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Date: 4/26/2007 4:17:00 PM
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Author:
Anna
(anna.martinez@email.morton.edu)
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Subject:Why should Pre K and Kinder be required?
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I'm doing an argumentive research paper on why these two grades are critical to a child's development. I'm almost done, but I need some opinions. Please help with any opinions or other reference i can use to support my thesis.
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Date: 4/26/2007 5:14:00 PM
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Author:
Chris
(vstchris@yahoo.com)
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Subject:Required Pre-k
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I don't think it should be required. I think it should be available because we know the value of it. It's smart for a state to take responsibility for the early education of 3 and 4 year olds. But I don't think it should be required. That should be a parent's decision. My reasons? It's because I know that all preschools and kindergartens are not healthy, quality environment for young children. If they were then I would have no problem with requiring it. But they are not. As a parent I would go to court over someone making my three-year old go to a program that I did not agree with. When something is mandatory, you have to send your child whether you believe they are having a good experience or not. To tell you the truth, many, many, many children have horrible early school experiences that color their school careers. Some get a break by getting one or two good teachers but other never do or get the good teacher too late in their school career. I hope they never pass any attendance laws for 3-5 year olds. I knew how schools operated so when I determined that my 4 year old had some type of learning disability I kept her home until she turned 7. Her birthday was in January. My purpose for keeping her home was so that I could teach her to read, write and have a good knowledge of numbers. I taught her and she learned. If she had went to school, she would have been put in special education or resource, she would have been belittled and would have had low self-esteem. I've tutored many of these types of children. When she was 7, I registered her in first grade at the local public school. I happened to know the teacher who was a member of my church. She was irritated that I had kept her home and I was soon called in to be told that my child was never going catch up with the rest of the class, she couldn't read and she had no clue as to how to proceed in any of her school work. That was in February. In April, I went to the parent conference to find that my child was one of the leaders in the class. One of the best readers. Above average in math and a joy to have in the class. In addition, I had asked for her to be tested and her test was positive for a receptive language disability. Nonetheless, she was doing great. I knew early school would ruin her chances for success. Now do you see why I don't want it to be required for 3-5 year olds.
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Date: 4/26/2007 6:48:00 PM
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Author:
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Subject:negatives/positives
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I say No to preK being required. Some kids just aren't ready for an early school setting. And possibly pick up some 'bad habits' from other kids. Positive, kids needing assistance can be identified earlier. Another big negative for me is that i don't want my child exposed at an early age to 'liberal' beliefs. the NAEYC has an anti-bias book that sounds pretty biased. Basically, if you are a Euro-white Charasmatic Christian then you are the majority voice. Don't mention Easter as that would impose your majority voice. Halloween, discuss the positive of witches, and have an area set up so kids can practice making potions (exposing kids to a minority view). When discussing families, avoid a typical mom/dad family so kids realize families can be whatever. This book is used in alot of programs from Head Start to state schools to private schools. The purpose of the book is to expose kids to the world before the are firmly taught the biased beliefs of the parents. One of the authors has other books were she pushes the homo ual agenda in schools as a way to get a new generation to accept homo ually as a typical lifestyle. I'm not preaching for/against gays, what I am upset with is that an author of an anti-bias book is herself biased against other beliefs. A true hypocrite. And NAEYC uses this book as a fine example of teaching tolerance to our kdis. I don't want my kids exposed to this crap. That is why parents should have a choice. (NAEYC Anti-Bias Curriculum) http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/RhapsodyInBlack/education1.html/
http://www.edwatch.org/updates07/033007-NAEYC.htm
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Date: 4/27/2007 6:13:00 AM
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Author:
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Subject:prek, kdg
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Well neither ARE manditaory in Illinois. To the post above I am glad your child will not be in my pre k class. Yes we teach tolerance to some extent. We show children that we are all equal and have the same rights as everyone. That is what America stands for or so I thought. As for holidays. we can't ( unfortunately) teach about Easter becasue of the religious conotation. We do Cinco DeMayo celebrations, Black History performances, etc. To show the diversity. As far as the Homo uality issue. I don't think that isue has a place in schools. If a family has two parents of the same I would hope you would not teach your child to hate that child or think differently of that child becasue of that. We do Halloween at school I ask for no scary costumes. We don't portray witches as positive. I don't thinkanyones views shoudl be PUSHED as you put it on anyone else, but this country sometimes works that way. If people have a different belief or awareness of something someone is against then that is worng in our soceities eyes. We all have to think one way and be robots sometimes. I sure would want my children to grow up respecting people of other cultures and beliefs than hating or disrespecting them. When we teach hate or intolerance we make children sometimes violent and disrespectful citizens. I don't my children growing up in that kind of environment.
