Full day Kindergarten

Colleen - posted on 09/11/2011

Haley, and parents who are currently dealing with this ... Homework is the way to get to know what is going ON! When you ask your kiddo what did you do at school today and they say " nothing" , this is how you can engage them. That is my positive comment.my negative comments are a mile long... The day is too long, they expect too much, they are getting too little sleep to learn well, etc etc...

Brandi - posted on 02/04/2011

My son goes to full day kindergarten. It starts at 7:45am and goes to 2:15pm. He loves it. I think that it has really helped him. I think there is only a problem when the teacher is too boring to keep the attention of the class. Children that age must have learning that is fun.

Jody - posted on 01/31/2011

I really had mixed feelings about that too & I still do. I think everything these day's is about "bigger, better, faster" but I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing. Sometimes I think they're being pushed & it's too much too soon. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. My district also only offers all day Kindergarten & if I had been given a choice I would have chosen half day's. They're only little once & the way I see it she'll spend the next twelve years in school (& then some including college) so what's the rush?? When I was a kid kindergarten was basically like an introduction to school to get kids used to the idea & used to structure. I didn't go to kindergarten all day & I don't think I suffered for it academically. I just don't see what the point is in pushing them so hard so early.

Angel - posted on 09/03/2010

My son just started Kindergarten and goes all day everyday, things have changed and for them to be able to go to school and get good grades they have to go longer.

Erin - posted on 01/08/2010

Until you are a kindergarten teacher or watch one for a day....you will have no idea how enriching it is for the children. Yes, it is a lot of work, but tons of time for enrichment classes, recess, and play time. It would be great if kindergarten was like the good old days where the children just played, but times have changed. Kindergarten is like the "new" first grade. Everything has stepped up a notch. I promise the kids love it all day.....well.....that is if you are a good teacher. It is amazing what the learn during the day and the parents are always thanking me and amazed at what they can do.

Erin - posted on 01/08/2010

In response about homework- It is absolutely necessary for your child to have some form of homework. Especially where I teach. It only takes like 5 minutes at the most. You'd be surprised how many parents do NOTHING with their kids when they get home. There are also parents that do not know "how" to help their kids. Homework is a way for the parent to be in tune with what their child is learning each day and being involved. It takes a kid around 60 esposures of a new skill to really understand it. Therefore, it is important for a skill to be reinforced at home.

Erin - posted on 01/08/2010

I'm a full time kindergarten teacher and it is the best. The teacher that had been at my school for 19 years was teaching half day while i was on a grant teaching full day that same year! It was amazing how much more my students were learning. They seemed much more mature, stable, and enjoyed being there allllll day. My students were writing 6 sentences by the end of the year, knew around 80 site words, read, and were extremely independent. When I had a sub, the students were able to run the classroom. I made sure they were able to do many things on their own. The other teacher always told me how she "never got anything done" in the half day. Her kids knew soooo much less than mine and she was a fantastic teacher!!!!! There just wasn't enough time for her to teach all that she wanted to teach in a day. We are both currently teaching all day now and she absolutely loves it! Much better than half day. Especially since your child will be expected to know a lot more in first grade that what kids "use" to have to know back in the day. Your child will be much more prepared....not only academically, but socially and emotionally. I highly recommend all day kindergarten. I promise, the kids have plenty of time to have fun!



Oh, and we do not have nap time or snack time. My students had it the first year for about 20 minutes, but NONE of them even rested. They wanted to play and/or learn more. We stopped that by the next year. They were very ready for this stage.



I do agree with parents that it is more intense these days, but remember......preschool is the new kindergarten and kindergarten in the new first grade. You sure you want your child in 1/2 day??? Probably not.

Leah - posted on 03/24/2009

I personally think that full day kindergarten is more like half-day subsidized daycare. I don't think that most kids are going to maintain focus for a full day....it's ridiculous. 5 year old kids should not be required to stay "on" for that long...whatever happened to just being a kid? I remember a day when kids used to play.....

Schmoopy - posted on 03/24/2009

Well, if you're overprotective, then so am I! ;) I totally agree with you: childhood is fleeting, and it's our job as parents to protect it.

Modern-day education is not developmentally appropriate in most cases. It's WAAAYYYY too demanding WAAAAYYY to early! Besides - most Kindy programs "teach" in the mornings and devote afternoons to naptime anyway. I'm not sure why a child shouldn't be allowed to do that in his/her own home.

If you're uncomfortable with the full day program, seek out an alternative. You don't have to settle.

Angela - posted on 03/24/2009

my little girl  start full day kindergarten and she love it   i love it to i can get thing  done around the house . she rides the school bus to and from  school

Angela - posted on 03/24/2009

my little girl  start full day kindergarten and she love it   i love it to i can get thing  done around the house . she rides the school bus to and from  school

Christy - posted on 03/05/2009

My Daughter's homework is simple and is only given on the weekends.  It's just there to help reinforce what they have been learning all week.  Another Kindergarten class in our district has homework twice a week and from what I've been told again it's simple and only takes mintues.  Kindergarten is not what it use to be when we were younger, that's what preschool is now.  And people wonder why kids are growing up so fast.

