Story Archive
April 2006: TJ's family has moved to a school system where she only goes to half-day kindergarten. She doesn't have to get up as early and she is home in the afternoons to help her Mom, play with her sister, and tickle her brother. She has more time to be the talented, creative kid that she is.
Comment: Recently, I was telling a non-teaching friend of mine about TJ's long day in kindergarten. He insightfully and precisely responded, "That is child abuse."
Recently, I was at my great-niece TJ's home when she got off of the school bus. When she reached the porch, she hugged her Mom, said hi to Sister Kendall Rose, and tickled Baby Brother Peyton Thomas. Then, she threw her bookbag down in the living room and hugged me, her Aunt Kay "who is traveling the whole wide world."
She had dark circles under both eyes and looked very tired. She had had a stomache virus earlier in the week and was absent from school on Monday. She had not eaten her sandwich at lunch, again, and was very thirsty. She has a very, deep cough, maybe allergies, maybe her asthma, or maybe something else.
How's school? Fine. Teacher's still very nice. Work is a little bit hard. I sit in the back of the bus because it's more fun there and that's where the big kids sit. Later ... Using her drawing board, she asked, how do you spell? ... as she sounded out initial consonant sounds and wrote words of interest. Her favorite word to write is "ballerina." Later, we read and enjoyed Beauty and the Beast. She knows how to say some of the names that I don't because she has seen the movie, several times. Language experience.
Leanne, TJ's Mom, asked TJ to sing a song that she really likes about a frog. TJ said, I can't remember it. Maybe you can ask your music teacher to teach it to you again so you can sing it for me. No, we're not allowed to do that. We have to learn knew songs every time.
TJ's Mom is volunteering in her classroom on Thursdays. She's happy with the teacher and the schedule of activities. TJ's teacher gives her suggestions for helping TJ learn the basics of reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic.
As we were driving to my sister's farm in Shanandoah, VA, TJ saw the fog on the mountains. Look at all that smoke! When the fog cleared, look at those big mountains. I think if we climbed to the top of those mountains, we could touch the sky. Is that where God lives? I said, some people think so. Where do you think God lives, Aunt Kay? I think God lives in people's hearts. In all that blood! TJ is definitely processing information, and lots of it.
On the farm, TJ helped my sister make a scarecrow and fed the neighbor's horse carrots. As we were walking and talking, she said, "Shhhh... I want some peace and quiet." Space invites just that, peace and quiet.
Somehow, I'm not convinced that TJ is having "fun" in school. It's still too early to brush her teeth in the dark and there's not enough time to eat lunch, play outside, dance, or sing familiar songs, those other things that she loves to do and does so well. And, she needs more peace and quiet.
Here's another article about "Kindergrind."
Scholars Find Kindergarten Retention Fails to Help - and May Hinder - Academic Achievement in Reading and Mathematics
Susan Ohanian notes: Maybe it's long past time for us to stop taking kindergarten so seriously. Stop the kindergrind and get back to playing, painting, singing, and dancing.
30 October 2005
Another article questions full-day kindergarten: Kindergarten or Kindergrind?
Nationwide the debate rages on whether kindergarten has become the new first grade — too much emphasis on learning to read and write. This year fed up teachers confronted the San Diego school board, asking them to dial back the curriculum.
"You can continue to direct teachers to teach in an atmosphere of stress and harassment… or you can allow teachers to teach children to love to read using multiple strategies," Candia says.
When research showed that some underperforming kindergarteners could catch up by third grade, the school board took a bold move and lowered their expectations.
"If you had the speed limit of 90 but the traffic wouldn't go that fast… it's not gonna make any difference. And so we basically just lowered the speed limit but the kids are going as fast as they can," says San Diego school board member John de Beck.
"Common sense isn't measured by test scores," notes de Beck.
"It's a balance," says Candia. ~ 06 October 2005
18 September 2005: I was telling my friend Susan about TJ's experiences in kindergarten when she reminded me why many children benefit from full-day kindergarten: because they have very little at home--no kitty, no dog, no big yard to play in, no TV or movies, no healthy snacks, no one to meet and greet them when they get off the bus, and no one to bug them about their missing jacket or homework. For TJ, there's no place like home and kindergarten may seem to be an intrusion in her very happy life there. For others who are less fortunate, kindergarten provides snacks, lunches, playmates, books and other learning opportunities, routine and structure, a safe place with caring adults, a welcome break from a bleak environment. I know that school is better than home for some, indeed, for far too many students, and I do hope that these children are getting their needs met. It's just not all about reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. It is all about nurturing bodies, minds, and souls.
09 September 2005: TJ is still in kindergarten, she hasn't dropped out, yet. She has made a best friend, but plays with other kids, too. The work isn't too hard, but the bus still comes too early. She's learning that weekends are good because that means NO SCHOOL. When she comes home, her sister wants to play, but she wants to be with her Mom because she misses her. She has left three jackets at school and often forgets her backpack and homework. Her teacher says she is bright and polite, but doesn't follow directions. Hmmm, perhaps the directions are not clear or there are too many steps or they just don't make sense to TJ. I can just hear her saying, "That's a very good idea, and I'll do that later, but I want to do something else right now." TJ is an independent thinker with a mind of her own, and that may not be a skill in the kindergarten curriculum. More updates to come ...
Read about the bonuses of full-day kindergarten. It's all about developing skills, skills, skills for those tests, tests, tests. But, is it too much too soon for some kids? I still like the German notion about kindergarten which literally means a garden for children. German students begin kindergarten when they're developmentally ready, at age 4, 5, 6, or 7. No one fails, no one is retained. You just go when you're ready. Makes sense to me.
TJ Goes to Kindergarten
My niece Leanne called today. Her daughter, TJ, started kindergarten in MD this week.
On Monday, TJ was excited and eager to go to school.
On Tuesday, TJ was grumpy.
On Wednesday, TJ said that she did not like riding the school bus.
On Thursday, TJ said, "But it's too early to brush my teeth; it's still dark outside!"
On Friday, TJ moaned, "I hate school."
TJ must be ready to catch the bus at 6:40 AM and she returns home at 2:30 PM. She didn't drink any of her juice on Tuesday because she couldn't open the carton and there was no one in the cafeteria to help her. She didn't eat her lunch on Wednesday because she didn't have time. She must remember a PIN number to buy items in the cafeteria on her account. On Friday, she forgot her new lunch box so next week's lunches will be packed in the ol' brown bag.
There is some good news: "My teacher is really, really nice." TJ's mother is home to pack her lunch, to get her up, and to remind her to brush her teeth. She is also home waiting for TJ when she gets off of the bus after a very long day. She has already called the school's office to volunteer to help kids in the cafeteria with opening their drink containers and remembering their PIN numbers. TJ's father has a good job and works hard to pay their bills including the extensive list of school supplies that was requested for TJ. TJ's younger sister Kendall Rose is home waiting to play Barbie dolls with her and her baby brother Peyton is there waiting to be tickled. Her dog, Daisy, and her cat, Tinkerbell, are waiting for her, too. And, she has her swimming lessons and soccer games after school.
TJ is a lucky gal. I worry about the kids who do not have these positive things in their lives and who hate school -- in kindergarten.
|