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Date: 4/27/2007 2:39:00 PM
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Author:
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Subject:Ok I understand that there are some issu...
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Ok I understand that there are some issues, but not all people are inclined to teach their children to read and write with out training. Also a vast majority of the MINORITY need to work and cannot stay at home an teach their children. So whould it be better to just keep them at an over crowded day care or would it be better to send them to a school inorder for them to learn not to become the stereotype?
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Date: 9/28/2007 10:51:00 AM
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Author:
Linda Arocho
(HappyHands12302@aol.com)
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Subject:Half agree
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I only half agree with you, unknown person. Who says a parent's only option is a crowded day care center? That is why there is also family child care and group family child care. The numbers are smaller and there is a home environment. It's a great setting for little learners.
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Date: 4/27/2007 5:52:00 PM
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Author:
julie
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Subject:No to mandatory pre k
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I think it would be terrible to require pre k. In theory, each child having the pre k experience is great. But the reality is there are some awful programs. Even in the best programs, some three year olds may not be ready. I think we would see the curriculum trickle down like it did from 1st and 2nd grade to kindergarten. Pretty soon we'd have some "teachers" try to have three year olds sitting at desks with pencils and worksheets....Also, it would likely cause more government regulation and interference, which rarely improves a schools quality. Having parents decide what program is best for their own child, and when their child is ready is that way it should remain.
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Date: 5/11/2007 11:21:00 AM
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Author:
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Subject:Kindergarten should be required, but not...
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Kindergarten should be required, but not pre-k. And, Kindergarten should be required when the child is as close enough to age six as possible. As a response to some of the postings, many people do not know "how" to teach early childhood education. Young children should not be sitting at tables with pencils. Overcrowded daycares are the norm for daycare centers. Many people do not understand that over half of the skills children need to be ready for school are behavioral skills, not abc's and 123's. This is where the biggest problems lie in getting children ready for school. Parents do not parent their children first before arriving at pre-k or kindergarten. If all programs were appropriate, I still would not want my own children mandated to go; it is none of the government's business. Since my 3 kids (who are now 22, 18, & 15) were all Valedictorian's, and taught preschool at home with the other daycare children in my licensed family childcare home, I obviously knew what I was doing. With over 20 years of experience and college knowledge, it is behavioral skills that lag behind.
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Date: 5/11/2007 7:34:00 PM
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Author:
M&M;
(shelz1@yahoo.com)
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Subject:critical?
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I don't see how anyone can justify mandatory pre-k or kindergarten in a free society. Only a parent should be the one to decide when and if a child is ready for school. Since when do children belong to the government?
As the mother of two children (ages 4 & 6) who have never set foot in a school, I can assure you that what is critical to a child's development is involvement in your kid's lives not mandatory attendance in a "school". Frankly the only thing these preschools(glorified daycares) accomplish is make parents more dependant on other people to raise their children. Which in turn makes parents strangers to their own children.
And to the person that said that some pre-kers are not ready for school: Do you really think that there is ANY age that ALL children are ready for school? education should not be one-size-fits-all. Readiness varies GREATLY. Many children especially boys are not ready for school until 7 or 8! The only one to decide should be parents. But if you "professionals" keep interceding parents will be completely ignorant of how to raise their own children in a few more years anyway. Then you will have won the battle and you can turn all children into "professionally correct" little replicas of each other. don't worry....
