]

What are your thoughts on kindergarten? Whether you homeschool, unschool, or conventional school, do you think a curricullum is needed?

[mattemma04]

I do not think a curriculum is needed especially at age 5,but there are some children that want that. School K programs vary a great deal from play learning to regular academics.Many complain that grade 1 material has been pushed down onto K students.Sometimes it works out fine,but not every kids can do the work.

We currently eschool.We started at age 6 with calvert.It is an ok curriculum.We do what is required,and pick from the rest.If we were homeschooling I would use some of the material,but not push reading(and busy work) so much.Even at 6(and 7) kids (mine atleast) like lots of hands-on stuff and play learning.

We get a lot of material(books,cd-roms,and kits) from libraries,resale shops,and so on.

[onlyzombiecat]

We homeschool and I don't think much (if any) curriculum is necessary for K. It depends on your child though.

We will be getting a curriculum for 1st grade though.

[luckylady]

I will be HSing for K and not using a specific curriculum, but will "teach" her - we are signed up with reading a-z since she is very into learning to read right now, and will also start right start math. Everything else we "learn" IRL.

[babibelli]

we homeschool and will be using the Oak Meadow curriculum-since dd has shown an interest in letters and reading. But we're trying hard to make sure that we are not pushing her. It seems like alot of kindergartens have become more "kindergrind" instead of a gentle, playful introduction to school.

[emmalala]

We do public school and although a lot of planning goes into it, I don't think the children experience it as a curriculum - my dc enjoys a mix of activities which add up to lots of opportunities for learning a variety of skills.

[hotmamacita]

Yeah, I hear kindergarteners go a full day AND have daily homework and need to be reading by the end of it.

I homeschool my 2nd grader and have three more under 5 but...

If I were to keep my kids home until first grade, could I put them in first grade without a problem or has kindergarten become a mandatory academic year in the US and would I have to 'account' for it.

Also, anyone know the history of kindergarten? Didn't Froebel create it as a celebration of children? It means childs garden right?

[mamajody]

[QUOTE=hotmamacita]Yeah, I hear kindergarteners go a full day AND have daily homework and need to be reading by the end of it.

This is true! I taught kindergarten last year and was EXPECTED to give them math AND reding homework nightly. I was also expected to fail several children who were not reading at a 1.2 grade level, were not writing sentences, and did not know their numbers 1-100!

If I were to keep my kids home until first grade, could I put them in first grade without a problem or has kindergarten become a mandatory academic year in the US and would I have to 'account' for it.

This varies from state to state. I know it is NOT mandatory in CT, but I also know they will automatically TRY to place your child into Kindergarten if they have no previous schooling when you enroll them. You often have to request placement testing to get them into first grade.:

[hotmamacita]

Wow, mamajody. I would LOVE to know more of your thoughts on this? Have you seen this change recently or over the years? How do kids respond? How do parents respond? I have so many questions for you.

See the whole thing boggles my mind and I am trying to wrap my mind around it. I remember learning in college that didadic (sp?) academics were inappropriate for 5 and 6 yo. so the academic shift has me puzzled.

[mamajody]

I stopped teaching Kindergarten because the "didactic academics" aren't appropriate for most kids that age. The change has occured over the past 10 years and it is all about cramming in the basics early so they will be ready for the test in fourth grade. Seriously, they start that early!

Want to hear something really scary....

I was forced to test the children every 8 weeks in reading, (phonemic awareness, concepts of print, and later ACTUAL book reading) writing, and math. Each kid individually takes like 2 weeks out of the curriculum, for a total of 2 months of lost opportunity per student with high stakes on passing. And yes I am still talking about your 5 year old!

And how about this...
many districts are getting rid of recess periods and requiring that even in Kindergarten all activities must have a reading/writing connection. So yes, your child my get "center time" for a short while, but then they will be asked to read a book connected to their activity and write about it after they are done. Otherwise it would just be "playing" and that is not on the test.

