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Kindergarten Controversy

This article explores how the kindergarten curriculum is changing and what parents should do.
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Posted by angelicmad...
October 2, 2009 8:26 AM
Re: Kindergarten Controversy
I teach at Montessori school. I teach what most people would call Pre-K and Kindergarten (in the same classroom). I have two Kindergarteners this year.
With our Kindergarten program we have a little bit of a hybrid approach. The Kindergarteners are given all their tasks: worksheets, journal assignments, special activitiesand told what time frame they must be completed in. With the guidance of teachers they learn to manage their "free time" in the classroom, and finish all their required tasks. As for Kindergarten becoming more academic I believe there HAS to be a balance. My philosophy is that Kindergarten classes should be SMALL so that each child can have the best chance of academic success. There should be a healthy balance between formal learning time and play/exploration time.
Posted by froebel
October 14, 2008 4:41 PM
Froebel's reaction to modern kindergarten
You are correct that Froebel would be horrified about the NCLB protocols and testing for preschoolers (who isn't?). But it is a mistake to state that he was not concerned with tangible learning results. The general misconception is that the original Kindergarten was all about free play and early socialization. While play was extremely important, Froebel believed that birth to age 3 was a critical time period in brain development, and that to waste a moment of a child's time during this period on frivolous activity was almost criminal. The Froebel Kindergarten (intended for ages 3-7) was a prepared environment designed to stimulate productive learning. It was hoped that preschoolers would make connections regarding math, science, language and design that would pay dividends in later grades. It was very much purposeful activity even if there were not desks, chairs and classrooms. Scott Bultman
Froebel USA
scott@froebel.net
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