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Date: 5/18/2007 7:17:00 AM
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Author:
Billie Eavenson
(Billiekorm@yahoo.com)
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Subject:I do not believe that preK should be req...
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I do not believe that preK should be required. But I believe kindergarten should be required. Young children should not be forced to preform like older children. children 3-5 years old are not developmentally ready to understand numbers and letters. have to sit and do diddo's all day. people can not expect a three year old to learn like a five or six year old. It's not healthy for the child. you are olny seting the child up for failure. kids are ready when there ready. don't force it.
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Date: 5/21/2007 11:01:00 AM
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Author:
Rudy
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Subject:pre k and kdg
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Actually a Kindergartener shouldn't be doing dittos all day either. There are ways to introduce numbers and letters to 3-5 yr old with out using dittos that is very developmentally appropriate.
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Date: 9/10/2007 4:58:00 PM
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Author:
thisisaninterestingsite
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Subject:Pre-k and kinder requirements
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Hi. I have had access to this site for a while but I never got into the sharing boards until today. I was contemplating responding and I just could not resist. I am a teacher. I teach a combination class of pre-k and kindergarten. I also teach in a private christian school. This is my first year teaching kindergarten. I do not believe that pre-k should be required but kindergarten is the perfect time to teach concepts needed to read and write but they must be taught in a fun and productive way. Three four and five year olds should not be required to sit in a desk all day ehat so ever. My kindergarten children do have what we call seat work but it usually consist of circling the correct amount of objects and coloring and no more than three sheets spread throughtout the day. The rest of the day is bible time, story time, out doors, music, dance, centers, lunch, nap, and snack. The children often request for more work but that is only because they want to be like the "big kids", my school goes up to fifth grade. It is shocking to find that my pre-k children ask for kindergarten work. the pre-k group does a lot of art and music and movement but having this combination of ages, 3 4 5, makes the children want to be "big". When i sing songs that teach letter sounds and blends the pre-k pick up on a lot if the information. I have 11 children and an assistant and it works out well. I must say however that I am a teacher that is highly concerned with my children and I am constantly revising my teaching styles. My parents are available for me whenever and they do a good job continuing the learning process at home. Can they do it on their own? of course they can. Do they NEED me? No but in this case all of the children are benefiting from my love of children and they all are developing good precedents and additudes about school! A good teacher can make pre-k a good experience but good teachers are sometimes hard to come by
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Date: 9/11/2007 6:08:00 AM
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Author:
Rudy
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Subject:Prek
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I teach in a state prek at risk class in my local school district. Our Kindergartens are VERY strict and demanding( due to administration) They have a 90 minute uninterrupted reading block daily. They have to know( or teachers wish they would know) letters and sounds BEFORE they get into kdg. So we are forced to teach these things. I believe they should be exposed to all forms of literacy in Prek. It does help develop their reading skills. We don't force them to learn them. We don't drill, use work sheets etc.
I know it is your class but I don't think they need work sheets. Can you make those worksheet activities in to hands on games for them to play?
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Date: 5/11/2007 11:36:00 AM
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Author:
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Subject:Pre-K
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In our preschool the focus is in developing social skills. I always tell our parents first and foremost if they're looking for academics, they're in the wrong place. Our children learn through "play". The classrooms and schedule are set up for the children to have "educational experiences", similar to the way children learned LONG before preschool (and Kindergarten in some areas) was even an option.
I am fortunate to be involved in a program that is private and available for children aged 12 months through grade 8. Our teachers work closely with the K teachers to insure that our preschoolers are ready for Kindergarten. Not academically, but socially and emotionally.
On another note...I thank GOD that we are free to focus on the TRUE meaning on CHRISTmas, Easter, Halloween, and other religious occasions...otherwise, what's the purpose of even recognizing these days?? We still incorporate Santa, the Easter Bunny, and trick or treating into our celebrations...but witches and witchcraft??? Give me a break!!
