Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Kindergarten But Didn't Know Whom to Ask by Ellen Booth Church.
The book gives answers to 20+ questions/answers like:
What is the real purpose of kindergarten?
*Developing Self-esteem
*Emphasis on cooperation
*Fostering children's natural love of learning by building on curiosity
Here is a link to a website that includes the book's questions and answers.
What strikes me, in general, about that list of questions and answers is how creative play is favored over formal reading and writing instruction. I wonder if this is really the reality in kindergarten classes given the ever increasing emphasis on standardized testing. It seems to me that kindergarten has become the new 1st grade, with an expectation that kids will be reading and writing rather than getting ready to read and write. Best practice tells us that play-based learning is the way to go in kindergarten and most programs will describe themselves that way, but I'm interested in what is actually happening in kindergarten. In my son's kindergarten class there was daily time for free play, but there were also lots of worksheets. There were crafts and coloring, but maybe not enough. I fear that 1/2 day kindergarten creates the perception that educators/schools must prioritize academics and play and play just isn't a priority. Maybe it should be. From the book:
There is a wide range of reading abilities in any one kindergarten class—some children may be fluent readers while others can’t read at all. Parents of non-readers need not worry, as research clearly indicates that children who are formally taught to read in kindergarten have no significant advantage over their peers by the end of second grade.
What has been your experience? Do you have a kindergartener? What do they spend most of their school time doing?
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