Reading in K

[DCMomOf3]

Go to your User cp panel and edit details. You should be able to reset your title (which would update based on your post count i think) or you can add your own custom one.

[jen]

I think you should start calling yourself babysitters since you don't want to step up and support the kids in their learning as a professional would.

So basically you are there for wiping noses and bottoms, feeding them 2-3 meals and nothing else. Huh. Hope your parents know that when they sign up. And hope they aren't paying you squat to do so.

I would be embarrassed to tell my parents I wasn't trying to get their kids ready for school including any new standards that were sent our way.

How many hrs a week are they there with you? Doesnt anyone remember that the first 5 yrs are the most crucial in a kids life and every thing possible should be done to enhance their learning at this age. ???

BTW- I recieved our info on updated standards through a professional group I belong to that works in conjuntion with MDE to provide quality care to these little ones. And yes I work as an in-home provider however I do have my teaching license and get paid accordingly.

Cool...So you won't mind sharing that information. The name of the study or the name of the publication from which it came? I would even be OK with the name of the professional organization.

I don't pay much attention to statistics unless I read the study myself. There is a lot that goes in to truly understanding studies and statistics so I like to see for myself.

[Missani]

Funny that this just came up. I just went to a preschool open house for a preschool that I was thinking of sending my son to, just out of curiousity. (If it matters, we decided not to send him because I want him home but went to see if it would be a good "out" from the other daycare kids. It seemed like an excellent preschool...anyway...)

The preschool is located within a K-8 school but is not "part" of the school. It is a separate entity. The preschool teachers asked the kindergarten teachers what they most wanted the kids to know before entering kindergarten. Here is the list:

Letter recognition and letter sounds (upper and lowercase recognition)
How to write their name
How to count and recognize numbers from 1-20
How to use the bathroom independently, including buttoning pants
How to sit quietly in a group and be able to stand in line
How to get along with other kids
How to get themselves ready to go outside
How to respect property and other people

I thought that was a great list. More social than academic. I agree that parents should spend time teaching their kids the academics and take the resposiblility to make sure they are ready for school. With that said, they are here 40-50 hours/week and I have time to teach them, too. I enjoy teaching, and I think kids enjoy learning in a group with other kids. For that reason, I do teach numbers and letters, etc. I also teach them independence and respect. Both are important, and to me, both deserve my time. I want them to be respectful individuals who receive my care, my love, and my affection. I also want them to know how to be part of a group, be able to take care of themselves (as developmentally appropriate), and have the education to be ready for school. I also want them to have time to play and explore their world. I am just looking to "graduate" well rounded individuals.

[Unregistered]

I don't think that a provider who doesn't teach the children in their care the academic material is no less a good provider than a provider who focuses on academics. This is why I feel this way. I think that children will be in school soon enough as it is and I would much rather work on the things like sharing, independence, learning patience, empathy and other things that don't get the same attention when the kids leave my house and head off to school.

I have no complaints from parents in regard to how I choose to spend my time with the kids here. My 3.5 year old dcg may not know how to read yet, but you know what she can do? She can share, listen, do things for herself, and she's a kind little girl.

That's what matters when they are young!

Thank you,Thank you!!!!! Nicely said! We think alike! WE teach the kids life skills,which is very important! They need to know those before anything else. Can you imagine a kindergardin child not being potty trained because it was more important to to be taught to know how to read then being taught how to go potty! ( Just a thought,but not reality.)
I'm with you on all this and wish other's would not put us down as providers for teaching life skills.

[Live and Learn]

I am in a foul, foul, cranky mood today so ........just for today I want " advanced daycare cranky pants" below my name.

[snbauser]

Okay - first let me say that I have tried to respond to this post several times and haven't figured out how to say what I want without offending anyone. So, I will say that what I am saying below is MY PERSONAL OPINION and is not meant to offend anyone......

