Kindergarten really is first grade

[Pollyanna]

While I'm sitting in the parent info meeting for kindergarten it dawned on me that the schedule, workload, pretty much everything is exactly the same as it was for dd20 first grade class. I mean exactly the same, except less recess. It made me sad. Is it really necessary for this push in kinder? Is she going to be that much far ahead of dd20 when she hits college? Will they have to offer differential equations in high school because these kids will be that advanced? I doubt it. Geez, since I've been around this block already I can tell you that I'm not too excited about the new changes.
On the plus side the school does not believe in public colored charts of any kind for behavior, yay!!!

[Ladybug]

I'm giving the school a green light for not having a color-coded behavior system. LOL.

[BonBon]

I noticed that with my kids too. Kinder used to be all about playing, art, writing your name, ABCs, snacks, naps, and generally just learning how to act in a classroom setting. When my first entered 1st grade, he had up to 2 hours of hw a night. (He's 5th grade now and still talks about it.) I'm not an educator, and I understand the desire to push our students so we're competitive internationally, but I suspect we're doing it wrong. :/

Yay for no public charts! I could not stand those.

[Pollyanna]

I think it will be a good school and part of this push comes from parents too.
Interestingly, this place is locked down like Fort Knox. I have never had such difficulty dropping off from kinder or have to have a special pass to actually pick up your child. It's kinda nuts.

[BonBon]

Our schools are like that too, but we just read in the paper theyre going to spend an additional 1.8 million on putting the school secretaries behind glass or something. A bit overkill, imo.

Now that I think about it, before we left they changed the rules so parents couldn't enter beyond the lobby. Not even for first day, or to drop off b-day treats. I'm getting off topic though.

[MrsK]

Yup. My kid is supposed to be reading before kindergarten. I thought kids were taught to read in kindergarten. He's behind now because he can't write his full name (8 letters)

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[PrincessFiona]

Crazy.

I'm with Tara. I've been around the block already and can't see how this push helps kids.

[SoonerTexan]

A coworker just talked about this. Her son is starting soon. It makes me feel sick. I'm going to miss out on any free time with my daughter unless I stop working soon

I don't think we are going to do extensive preschool either. I miss her already.

Lord, I might end up homeschooling

[Deebs]

MrsK - reading upon entering kindergarten is the most extreme I've heard. DS was one of four kids, out of his class of 100, that came into kindergarten reading. I worry we're setting so many kids up for hating school because their brains simply aren't developed enough to handle the expectations.


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[MrsK]

MrsK - reading upon entering kindergarten is the most extreme I've heard. DS was one of four kids, out of his class of 100, that came into kindergarten reading. I worry we're setting so many kids up for hating school because their brains simply aren't developed enough to handle the expectations.


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Yeah, he's expected to know his "sight words" before he starts. And we don't have free public preschool either.

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[MrsK]

Frankly, I have bigger fish to fry. Like teaching emotional self regulation and following directions and staying on task and playing nicely with others. If he recognizes all the letters and numbers to 10, I'll consider that successful. If he knows his letter sounds and can count to 50, that's extra. Maybe he can't read but in the last week he's learned how hot air balloons work and how fish breathe under water.

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[ladymoreta]

Yup. My kid is supposed to be reading before kindergarten. I thought kids were taught to read in kindergarten. He's behind now because he can't write his full name (8 letters)

Back in my day... We learned to read in first grade. (My parents taught me in kindergarten because my sister was learning in first grade at the time, and I asked.) It doesn't make sense to me either to push kids to learn sooner. Just because some kids can at that age doesn't mean all should, and it doesn't mean anything about their long-term academic success.

Nurture Shock has a good chapter about gifted and talented programs and how children are selected for them too early. Some kids are placed in the program who end up being academically average, and some kids develop later who should have been in the program, but it is really hard to get in later. I think things like this - requiring reading too early, speeding up math progression, etc - will cause more mistakes in placement for these programs.

[MrsC]

I wonder if it's a result of so many kids going to preschool. I'd imagine they'd be pretty bored with playing etc by the time they get to kindergarten and ready to move on to reading and writing by age 6. Two hours of homework is ridiculous though.

[ladymoreta]

That's a good point, MrsC. In DS's 3-year old class, most of them learned to write their names by the end of the year. I was really surprised. I can see how having last year and next would put him ahead of kids who haven't had preschool, but it really isn't fair to the kids who don't or can't go. I'd rather see the curriculum start at whatever the state will pay for and not assume that all parents can fund early education.

[MrsC]

Absolutely. If preschool is necessary, the state should fund a year of it.