Finally, in answer to your question...if a child has to be in childcare because both parents work...do your research and make sure the focus in the program and the curriculum is appropriate, otherwise...keep the child home until Kindergarten, because (at least in most cases), there's no better place for a toddler or preschool child to be than with a parent and exploring the wonders of childhood on a one-to-one basis with a loved one. I say NO to mandatory preschool.
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Date: 5/11/2007 11:42:00 AM
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Author:
CJ
(Simba732@yahoo.com)
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Subject:A Possible consequence of req. Pre-K
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This may sound far fetched but I am worried about requiring Pre K programs because I think that it would make it even tougher for parents to find child care for infants! In our state family child care providers can have 3 or less infants and Toddlers. School age children are at school most of the day, 9 months of the year. Therefore, a good portion of a family child care provider's income comes from caring for preschoolers. (And these folks do require a living income, just as you and I do.) There is a serious shortage of infant care available. I believe that if a Universal Preschool Program becomes available and all preschoolers are required to attend, that many more family child care providers and centers will have to close....I think that this would create a disaster for parents looking for infant care, an area where there is already an extreme shortage of options. I would like to see Child Care Programs become trained to provide Quality Preschool Education. Many already do an excellent job preparing kids for school but they don't recognize it as such. I'd like to see Accreditation of child care as a requirement instead.....and help funding the cost of becoming accredited and then some reward for maintaining Accreditation.
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Date: 5/11/2007 2:13:00 PM
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Author:
TK
(mrstracykerr@aol.com)
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Subject:Reqd Pre-K/Kindergarten
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I think if Pre-K is mandatory it should be through the public school system. Currently I have a child in Pre-K and Kindergarten, Kindergarten today is now the old first grade, so that being said, Pre-K is the old Kindrgarten. The old kindergarten is made to assist children in their social skills through "PLAY". I just graduated from Early Childhood Development with an "A" and learned that for children ages 2-6 "PLAY" is the way they learn. They learn socially and academically all through PLAY! Pre-K should be required and free! Pre-K should be age 5!
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Date: 5/11/2007 5:56:00 PM
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Author:
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Subject:Pre-K
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Social skills are at the top of my list for curriculum and lesson planning. Parents need to spend more time talking and having conversations with their children.
Many parents are putting their young children into preschool and pre-k classes because they aren't sure how to parent or discipline. This is my 10th year as a preschool teacher and I am amazed at the amount of parents that lack parenting skills. When parents sign up they say "I figured it was time for school because Sally doesn't listen anymore." Television programs like Nanny 911 and Super Nanny are giving some clues to those that are lost.
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Date: 5/11/2007 7:16:00 PM
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Author:
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Subject:just a thought.
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I have by far the worst group kids in my 15 yrs of teaching. and in general, parenting is the big issue. Some parents act like they have to be their child's best friend. Others teach their child the 'hood' mentality of survival. Others make excuses. Maybe this is a second generation of kids in childcare, and the parents just don't know how to be a parent. I tried the stickers, behavior tickets, time-out, calling the parents, losing a privilage, candy. All failed cause I have too many issues, Candy failed quickly, those that didn't have a ticket at the end of the morning did not get a piece of candy. heck, it was a couple of m&m;'s. nothing major, Kids who didn't get candy fussed to the point that parents headed their child off to the school candy machine. "Ha Ha, I got candy anyway. and it's more than the good kids got." is what the child would tell me. Yeh, the parents even returned their child to class to show off the candy and say "she really is a good girl." well, mom, NOT TODAY!! I explained the disrespect, the problems I needed resolved in class, how giving in to their child was only making the problem worse. all fell on deaf ears. forget universal preK, maybe we need to spend the money on universal parenting classes (headed up by Stella on Nanny 911) attend the classes, and you get a break on your federal taxes, that's an incentive!
