Just came across this article:
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/08/30/pressure_cooker_kindergarten/?page=1
About half of my readers are parents to 2-year-olds. Soon, it will be time for us to begin thinking about preschool. Do we want our kids to go to preschool? If so, what questions do we ask? How do we pick the right preschool for our children? What do we want our children to get out of preschool?
Thoughts on this article?
Looking forward to your comments! Some of us are parents. Some are teachers or thinking of becoming teachers. Some are both. This will be interesting!
One more thing to research!
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The response that I have to these issues, as a parent and an educator, would be much longer than your original post.
ReplyDeleteSo let me try to be brief. Testing for kindergarten readiness is a good thing, and waiting a year to start your child in kindergarten, or having him/her do it twice, is not a bad thing. You and I both have kids who will likely be the youngest in the class, and in kindergarten, it shows. So I am keeping the option open to send him a year later. Also, it means that my two will be only a grade apart.
As for the testing and the joy being sucked out of learning at such an early age...it stinks. You gets so excited for the kids to walk and talk and then they are told to sit down and be quiet.
I can't send David to preschool until he is 4 and off treatment, and I don't think he will miss out. I do like to see him interacting with other kids, so we will make that happen when we can.
But if you know, and your kid knows, that they can be successful no matter what path they take, you will all feel better.
I completely agree with you. I think it is important for us, as parents, to give our children the necessary tools for them to develop their self-esteem.
ReplyDeleteSelf esteem isn't the real issue. It's that you as a parent need to know what is developmentally appropriate and how to encourage your child, and not worry, if he or she struggles with school. It is knowing that reading is developmental and while exposure to the material is helpful, the child will read when ready. Some are not ready until age 6 or so.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. That is one of the reasons why I love early intervention, reading online, reading books, etc. I do think there is a place for helping your child with self-esteem, too, though. Sadly, not all educators are like you. There are educators who treat their students as if they are not smart enough, just won't be able/can't do x... I experienced it multiple times. I ran into multiple teachers who assumed I must not be able to do all types of things because of my very limitted vision. How I loved to prove them wrong...! At the same time, it was tiring and frustrating, though. Why should I have to prove myself over and over again? But I digress...
ReplyDeleteMy sister has limited vision and epilepsy, and will never drive, and she was her high school valedictorian.
ReplyDeleteGood for her! And great story for those who think we're aliens and must not be able to do anything!
ReplyDelete