![]() ![]() Susan Sluyter, wrote a public letter to explain to her district why she chose to resign her teaching position. ![]() One of them, a veteran teacher of 25 years, Ms. Several life-long Kindergarten teachers are speaking out against the recent shift from learning and play time to testing and assessment in the Kindergarten classroom. Testing takes precedence over learning in today’s Kindergarten classrooms Time with parents and siblings and the ability to play and learn naturally is what very young children need–not full days spent in a classroom. And nothing could be farther from the truth. I am writing to argue against full-day Kindergarten because I fear that our government will try to force full-day Kindergarten on us claiming that full-day preschool and Kindergarten programs are necessary and beneficial for all students. Was I too young to be away from my mom five days a week? Was the time so monotonous that I don’t have any memories of it? But it has got me thinking about my experience and my needs as a young child. So does that mean she was a horrible teacher? Certainly not. I have many memories of my childhood - including ones from before age 5 and many from first grade and up - but not even one from Kindergarten. Seeing her did not jog any memory of my time in half-day Kindergarten. They took a picture together, and she sent it to my sisters and me. My mom recently ran into my Kindergarten teacher. I don’t remember my own Kindergarten experience Currently, and hopefully long term, I am implementing Classical education, as well as the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood with my young children in our homeschool. Becoming a mother and educating myself about the broad differences in various teaching styles and methods has changed my educational opinions. Knowing what I know now, I would have taught so differently. I thought I was equipped to teach the precious little minds that would come into my classroom. I was a highly motivated young teacher with a Masters degree in Elementary Education. Part 2 will explain how Kindergarten expectations and academics are too rigorous. Part 1 discusses how Kindergarten has changed from a playful learning atmosphere into an assessment-driven environment and how this negatively affects children. This post is first in a two part series : The Case Against Full Day Kindergarten. Children should be engaged in open-ended and engaging play time to develop their brains and prepare for lifelong learning rather than spending a full day sitting in a classroom. It is my firm opinion that full day Kindergarten is not in the best interest of our young children. ![]()
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