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Date: 5/11/2007 8:22:00 PM
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Author:
DIANE FRANKLIN
(franklined2005@msn.com)
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Subject:pre-school is a must
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Children who get the opportunity to interact with other children before 1 st. grade will have learned how to deal with situations and how to share and compromise. Having an understanding of communication is a great asset to children.
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Date: 5/11/2007 10:15:00 PM
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Author:
Chris
(vstchris@yahoo.com)
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Subject:interaction
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Maybe you are not a mother. If you were you would know that preschool is not the only way that children get interaction with other children. There are tons of ways and many parent find them from gymnastic classes to coop preschools to play schools. And of course many more options. Neither is communication limited to children who attend preschool. As a matter of fact, poorly run preschools, with uneducated or trained teachers do not always provide the best environments for language to flourish or the best situations for children to learn how to share or engage in the art of compromise. I wish it were so but it is not. I know some preschool teachers that can barely pronounce many words in our language correctly (and I'm not talking about teachers with other languages as their primary language). Many states do not even require kindergarten. If universal preschool was provided for free, then I would say OK because that means all children would have equal access, like kindergarten in most states. But if it were to be required, then it takes a parent's right to decide away and that's bad because that parent may not live where you live, obviously a place where you feel the preschools are great places for any child. I must admit that it must be nice to have so much confidence. And that's a good thing.
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Date: 5/12/2007 6:30:00 AM
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Author:
Flabbergasted
(glsmailbox@yahoo.com)
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Subject:Pre-K and K SHOULD be reqd.
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-Anna,
Great luck with your paper. I recently opened an "innovative" (which I'm learning parents aren't used to...seems they still prefer hokey) PRESCHOOL and family child care home to offer center style quality inside a home environment.... When their children--many, certainly not all--grow up and behave like buffoons parents cry and wonder what happened, or which arm of the government failed their children. Yes, children do learn through play, but child-appropriate academics are desperately needed in preschool. I just enrolled a 3-1/2 y/o boy and besides knowing his "abc's" and "123's" via rote, he doesn't seem to know much else. So sure, I can continue to fail him [ole' time "educators" please wake up, it's 2007] and "let him play" and "be a boy" ALL DAY (without infusion of fun-dipped, cleverly placed, and intentionally incorporated academics) and hope the logical thinking bunny falls from the sky and bites him on the head to ready him for the academic challenges awaiting him, at least in better schools, so that some day he can come back to visit me with his particular story of hardship--financial, marital or otherwise. Or, I can assist his parents and him (via DAP) today (21st century) in understanding that a child's collective and lifelong attitude toward school, learning (logical reasoning), and education as a process is virtually cemented in the early years--age birth to 8 y/o--and work with the family to ensure that he becomes literate. Literacy begets education, and I'd prefer an educated child--as a complement to his or her social finesse-- who can logically choose to "fail" or try and "succedd" in their life choice of X versus a child that most likely may fail at whatever he or she attempts because the adults responsible for teaching him or her to "think" preferred that they built paper people or randomly applied paint on paper all day, every day.
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Date: 5/12/2007 7:35:00 AM
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Author:
bobbi
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Subject:lots of ideas out there for teaching preK
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so, which one method is 'correct'? I was just blasted by a parent for failing to 'teach' her daughter anything this school year. She said her year in PreK was a waste. mom expected dittos, homework, letter practice writing drills. My class is a Reggio-based class where chilren's interest lead into an in-depth study. I am required to develop a course of study that covers all areas of the state preschool curiculum standards. And, I can chart her progress over the year (but mom says that was from working w/her at home). Sadly, last year her daughter went to a preschool that sent home dittos and homework for the parents. So, is mom right? or am I right? my class was the only option for her child this year, mom failed in her responsibility in asking questions about the program before it started, or even during the year. but, if my class was the ONLY universal preK option.............. early childhood methods of teaching are across the board in styles. would universal preK give options? or would parents be stuck with what the goverment school chooses to practice (like in my class)?
