- I get that our over all nationwide scores - sucked. I do. And - that something needs to be done.
- I understand that teachers are pressured to "teach to the test" - as it were.
- I even comprehend that pre-schools are trying to fill the gap and become the "new" Kindergarten. (For the record, I acknowledge...but don't like it one bit! Pre-school should be a play-based exploration of the world and how to socially interact with other children who also want that toy just because Johnny picked it up one whole second ago - but that is another rant entirely)
But, humor me the sarcasm when I ask you, have our children mentally developed any faster? Have all the preservatives, hormones, and stimulants in the food that is so readily available to us created six year old brains in five year old bodies?
I'm sorry, but I just can't get behind it. For a child that struggles with perfection and the need to be first, at all times, this finish-this-book-and-I'll-throw-another-at-you approach is just not effective. It doesn't encourage her to slow down and check her work. It doesn't allow her to *woah* make mistakes by listening to sound and, say, spelling 'sky' - 'sci'. And, seriously if I have to read one more variation of "Is the cat in the pan? No! - Is the pig in the wig? Yes!" with a fake sense of enthusiasm, I think I'll commit myself.
I know I can only fight one world awareness battle at a time, and I am also well aware that changing the educational system so that each child gets instruction playing to their learning strenths and not their weaknesses is a pipe dream of the grandest proportion, but a girl can dream, can't she?
6 comments:
Fun, isn't it? The battle continues into junior and high school. Sorry.
Um, I remember kindergarten as being the place where we did things according to our ability and learned a new skill when we were ready, all bewteen snacks of peanut butter on crackers and lots of imaginative play.
Of course, I went to a Montessori school.
I completely understand what you mean. I totally freaked out when my oldest was in 3rd grade and his math included pre-algebra/algebra type problems...
a + 4 = 9; solve for a
I know what you are saying. I was looking at my friends 12yr olds work and I could not believe what they were doing already.
Spelling lists and phonics in kindergarten? All I remember learning at that age was my phone number, the days of the week and months of the year.
It's great that she's enjoying it, but... why can't kids be kids anymore?
ICLW
Happy ICLW! I love the quote! Cant believe it, kindergarden used to be fun, right?
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