To me providing quality care for children up to age 5 or Kindergarten means that I will prepare them for Kindergarten. Most of the children are here 10 hours/day. That is more than enough time to teach them basic self help skills AND Kindergarten readiness skills. Most of the time parents spend 2-3 hours at home with their kids during the week and that time is spent on dinner, bath, etc. I rarely have parents pull their kids to put them in a "real" preschool because here they are getting everything they would there and more because of the lower ratios. Most of the children that have graduated and moved on to Kindergarten excel in their class and I have received numerous thanks from their parents. I even have one dcp who is a Kindergarten teacher and now has a former dc as a student. Even though her child attends here, she was still amazed at how much the former dc learned here.

We as providers can not continue to complain that we are not respected for what we do and are only looked on as babysitters when that is all we do. If we want to change the way this profession is viewed then we need to change the way we conduct ourselves and the way we do business.

Whether we like it or not, what is expected of children when they enter/leave Kindergarten is a lot more than it was 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. You don't have to have a teaching license to be able to teach the children what they need to know to prepare them for Kindergarten. It also does not need to be done in a formal sit down way. Children this age learn best through play and when done right, you will be amazed at the skills a child can learn.

[jen]

Actually I live in MN and the state standards were just modified to include the clause that they need to be reading at a level 4 reader before the end of school.

I think it is my obligation to get kids ready for school and yes that means keeping current on what is considered "ready". Obviously twenty yrs ago being ready and now are two different things and I think if would be completely irresponsible to just keep sending kids with out knowing what the standards are and making attempts to get kids to those marks. No technically nobody from the state or school district is paying me to get these kids ready but the parents are paying me and I doubt anyone would be pleased sending their kids to a daycare that didn't know what kids needed to be ready for K and adapt accordingly. Who would want the kids in their daycare to get to K and then find out they are behind the eight ball? Even if you don't like that kids nowadays need to know "so much more than in the past" and it seems they "cant just be kids anymore" it is reality and needs to be addressed before they get to K.

Our district says that if they can't read to state standards (which are very high in MN) by the end of k they have a 1 in 8 chance of graduating. Sure makes that first year at school important huh.

Were you able to find that information? I just looked on the MN education standards and I don't see anything like that at all. Maybe I'm missing it! Can you point it out?

http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/groups/Standards/documents/Instruction/001070.pdf

[Cat Herder]

Okay - first let me say that I have tried to respond to this post several times and haven't figured out how to say what I want without offending anyone. So, I will say that what I am saying below is MY PERSONAL OPINION and is not meant to offend anyone......

To me providing quality care for children up to age 5 or Kindergarten means that I will prepare them for Kindergarten. Most of the children are here 10 hours/day. That is more than enough time to teach them basic self help skills AND Kindergarten readiness skills. Most of the time parents spend 2-3 hours at home with their kids during the week and that time is spent on dinner, bath, etc. I rarely have parents pull their kids to put them in a "real" preschool because here they are getting everything they would there and more because of the lower ratios. Most of the children that have graduated and moved on to Kindergarten excel in their class and I have received numerous thanks from their parents. I even have one dcp who is a Kindergarten teacher and now has a former dc as a student. Even though her child attends here, she was still amazed at how much the former dc learned here.

We as providers can not continue to complain that we are not respected for what we do and are only looked on as babysitters when that is all we do. If we want to change the way this profession is viewed then we need to change the way we conduct ourselves and the way we do business.

Whether we like it or not, what is expected of children when they enter/leave Kindergarten is a lot more than it was 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. You don't have to have a teaching license to be able to teach the children what they need to know to prepare them for Kindergarten. It also does not need to be done in a formal sit down way. Children this age learn best through play and when done right, you will be amazed at the skills a child can learn.

I don't think what you posted was offensive at all, actually you sound quite sweet...

Here kids go to free pre-school offered by the State when they turn 4, soon to be 3 , I cannot compete with that. YKWIM?

Stay at home Mothers who hope to keep a few small kids, with her own, so she can afford to stay home are now FORCED to get a CDA or other ECE credentials, BUT are still unable to compete with Free.