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Date: 9/28/2007 11:03:00 AM
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Author:
Linda Arocho
(HappyHands12302@aol.com)
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Subject:Possible solution
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Bobbi -
My program works the way yours does and we also don't do any dittos and things to go home. However, much of what we worked on stayed in classroom - like our charts, etc. When parents would pick up, I'd make sure to point out those kinds of things to them and let them know why it was relevant to their child - or if we were outside running experiments, drawing in the dirt, etc., I'd take pictures of those and the pictures would go home to the parents.
Children aren't the only visual learners. So are adults. You can tell a parent what their child did for the day, or you can show them. I prefer to show them.
Good Luck!
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Date: 5/12/2007 8:58:00 AM
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Author:
Lee DeWoskin
(kidlee47@hotmail.com)
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Subject:Pre-K and Kindergarten
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I can't imagine how difficult it would be for a child to enter first grade without any school experiences. Pre-school eases separation issues and introduces social skills necessary to work in a group setting. This experience then scaffolds into kindergarten experiences where literacy skills and beginning math skills are introduced. Without those two steps the student will be at a tremendous disadvantage and will need to catch up to peers who have had those experiences.
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Date: 5/15/2007 6:17:00 AM
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Author:
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Subject:Pre-K
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EXACTLY! There are those children who are at risk. That means that the children don't have the opportunity to experience those things that some children can experience. What about those children? These are the ones that need the prechsool experiences before Kdg or 1st grade. These are the children that drop out of school, and have rough experiences in school. Some children need these experiences first becasue they don't have the parent support or nurturing that is needed to help the in their development. I think the idea of Universal preschool is not making it required but an opportunity for everyone to attend if the parents wants them too. Lets don't forget these at risk children they are the ones that need our help as teachers.
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Date: 5/12/2007 9:23:00 AM
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Author:
Lynne McDonald
(misslindy@comcast.net)
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Subject:Balance Needed
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After reading all the previous posts, I am left with an incredible sadness in my heart. After being involved in early childhood education for almost 40 years--(through motherhood, private for-profit and public Head Start preschool teaching, directing a private preschool, and operating a home daycare)--the same debates and arguments persist. We were debating these issues 30+ years ago in my community college classes. The camps are still polarized and sending canon balls of "absolutes" across the battle lines at each other. Is it any wonder that after I finished raising my 4 children, I headed back to school and chose to go to graduate school in conflict resolution rather than get an MAT? Yes, I have also added the feather of being a mediator to my quiver of early childhood education skills and experience.
Please stop for a few minutes, take a deep breath, relax, and focus on what the real priorities are. Here's a basic lesson in conflict resolution. Conflicts occur and are perpetuated for the following reasons (Wilmot and Hocker): 1) competition over scarce resources; 2) incongruent goals; and, 3) Interference. Imposing top-down decisions will not settle this debate because all three components of conflict escalation are present. This argument must be broken down into its component parts and each part must not only be identified, but thoroughly addressed.
I think that the larger question here is not whether preschool and kindergarten education should be mandatory or voluntary, but what are the basic physical, educational, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of a preschool child, and how can they best be met? Does the individual child matter or are we seeking to address the needs of a whole cohort of preschool children present at any one time in our society?
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Date: 5/12/2007 5:18:00 PM
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Author:
Maria Smith
(Christianmaria@aol.com)
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Subject:Should pre-K or kindergarten be required
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I don't think pre-k should be required but I think kindergarten should be. Some kids that are preschool age may not be ready to start a structured program yet. As far as kindergarten kids need to start learning early in age because this is a fast paced world that we live in today and the earlier they can get an education the better. But one thing that should be optional to the parent is letting them decide if their child is ready for half day kindergarten or all day. Some kids can't handle that because it is a change for them.
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Date: 5/13/2007 8:15:00 AM
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Author:
Ida
(rohaidaroyer@yahoo.com)
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Subject:yes to home day care
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Yes for home day care the ratios are smaller. the children are in amore realistic setting. Day care center are governed by
some crazy ratios How can 1 teacher manage to teach 15 3 year old kids in a classroom, and they are using the word"teach".