Christy - posted on 03/05/2009

One of the best things I found for my daughter was she was able to go to a preschool two days a week all day.  This helped prepare her and me for the all day every day kindergarten.   The first month was the hardest on her and was tried but now it not a big deal for her at all.  I also think with everything they want you to know and learn all day is a good think.  Our second daughter is a Sept. b-day and will be be going to kindergarten until she is already 6 part of this is the every day kindergarten.

Sara - posted on 03/05/2009

My daughter is in full days, alternate days, so she's only in school 2 or 3 days a week. It works well for her, but she had also been in daycare full days since she was 1yr old. It wasn't as hard a transition on her as some kids in her class.

Amanda - posted on 02/15/2009

My son has a full day of Kindergarden. He loves school, exspecially riding the big yellow school bus every day. They dont take naps at his school. He has a full day every day. He also has homework every single day and the weekends. Yet he still loves school. It is amazing how much he has learned! He has problems with his sight words and sounding out words. He is now starting spelling test. Before he went to school he was a very quiet boy and never spoke to many people. Now he is outspoken and a big flirt. I cried his first day but it gets easier each day.

User - posted on 02/15/2009

I agree Haley. His worksheets are really easy though. But I agree.

J.J. - posted on 02/15/2009

They dont have full day kindergarten where I live but I think it is a great idea! My daughter is in a very prestigious school district and California has such high standards as it is! She goes for half a day. . 3 1.2 hours and wednesdays are early release so its only 2 hrs and 45 minutes. They dont always get recess because they dont have enough time and the teachers have to teach so much and its hard to keep 5 and 6 yr olds focused so they miss out on the fun part of kindergarten. My daughter has not taken naps for years so I have never been concerned with nap time, but I think it would be good if the day was a little longer. However our schools have morning kindergarten and afternoon kindergarten so they would have to add two more classrooms to the school to make room for the kids because we have a 20 students to 1 teacher ratio for elementary schools here. Either way my daughter loves school and is learning a lot!!

Haley - posted on 02/15/2009

See...I think homework in Kindergarten is insane!!! If my son is there for a whole day, and they send one worksheet home for homework, I'm going to throw a fit!! They have plenty of time to do things with the kids if they have them all day. When the kids come home it's time for kids to be kids for crying out loud. I hope I don't seem to harsh, I just think that there is way to much expected of our children these days!! :~)

User - posted on 02/14/2009

I agree with you. I think full day Kindergarten is too hard on kids. Our son started full day kinder august 2008 and it was hard on him. Thankfully the homework was less because of him being in kinder all day!! Like one worksheet a day and no homework on friday.

Jessica - posted on 02/11/2009

My daughter is in 1/2 day kindergarten, and I have to opposite feelings you do. They require so much from these kids before they can go into 1st grade that I feel 1/2 day isn't enough for them to learn it all in!! They have to be able to write a short story, know addition and subtraction and be able to read. My daughter goes from 8:20 - 11:00. I really don't see how much they can learn in 2 1/2 hours.

Alicia - posted on 02/11/2009

My daughter is in all day kindergarten and we both love it so much. She was very ready. She is older, she turned 6 in December, so she had two years of preschool, then we moved to AZ in January last year so she started Young learners KG in February. She was on the line so her teacher said we should do KG this year instead of 1st grade because she wanted her to be at the top of her class. She loves full day so much. She loves eating at school and all 3 recesses! They do so many fun things like pe, library, computers, music and so much more that I don't feel like she could fully experience in half day (I know she would next year, but we both like this). Her teacher says she doesn't know how she would fit it all in if they ever went back to half day.

Jamie - posted on 02/08/2009

It was/is a VERY difficult transition for our family. Our school district only offered 2 half day classes for the entire district. I think there is a total of 30 Kindergarten classes throughout. We are science center members and also zoo members. We would go to one or the other almost every week. Now they are both closed by the time my son is out of school. His days are 8:30-3:40. He and his teacher are having a tough time getting along. He LOVED school last year, half day 4 days a week and says he hates school this year. He is awful to wake and get moving in the morning and the temper...

It has been super hard on our entire family. One morning he told me he couldn't wait for me to go to heaven because he wouldn't have to go to school. I didn't know if I should punish him or hug him;) It has gotten slightly easier, but not much. Good luck to you and everyone making the decision for the up coming school year.



PS In the next two years, Michigan is making all day K a state law.

Heather - posted on 02/07/2009

I have two children, my first one is in kindergarten and my second one will be in kindergarten next year. Austin went to preschool Monday through Thursday half days and now Elizabeth is doing the same. That really helped my son through the transition of going full days. And I know it will help Elizabeth, because she is ready to do all the things that big brother does. I do understand where you are comming from though, because when I was in kindergarten I only went half days. They are starting to expect way to much from kids these days.

