Getting Ready for Kindergarten

[MrsB]

I was gonna say...

Public school is mandatory for all children in all states. Just depends on what age is considered mandatory for your state. If Kindergarten is mandatory in your state they can't have minimum education requirements attached to it if you meet the age requirement.

There are still quite a few districts/states that still only offer half day kindy programs.

Here they have a Pre-K program (half day)in the public schools and there are no minimum requirement there either. There are not enough spots for all the kids that meet that requirement but they take kids that are high risk first, (have speech delays, low income, born premature, or some other delay) then fill the remaining spots on a lottery system.

I know for my daughter she had a really difficult time with kindy. Not because of the educational demands but it was very hard for her to adjust to the LONG day without momma. (She came out of the womb a total momma's girl) I am in constant contact with her teacher and she says that she receives alot of kids every year that are academically ready for kindy or even 1st grade but are lacking in some other area like socially, or sticking to a set schedule, cleaning up after themselves, having to share, still need help with clothing or tying their shoes, proper bathroom procedures. That is the purpose of kindy, to get all the kids, more on the same level in all areas.

I feel really strongly about this, why are we in such a hurry to make our kids so academically smart and not focussing as much on life skills! I haven't read it in years but think I need to go pick up the book "Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarden"

[Blackcat31]

Public school is mandatory for all children in all states. Just depends on what age is considered mandatory for your state. If Kindergarten is mandatory in your state they can't have minimum education requirements attached to it if you meet the age requirement.

There are still quite a few districts/states that still only offer half day kindy programs.

Here they have a Pre-K program (half day)in the public schools and there are no minimum requirement there either. There are not enough spots for all the kids that meet that requirement but they take kids that are high risk first, (have speech delays, low income, born premature, or some other delay) then fill the remaining spots on a lottery system.

I know for my daughter she had a really difficult time with kindy. Not because of the educational demands but it was very hard for her to adjust to the LONG day without momma. (She came out of the womb a total momma's girl) I am in constant contact with her teacher and she says that she receives alot of kids every year that are academically ready for kindy or even 1st grade but are lacking in some other area like socially, or sticking to a set schedule, cleaning up after themselves, having to share, still need help with clothing or tying their shoes, proper bathroom procedures. That is the purpose of kindy, to get all the kids, more on the same level in all areas.
I feel really strongly about this, why are we in such a hurry to make our kids so academically smart and not focussing as much on life skills! I haven't read it in years but think I need to go pick up the book "Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarden"

Which is why I do what I do and choose not to teach them in an academic manner. I choose to teach through play. We focus on life skills NOT academic skills.

[SandeeAR]

Which is why I do what I do and choose not to teach them in an academic manner. I choose to teach through play. We focus on life skills NOT academic skills.

I totally agree with this. This was my orginal point.

I DON'T teach academics. So how if they stay with us until Kindergarten,(and don't attend preschool) are they going to learn to write their name, write their numbers, etc? Some parents will work on that, some won't. I have great parents and most will.

However, I was a SAHM and still sent my kids to preschool. I KNEW I could never teach them all that at home.

[SandeeAR]

I have felt bad for telling parents, you need to move your child at 4 to a preschool. All these kids have been with me since 6-8 weeks. Put I KNOW a preschool will have them ready. I have all first time parents. I don't know if the parents will get them ready in time.

[Blackcat31]

So how if they stay with us until Kindergarten,(and don't attend preschool) are they going to learn to write their name, write their numbers, etc?

Most of mine learn it naturally but in all honesty, I don't think they HAVE to know this for Kindergarten. I think they need "to be ready to learn" those things by the time they get to Kindergarten. That is the difference in my opinion.

[nannyde]

Nannyde, I know that as of a couple of years ago the list here in our state was what was the children SHOULD accomplish before entering K. I don't believe any school can deny admission based upon the fact that a child doesn't, for example, know how to count to 20. Basically, it is just a way to attempt to make formal education start earlier, IMO. I tried to find some specifics about it online for my state but could not. I think the lists even vary by school district here.......

Yes
big difference between should and must

I'm interested in the "must" laws, regs, and the consequence if the child does not.

To me, it's not an issue of whether or not a child should or must have these skills before kindy. I'm interested in where the money is to fund it. If the states want kids to have these skill sets then there has to be money to make it happen. Educating kids under the age of five to accomplish these level of skills takes a whole lotta adult and that adult must be paid.

I just don't see how kids learning these skills before age five has anything to do with child care. It's between the parents, school, and child. Unless the parents are hiring it out within their day care fees, it shouldn't affect what providers or centers do in child care. In this poor economy I think it's hard to find parents who can afford to pay for both child care and the education. I think most providers across the country don't feel compensated fairly for just the housing and care of the kids they take care of. To add the HARD HARD work of teaching these kind of skills to such young children is just too expensive for most parents and providers (both center and home) aren't going to do it for free.

I'll betcha dollars to donuts that any kindy teacher with experience would rather have a child who is unselfish, respects authority, has the first five years of excellent nutrition and good deep sleep, and who is non-violent than any single one of those skills on these lists. Too bad the states and school districts don't put those down for requirements instead. Coming to kindy with that kind of early childhood would actually make a difference in their educational outcomes.

[AmyLeigh]

Can you post the law or where the state says this is a requirement to enter kindergarten?

Does anyone in any state that has Kindergarten educational standards REQUIREMENTS for entry please post a link to the actual law or regulation.

See, there's the problem. Because of the No Child Left Behind act, they really cannot legislate Kindy requirements. These are just suggestions from specific school districts.
Daycare mentioned that her school district is a PI school, so that means that the teachers have to 'teach to the test.' Program Improvement just means that the students did not test as high as the State would want, so in order to stay funded, ($$$) they need to make sure the students can excel at the State testing. If they have to teach the kiddos the basics of the alphabet and numbers, including writing their names, then they won't have the time to teach them how to discern the right answer from a multiple choice question.
But don't get me on that subject....
FWIW, if you can potty train, you can teach ABC's and 123's.

