What are they learning in Kindergarten?

[rabrog]

So I'm hearing about all this "testing for kindergarten" and stuff. What are kids learning in kindy now? What are they supposed to know before they get there?

Jenn

[Thalia the Muse]

It seems to be all over the map! Some schools seem to expect them to come in already reading a few words, others are thrilled if they show up knowing their colors ...

We weren't given explicit "here's what she should know" information when my daughter started kindy last month, but I would say that a kid who came in not knowing colors, shapes, how to recognize all the letters of the alphabet and what sounds the letters make, how to count to 10, and how to hold a pencil or crayon would be "behind." But I imagine most normal five year olds would catch up quickly on those, if he came in not knowing them. They aren't expected to be able to read or do addition or anything like that; so far they're working on letter recognition, improving their printing, recognising the concepts of "less" and "more" -- stuff like that. Plus listening and paying attention and not hitting or wandering around the classroom.

[menudo]

Where I live there is no testing. There was no set of anything the child should know but some basics (Abc's, can he.she write name?, etc.) were asked when you registered your child. DS started yesterday and DD had started mid year 5 years back-with learning issues. So I am not so sure what is expected, but it seems alot more laid back here than other towns!

I am realizing my town is odd. They do not use letter/number grading until 3rd grade. Jus tneeds improvement/satisfactory/mastered. They require no supplies out of pocket and compared to most places schools, books, supplies are top of the line. While I loathe it out here, I now see why people fight to move into the town. The teachers get top pay too. Taxes are high I hear (I rent).

[wildmonkeys]

Where I live they also don't do grades until 3rd grade. Up until then the "report card" consists of a list of skills and they mark whether the children can complete the skill Independently (I), With Help (W) or if it is still being introduced.

My son was assessed prior to the beginning of kinder. They used this information to balance out the skill levels of homerooms and sort the kids into some developmentally appropriate groups.

I am in a fairly affluent suburban area and there are some pretty intense parents around here, but there still seemed to be realistic expectations regarding kids differences in kinder & first (that is as far as we've gotten so I have no experience with higher grades) so they were learning a wide range of things. Some kids were reading and writing very well by the end of the year and other kids were not reading at all. My impression was that nobody saw it as a problem for kids not to be reading or as a problem for kids to be reading. The kinder teacher emphasized the most important thing was that reading remains a positive experience. Their smaller skill groups were matched to their reading readiness. One group worked on letter sounds the entire year, one group began sight words, two groups worked on expanding decoding skills, comprehension, and fluency

As a large group...they did work on letters, letter sounds, and rhymes. Used the calender to do math, counting and graphing things like their favorite kinds of ice cream and did some unit themes (sharks, trees, the pilgrims, etc. etc. etc)

BJ
Barney & Ben

[supercrunch]

I am wondering this too. My dd started K on Tuesday and back to school night isn't until the 18th. She is anxious to start learning things. She loves math and science and can read pretty well already.
If this year is going to be more like a preschool year (shapes, letters, numbers, and other basics) I am going to have to find some homeschooling stuff to do with her to keep her happy. (well, if I can find the time to work around full day K, that is)

[karen ann]

My DS's (public) kindy has a whole trifold flier (full both sides) of what they'll learn this year. Most of it is fairly basic (learn to write their first and last name, count to 100, compare weights on a scale, line up safely, etc.) but some if it surprised me too, like "Understand voting process".

[Mommabelle]

I agree it varies so much from school to school. Our school last year was really into testing and academic redshirting etc etc..it was very stressful. We moved to a new school and they have high standards but they are all age appropriate and much more into the kids as vs into how well the school "appears". So much nicer.