I wish the government / state would allow and help with smaller family centers.
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Date: 5/14/2007 1:58:00 PM
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Author:
Jan
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Subject:required PK
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If you're looking for a professional reference suporting early education, google Dr. Fraser Mustard's research.
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Date: 5/14/2007 2:52:00 PM
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Author:
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Subject:I agree that brain development is critic...
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I agree that brain development is critical in the early years. What I don't agree with is the notion that government nurseries or preschools should fill that educational role. Parents are a child's first teacher, and parents have a lasting impact on a child's outlook towards education. I see too many parents believing that school is where their child will learn skills, and they don't do anything at home. We need to change that outlook to parents accepting responsibility to providing their child a rich environment to develop the whole child. This is where parent education programs will far better reach the needs of developing the brain of a young child, far more than any preschool program. I work with inner-city poor, parents lacking education and resources. Once I show them the wonders they can find in their world that cost little to nothing, they are amazed and in return the parents gain confidence, along with their child becoming more enthusiastic towards learning. Something odd happens in the inner-city, boys especially tend to show alot of anger when they hit an older 4, and 5. they start to resist school, learning games are for losers. once I get the parents on track these boys too stay on track. Parents first. Not government schooling.
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Date: 5/14/2007 3:42:00 PM
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Author:
C
(hhcp@sbcglobal.net)
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Subject:Education Triangle
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I have been teaching preschool for nearly twenty years, and I love it! In my opinion, Kindergarten should be required, but preschool should be optional. Additionally, the U.S. should have a national Kindergarten entrance cut-off date (i.e. 5 years old before September 1), as our culture is transient.
In a perfect world, I believe that children fare best in their own, nurturing home, up to age four. Parent education would be a great asset. California has some good programs, including workshops and free lending equipment/library (see local Child Care Councils). I'm sure other states have similar parent and provider resources.
Most children benefit greatly from attending a part-time preschool for one year before entering "regular" school. The preschool's philosophy should incorporate the development of each part of the child. Routine and variety are both important for the preschooler. Activities should range between quite and active, small group and large group, free choice and structure, child-initiated and teacher-planned, etc.
Early Childhood Education is a triangle: the child, the parent(s), and the teacher(s). When the three work well together--with the common goal of seeking the highest good of the other(s)--optimal growth will occur and positive results will carry forward to future academic success.
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Date: 5/14/2007 6:20:00 PM
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Author:
Karen Brown
(elaimaginationstation@yahool.com)
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Subject:prek
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Check out the Iowa Preschool standards available on Iowa Department of Education website under early childhood. There is also the Iowa Preschool Program Standards. Substantial research is available linked to each that should support your thesis. I am sure you will also find some good opinions liked to the sight.
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Date: 5/15/2007 6:50:00 PM
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Author:
april
(saldivarapril@hotmail.com)
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Subject:pre-k and kindergarten
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I believe in giving children as much opportunity to explore their environment and learn as possible. This is accomplished for the 3 and 4 year old by allowing them to choose the activities that they are curious about. This strengthens imagination and self confidence which is what they will need when it is time to learn to read . It seems that required pre-school will have an agenda and a program that will not allow for a great amount of free play for our toddlers. The most we can give our kids is the chance to find their imagination. There are such developmental stage gaps in these young years, I wonder what will be expected of a classroom of 3 and 4 year olds in which many are at different stages. These children are not as independent as the kindergartner or first grader. There is nothing that a required pre-school class will provide that the 3 or 4 year old needs. Perhaps if public schools had open daycare for the community so that out toddlers could socialize and parents had a less expensive option for child care.
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Date: 5/16/2007 11:05:00 AM
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Author:
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Subject:pre-k
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Well there ARE things that a 3-4 yr old can learn in a classroom required or not. In our school district kdg and 1st graders are independent at home but there are required things in classrooms and don't have the choices that our Pre-ks have. We have a very good time allotment for free play and exploration.
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