Q. We live in a school-choice district, and my sister and her daughter are visiting schools to choose a kindergarten for fall. Some schools test for kindergarten readiness and are very academic. Others seem more play-oriented. I thought that knowing the alphabet and counting to 20 meant a child is "ready," but my sister says some schools go beyond that. The district doesn't issue a list of readiness skills. How can I make sure my 3-year-old son, Bennett, has them when he gets to kindergarten?
A. Your question underscores a growing debate about the goals of early-childhood education. Spurred by the No Child Left Behind Act and the prevalence of preschool, some view kindergarten as the new first grade, where reading instruction begins. Others, citing research that children progress through key developmental stages before they can sit for long periods at a desk, say, "Not so fast." They believe there are key things kids need to know and be able to do before they tackle academic work. What's a parent to do?
It's great that you have a choice of schools. That means you can make the best choice for Bennett when the time comes. How can you prepare for that?
"Don't rush out to buy a DVD that promises to teach your child to read," says Robin Obey, a kindergarten teacher in North Bellmore, N.Y. "Instead, focus on helping Bennett build a foundation for doing academic work. This involves play, imagining, social interactions, literacy experiences and having Bennett observe as you model behaviors, such as dealing positively with other people and seeing you read for pleasure."
A sound developmental foundation for kindergarten includes experiences in five key areas, Obey says.
nMotor development and physical well-being. Does Bennett have age-appropriate motor skills, such as being able to hold a pencil?
-- Emotional and social development. Does Bennett interact well with peers and exhibit overall positive behaviors?
-- Language development. Does he recognize the relationship between sounds and letters? Is he learning new words?
-- Approaches to learning. Can he listen and follow directions?
-- General "kindergarten" knowledge. Can he recognize colors and shapes, for example?
Kindergarten readiness isn't something you teach as much as it's something children develop through rich experiences, Obey says. "The most important thing you can do is read with Bennett. Give him time with wonderful books. In learning numbers, have him help empty the grocery bags, counting how many items he took out, and help to set the table, counting forks and spoons. Give him real-life experiences."
"Sight, sound and touch are the foundation of learning readiness," is the way Mari Blaustein, director of preschool initiatives for National Instructional TV, a nonprofit learning-technologies corporation (nitv.org), explains it. She tells parents that to learn the three "R"s, children need the three "I"s.
Interactions: All children have an intrinsic need to socialize, Blaustein says. "When they play, they practice language, listening, social and reasoning skills. They build general knowledge through watching and imitating others. These interactions expand a child's knowledge and language abilities and create the confidence to tackle challenging academic tasks."
Imagination: Children have a natural sense of wonder and curiosity, Blaustein says. "Creative play motivates them to imagine, wonder and explore ways to ask questions, organize and use new knowledge and distinguish between fact and fantasy. While playing, they practice thinking skills and begin to use logic to compare and evaluate their ideas."
Integration: Young children learn by using all of their senses — seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling — to experience the physical world, Blaustein says. For example, if they're baking cookies with you for the first time, they are integrating new awareness (the steps to bake cookies) with previous knowledge (what a cookie from the oven tastes and smells like). This integration of experience builds understanding of the world, generates new ideas and allows children to ask questions and explore different outcomes. The ability to link knowledge, experience and new ideas is essential to success in school.
When you get ready to choose a school, match the learning foundation he has with the school's expectations for kindergarten. "At my age, I am happy that 50 is the new 30," Obey says. "But as a kindergarten teacher, I'm disheartened to see kindergarten become the new first grade. Each child develops at his own pace. We do some kids a disservice by expecting them to sit for academic instruction for long periods. We start to notice 'listening difficulties' and 'attention problems,' when developmentally, they're telling us they just need a little more time to do the important work of play!"
Note: For a more comprehensive list of learning-readiness skills, read Mari Blaustein's article, "See, Hear, Touch! The Basics of Learning Readiness," in the July 2005 Journal of National Association of the Education of Young Children,
www.journal.naeyc.org/btj/200507/
Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. Her column appears every other Monday. Do you have a question about your child's education? E-mail Leanna@aplusadvice.com.
