Do kids need more preparation at the kindergarten level - or is that too much pressure?
Today's kindergarten classrooms are stocked with books sorted by reading level; students keep portfolios of their first attempts at writing; and teachers assign homework in counting, addition and subtraction. The emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic is seen countywide, from San Diego to Poway, and nationwide, from Seattle to Detroit.As kindergarten evolved from a cocoon for social and emotional development to a rigorous classroom environment, a national debate has emerged: How much should children be expected to learn when they are 4, 5 and 6 years old?
My impulsive response is, "As much as you can possibly cram into their little synapse-rich heads." Some educators quoted in the article say pretty much the same thing, while others worry most about putting too much stress on children this young.
Posted by kswygert at April 11, 2005 10:07 AM