[Blackcat31]

See, there's the problem. Because of the No Child Left Behind act, they really cannot legislate Kindy requirements. These are just suggestions from specific school districts.
Daycare mentioned that her school district is a PI school, so that means that the teachers have to 'teach to the test.' Program Improvement just means that the students did not test as high as the State would want, so in order to stay funded, ($$$) they need to make sure the students can excel at the State testing. If they have to teach the kiddos the basics of the alphabet and numbers, including writing their names, then they won't have the time to teach them how to discern the right answer from a multiple choice question.
But don't get me on that subject....
FWIW, if you can potty train, you can teach ABC's and 123's.

Oh, I know I CAN, I just don't WANT to. Not unless I am paid for my services and receive the same recognition, respect and benefits as the teachers in my school district receive.

I am in the child CARE business, NOT the teaching business. The academic learning that happens within my program is a perk and I will NOT take the credit for the academic things the children in my care learn (or don't learn) while they are being cared for by me.

Ok, I take that back....I will take the credit but only because I supplied the appropriate environmental conditions in which they learned but I don't set out to sit them down and teach them anything academic. The academic things they learn came because they were developmentally ready to learn it so it occurred naturally.

I also heard that the No Child Left Behind act could be on its way out or at least on its way to some major modifications. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1264872.html

[AmyLeigh]

The academic things they learn came because they were developmentally ready to learn it so it occurred naturally.

That's the way it should be for everyone, regardless of age and ability. But that's just the homeschooler in me talking. ::
It is amazing how you can integrate early education into everyday life. When they are ready, they will learn.

[nannyde]

FWIW, if you can potty train, you can teach ABC's and 123's.

If you feel it is so simple and that anyone could do it then I would say that it again shouldn't be a concern of the child care provider. Parents potty train their children so they are perfectly adept at abc's and 123's Because it's so simple it can quite easily be done in the course of normal parenting.

See how that works both ways?

[Crystal]

I agree with you about the kinder thing, but every state has different requirements. In CA you need to be able to write your first middle and last name. Count to 20, count 10 objects, know site and sound all letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case.

Math. Children need to know very basic algebra. For example if there is a pie cut into 4, one piece is missing, they need to know 1/4 of the pie is missing.

There's a lot more. Here I don't think a child could go straight to kinder without proper preparation.

In CA they say that the new kinder is the old first grade.

This is absurd (not you daycare, that your district is saying it's "required")

There are absolutely no "requirements" for kindy entry other than age. They can start with out ANY basic skills.

[GretasLittleFriends]

I am the same way. We read, play, count, sing, talk about letters and their sounds, but it is all through a form of play. We do art projects, using markers/crayons/pencils, glue, scissors so they are getting those skills, just not specifically taught. I am not a teacher, I do not have a teaching or early childhood education degree. My contract specifically states:

Education & Early Learning - This is not a pre-school, but, we do learn new things everyday. I believe young children learn best through play, not a structured school-like environment. They will get that soon enough when they enter the school system. However, I do believe it is important for children to have early pre-school knowledge prior to entering the school system. Therefore, we spend our days learning through play, artwork and books. We will learn among other things: our colors, numbers, shapes, our names, our ABC's and some basic handwriting skills, along with some important fine motor skills, which include the proper way to hold a pencil and cut with scissors, through age appropriate activities. Your child will not be pushed to do anything that he/she is not capable of doing, all children will learn these things at their own pace. Early learning should be a fun and enjoyable experience to help ensure a life long love of learning.

[Crystal]

My program is like blackcat....all about play, and learning while you do so. You won't see tracers, alphabet charts, preprinted cutouts, worksheets or any of the like in my program. The children learn as they engage with materials within the environment. I provide experiences for them that encourage natural learning. All of my kids go to kindy well-prepared, but not because I taught them academics. I gave them opportunities to develop skills when they were ready to do so, and all by providing an environment conducive to learning and offering opportunities to explore topics that THEY are INTERESTED in.

[Crystal]

Here is what Sacramento County says:
Readiness skills:
The following list presents basic skills and concepts that will help your child be ready for school. Children develop at different rates and your child may NOT acquire every skill before entering kindergarten.
•Knows first and last name, age, birthdate, address and phone number
•Knows the letters of the alphabet
•Knows some rhymes, poems and songs
•Identifies objects in picture books
•Prints own name
•Counts to 10
•Knows size, position, and directions. For example, big and little, up and down
•Hops, jumps, skips and marches
•Uses alternate feet going down stairs
•Completes simple puzzles
•Throws and catches a ball
•Draws and colors beyond scribbling
•Cuts with scissors
•Recognizes and names colors and shapes
•Names body parts
•Dresses self
•Follows one and two-step directions
•Stays on task
•Cooperates and interacts in group experiences
•Speaks clearly and uses sentences

[AmyLeigh]

::

If you feel it is so simple and that anyone could do it then I would say that it again shouldn't be a concern of the child care provider. Parents potty train their children so they are perfectly adept at abc's and 123's Because it's so simple it can quite easily be done in the course of normal parenting.

See how that works both ways?

I completely agree. I never said that care providers should provide early education for those in their care. I don't do anything formal. We sing songs, read books, count the cars, play Candyland, etc. Those are all educational, but not part of a preschool "curriculum." One dcm told me that her son suddenly started writing his name. She assumed it was because I was working with him. Wrong. He is just ready to write his name.
My point was that it is just not as difficult as some (providers AND parents) think that it is. It's preschool, not rocket science. ::