These forced credentials are NOT college transferable and cost about $1500 out of pocket with constant/yearly "fee-fees" and more and more classes to keep them. The providers who can afford them do the whole "Stars on Thars" routine straight from Dr. Suess himself (come on, sing it..."A toast! Raise your marshmallow sticks"....) .....

That is where the bitterness comes in, not about doing ABC'S with the kids. Obviously, we love kids or we would be ANYWHERE else..::::::

In my personal situation, before the State took half my income, I did work on basic readiness skills and had great success with a few of my kiddos getting full-ride scholarships to the local private school.

I think most of us "old schoolers" have a problem with the "Child Led" instructional approach and our being forced to teach to a curriculum set by a standardized test.... Kids just end up missing out on their childhoods....

[Unregistered]

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

QUOTING

"close proximal supervision (a one adult to four child ratio), excellent (fully organic home made from scratch meals) nutrition, free play with an outstanding toy collection for birth to five, outdoor exercise (45 minute hike every possible day), GOOD DEEP SLEEP (2.5-3 hour afternoon nap) , discipline, and affection."

"excellent nutrition, lots of exercise, good deep sleep, RESPECT for adults, good friends, self entertainment skills, and lots of lovin."

I've read this resume so many times per day that I could quote it.

[Cat Herder]

QUOTING

"close proximal supervision (a one adult to four child ratio), excellent (fully organic home made from scratch meals) nutrition, free play with an outstanding toy collection for birth to five, outdoor exercise (45 minute hike every possible day), GOOD DEEP SLEEP (2.5-3 hour afternoon nap) , discipline, and affection."

"excellent nutrition, lots of exercise, good deep sleep, RESPECT for adults, good friends, self entertainment skills, and lots of lovin."

I've read this resume so many times per day that I could quote it.

So could a parrot, but has it sunk in yet???????

[jen]

So could a parrot, but has it sunk in yet???????

OMG!!! Thank you for the laugh!!!!! ::::::

[Blackcat31]

if you are the same unregistered poster in this thread.....

QUOTING

"close proximal supervision (a one adult to four child ratio), excellent (fully organic home made from scratch meals) nutrition, free play with an outstanding toy collection for birth to five, outdoor exercise (45 minute hike every possible day), GOOD DEEP SLEEP (2.5-3 hour afternoon nap) , discipline, and affection."

"excellent nutrition, lots of exercise, good deep sleep, RESPECT for adults, good friends, self entertainment skills, and lots of lovin."

I've read this resume so many times per day that I could quote it.

What exactly is it you want?

I get the feeling that you are waiting for everyone on here to come out and say "Yes, you are right. We should be raising these kids, teaching them life long self help skills, teaching them manners and healthy eating habits, along with all their ABC's and 1,2,3's. Make them perfect little children that know all the right things and grow up to be wonderful productive and contributing members of society...since that is, according to you, my job and what I am paid to do.....If that is the case, then please, please, please explain to me, what is the parent's job?

......apparently, nothing more than to give birth and then get the tax write off....

Geez, if I'd have know that....I would have had 15 kids and not wasted my time parenting them and making sure that I fulfilled what I mistakenly thought was my job as the parent.....my bad.

[Unregistered]

Not the same person

What exactly is it you want?

I get the feeling that you are waiting for everyone on here to come out and say "Yes, you are right. We should be raising these kids, teaching them life long self help skills, teaching them manners and healthy eating habits, along with all their ABC's and 1,2,3's. Make them perfect little children that know all the right things and grow up to be wonderful productive and contributing members of society...since that is, according to you, my job and what I am paid to do.....If that is the case, then please, please, please explain to me, what is the parent's job?

......apparently, nothing more than to give birth and then get the tax write off....

Geez, if I'd have know that....I would have had 15 kids and not wasted my time parenting them and making sure that I fulfilled what I mistakenly thought was my job as the parent.....my bad.

We are not the same "unregistered". I am the one who said I've read the resume a bazillion times, and frankly, I'm a bit tired of it. But it really has nothing to do with the theme of this thread. I'm not the "unregistered" person who created this thread. Just wanted to clear that up.