Attending half-day kindergarten is fine for children, so long as they are receiving a level of instruction that will prepare them for first grade and beyond. Unfortunately, in states that have adopted the Common Core Standards (CCSS), it appears as though only half a day of kindergarten instruction may not be enough.
This is what officials within Connecticut's Rocky Hill Public Schools district are finding, according to Rocky Hill's Patch website. Superintendent Mark Zito told the news source that under the CCSS, students will be expected to know and do more earlier in their schooling. Full-day kindergarten is a more beneficial option than cramming essential instruction into a short period of time.
"With a half day kindergarten the students miss out on the specials, physical education, art and music," Zito said. "The social element of school is as important as the academic aspect, especially at the early ages. We want to make sure we have social development as well as the Common Core together."
With the CCSS in place, kindergartners will be expected to know how to express their opinions through words and pictures, print many upper- and lowercase letters and compare numbers before they proceed to the first grade.
No comments yet.