Needless to say I am NOT sending my DD to public school until after we have finished reading basics at her pace. She is quite bright, and I know she can handle the academics, but I don't want her pressured and punished for failing to follow the daily routine.

[hotmamacita]

Thank you mamajody. That IS scary. And I don't think they are informing the parents up front about this approach and testing and THAT bothers me too.

I find that public schools, however, are doing a similar shift in academics and test prep for the younger grades.

YOu seem like you have so much to offer parents, mamajody. What would you share with them/us about education and what direction would you encourage them as they journey through educational options for their children?

Also, I found this link and thought the history of KG in US part was interesting.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7905/fblkind.html

[BlueNote]

My thoughts on kindergarten:

I believe the kindergarten of today is pushing kids way beyond what is developmentally appropriate.

Most children at age five are unable to sit still for as long as they expect them to. Most children at five are also not ready for reading.

I have enjoyed using the Oak Meadow Homeschooling Curriculum.

[hotmamacita]

I agree.

HEy with Oak Meadow...A really good friend of mine told me that 1st grade OM is on par with current K traditional curricula. What is your experience with it?

Nice sig, btw.

[BlueNote]

So far, that's what I've come across. It is definitely on par with trad. KG curriculums.

They teach upper and lower case letters, numbers 1-100, things like that. If I remember correctly, that's what they teach in the public schools.

And thanks about the signature. It's fitting.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by BlueNote

I believe the kindergarten of today is pushing kids way beyond what is developmentally appropriate.

Most children at age five are unable to sit still for as long as they expect them to.

EXACTLY!! That's why I homeschool. (DS1 did 2 1/2 yrs. in public school.)

[hotmamacita]

Mamajody--One more question. How did other teachers and administrators justify or reconcile this shift despite research and tradition that strongly discourages didactic academics on the young mind?

Anyone familiar with these studies or their methodologies?

From Wikipedia ....
"There seem to be many positive learning and social/behavioral benefits for children in kindergarten programs. At the same time, it is widely felt that what children are doing during the kindergarten day is more important than the length of the school day. Gullo (1990) and Olsen and Zigler (1989) warn educators and parents to resist the pressure to include more didactic academic instruction in all-day kindergarten programs. They contend that this type of instruction is inappropriate for young children.

Also, an all-day kindergarten program can provide children the opportunity to spend more time engaged in active, child-initiated, small-group activities. Teachers in all-day kindergarten classrooms often feel less stressed by time constraints and may have more time to get to know children and meet their needs."

[BlueNote]

Several times, I have spoken out against the current public school curriculum, but have been told "they need to be ready for first grade."

Well, at what point are they just going to be in kindergarten?

[hotmamacita]

What a good point!

I suppose when they can play in a garden. Do you have a garden, btw?

Seriously, some neighbors stopped by tonight and the husband totally shocked me when he out of the blue asked me if I was sending my ds to K and my dh said no then neighbors husband said he had been thinking of homeschooling because he thinks the direction that our schools are going in are just to prepare them for taking a test and not to be truly educated. I was totally floored. He was born, raised and educated here and has real concerns about the scope of education. (sorry for bad punc and grammar, typing fast.)

[`guest`]

My son does pt time kindy. I was really happy with his progress; he now reads great, knows his numbers, has friends, writes his name really well, etc.

However, there are some kids who aren't ready and that is sad, because they are going to feel left out. I definitely feel there is way more pressure on kids now to learn at a much faster pace. SOme children just aren't ready for reading until 1st or even 2nd grade--just as some are reading at 4 yrs of age...that's the bad part about ps curriculum. In these extreme cases, i think hs is best.

[callmeluci]

My son just finished Kinder last week. We are in N.Texas & it is incredible the amount of homework that these little kids have to do each night. My son now reads at 2nd grade level & his math skills are almost at 2nd grade level. IMO, Kinder was not fun for my son. Basically, they are getting our kids ready for the TAKS test. My sister is an educator & absolutely hates the direction that education has taken. Here in Texas, it is all about the test. If I could, I would home school my son. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us.