Amusing-musings.blog

Things move so quickly in public schools anymore. I worked as a substitute teacher for several years in elementary schools and discovered that kindergarten is like first grade now. Who would have thought that we would be pushing our children so much to succeed and not allowing them to be children as much. It seems a lot is about achievement anymore and don’t get me wrong I wanted my children to do well in school and maximize their abilities.

I did put my children in preschool one day a week so that would have socialization and I could have one day off. My kids enjoyed learning there and loved meeting other children. One day a preschool teacher approached me and asked why my son did not know his ABCS yet. I wasn’t aware that he needed to know them before starting preschool. Well, I was told that preschool is like kindergarten now and kindergarten is like first grade. I had no idea of this knowledge prior.

Before kids start kindergarten, they should know there ABCS, numbers and colors. There was no mention about how to interact with other children which my sons were quite able to do. Children also need to be able to get along with others, take turns, share and make friends with others.

I think before kindergarten children should know how to button and zipper their clothing because a teacher may not always be available to help them. I think children should be fully potty trained before they start as I subbed in a kindergarten class with a child or two having accidents.

I think we miss the boat when we just teach children academics and not the other important things that they need to know to navigate kindergarten. Why not give them all the skills necessary to make them a success in school.