Children can learn so many wonderful skills at Preschool. They learn to be a kind friend. They learn to be creative. They learn to be confident. They learn to be independent. They learn to be cooperative. They learn to be excited about SCHOOL!
When we help a child learn these skills, I feel we have done our job as Preschool educators. We send our children off to Kindergarten ready for success!
A good quality Preschool enriches both the child and the family. I recently received a high school graduation announcement and beautiful letter from the mother of a former student. The mother thanked me and said Stepping Stones was a "highlight". These moments make me so proud and happy!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Preschool Census
Today I received mail from the US Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education requests my participation in a Private School Survey. While reading the information, I stumbled across a few items which shocked me. There was mention of both Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten, in addition, there was Transitional First Grade. What is that, you ask? Apparently, it is an extra year of school for children who have attended Kindergarten but have been judged not ready for First Grade.
It seems that our public school now spans up to 15 years of free education. Why is it that we need to spend 15 years educating our children when we used to only need 13 years? Are our children less intelligent these days? I don't believe that for a minute! I believe children are not allowed to investigate and learn on their own. We expose them to so many organized activities, that they are having a difficult time navigating on their own. Whether at home or in the classroom, many children are lacking in personal motivation to attempt or complete school work and other tasks.
At Stepping Stones we encourage our children to explore the world around them and validate what they discover! The lessons children learn on their own (or from each other) are extremely valuable!
It seems that our public school now spans up to 15 years of free education. Why is it that we need to spend 15 years educating our children when we used to only need 13 years? Are our children less intelligent these days? I don't believe that for a minute! I believe children are not allowed to investigate and learn on their own. We expose them to so many organized activities, that they are having a difficult time navigating on their own. Whether at home or in the classroom, many children are lacking in personal motivation to attempt or complete school work and other tasks.
At Stepping Stones we encourage our children to explore the world around them and validate what they discover! The lessons children learn on their own (or from each other) are extremely valuable!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Transitional Kindergarten - Good Idea?
As the owner of a Preschool and long-time early childhood educator, I do not believe California's Transitional Kindergarten is a good idea.
One reason behind the entry date change for Kindergarten was so the children would be more developmentally ready to handle what is expected. So why then would you set up a program to include those children that were just excluded?! In many schools there is no space to set up a Transitional Kindergarten classroom, so they are put in with the other Kindergarteners. What was the goal again? The powers that be said these children should not be in Kindergarten and then put them there anyway!
The state of California continues to increase the standards in Kindergarten classrooms, but the previous standards have yet to be met. School administrators don't seem to be in tune to the needs of the children. There is a disconnect between what they want children to learn in Kindergarten and what is developmentally appropriate. According to a local area Elementary School Principal, at the end of the school year they expected a Kindergartener to read and solve a math word problem. What a ridiculous goal for a 5-6 year old child! Children are put into such pressure situations at such a young age that they are stressed out and learning to dislike school.
According to State Attorney General, Kamala Harris, our state is currently in an "attendance crisis". Currently, 1 in 4 elementary students are truant! How can we be failing to nurture so many promising entrepreneurs and leaders?
It is our goal at Stepping Stones Learning Center to create a love of learning, but we need our public schools to foster this as well!
One reason behind the entry date change for Kindergarten was so the children would be more developmentally ready to handle what is expected. So why then would you set up a program to include those children that were just excluded?! In many schools there is no space to set up a Transitional Kindergarten classroom, so they are put in with the other Kindergarteners. What was the goal again? The powers that be said these children should not be in Kindergarten and then put them there anyway!
The state of California continues to increase the standards in Kindergarten classrooms, but the previous standards have yet to be met. School administrators don't seem to be in tune to the needs of the children. There is a disconnect between what they want children to learn in Kindergarten and what is developmentally appropriate. According to a local area Elementary School Principal, at the end of the school year they expected a Kindergartener to read and solve a math word problem. What a ridiculous goal for a 5-6 year old child! Children are put into such pressure situations at such a young age that they are stressed out and learning to dislike school.
According to State Attorney General, Kamala Harris, our state is currently in an "attendance crisis". Currently, 1 in 4 elementary students are truant! How can we be failing to nurture so many promising entrepreneurs and leaders?
It is our goal at Stepping Stones Learning Center to create a love of learning, but we need our public schools to foster this as well!
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