Kim - posted on 02/07/2009

My children they are now 7 went to all day every day kindergarten, it was the first year our school offered this.  They did great and they learn at a much slow pace than the ones that have it half days or every other day.  My 5 year old is in kindergarten this year and my husband and my self were a little worried about her.  She proved we had nothing to worry about she has and still is doing a great job and has learned a lot.  She does get tired some days but other than that all day every day is a great way to go.

Tania - posted on 01/26/2009

No I don't think you're being too over protective at all. My son just turned 5 Dec 22, 2008 he could have started this year because the cut off date is Dec 31st. I am so glad beyond words that I had the option to hold him back untill next year 2009...I too have mixed feelings about him starting school in the Fall for a full day...9am - 3pm is just way too long of a day for children aged 4 - 5 years to have to be at school.

 I was shocked to hear from family & friends who have kids that have started school just exactally what they are expected to know & learn their first year...just way too much pressure is being put on young children to learn so much in a period of time..

Tania

Haley - posted on 01/24/2009

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and opinions. I really appreciate it:) I know we all strive to be the best we can be at Motherhood, so it's great to have all of you to lean on every now and then when we're unsure or uncomfortable on what to do in certain situations, so Thanks again!!

Annetta - posted on 01/23/2009

No way! If our community had half day kindergarten, I would have gone that route. But, my daughter is one of the oldest in her class, so I feel better about that. The younger kids in her class have had a tough time.

Julie - posted on 01/22/2009

My daughter was very attached to me and would be one of the kids "not ready". So I put her in pre-school full-time, M-F from 8-5. It was the best decision for her. She is in full-day kindergarten this year and doing great. I went to full-day kindergarten nearly 30 years ago, I was going to do whatever it took to have her go. Why not send them and if it is too much let the teacher tell you? You could always switch if the school doesn't think it is right.

Erika - posted on 01/20/2009

Let me tell you ... I feel the SAME way! This is the 1st year that all 4 K classes are required to go full-time at my son's school. I was NOT happy about it at all. I love being around my kids so much, and I just wasn't ready for him to be away all day. He is a nap kid too. He takes a nap every day so it was a hard first few weeks of school getting him used to that. Now he naps immediately after school for about 45 minutes or so. It was definitely a big adjustment, but as the months went by, my son really seems to enjoy his time at school. I still wish he was home, but at least I know he is having a good time. I definitely do NOT think you are too overprotective!

Kelly - posted on 01/18/2009

My daughter goes to full day kindergarten, she loves it.  I was very worried that it would be to much for her.  But now I find that she is asking to go to school even on the weekend.  At the start of school she couldn't start to read, now she is reading books and writing all the time.  She loves it.  I'm very happy with my decision to put her in full day. 

Kim - posted on 01/18/2009

My girls have ful day kindergarten, but it's every other day. At first I thought it would be confusing to them, but in all honesty it was mostly just confusing to me! LOL! They adapted very quickly. The harder part for them was adjusting to be in separate classes (they are twins).



I do feel that some kids can handle the full day better than others. I, personally, don't think going full day is necessary either. I think kids would be just fine academically and socially going a half day, but I do understand the reasoning for full day, at least in our district. It was strictly due to transportation costs. I'd hate to think of what else would be cut out if they didn't do this several years ago.



Many of the districts in our state are probably going to be hurting even more with this economy. They are now talking about moving to a 4-day school week. Again, can save a ton on transportation costs. Anyone else's districts discussing the 4-day option? ~Kim

Jennifer - posted on 01/18/2009

My daughter goes to full day kindergarten, and I believe it is completely appropriate for her.  She is a one of the older kids (born in November) so she adjusted pretty well.  Academically, I can't even believe the things that she is learning.  She was READING a book the other day, sounding out words, and I was just floored.  I couldn't believe it!  I don't think that they are learning too much.  I think that the more they learn early, the more it will help them later with the REALLY hard stuff.   She only has a little brother at home that doesn't talk, so full day kindergarten is really helping her develop a sense of social community and respect.  She loves her new friends!

Lori - posted on 01/17/2009

My daughter is in full day kindergarten and loves it. It is not all about learning academic stuff, but learning social skills. They play more than work. Full day kindergarten is a blessing to me as I work full time, otherwise I would have to find daycare to watch her after school which would empty my pocketbook. However, my daughter was used to being at daycare all day before she started kindergarten so the transition to kindergarten was easy. I can understand your concerns if your child didn't have that experience and you are concerned about being pressured into learning to much to fast. You might want to talk to the school and teacher ahead of time to get more information about the cirriculum and how their day will be structured. You should also be welcomed to visit your child whenever you want. That way you can see what is going on yourself.

Marcie - posted on 01/11/2009

Yes children can be taught the curriculumn in 1/2 day kinder, but then they miss out on the enrichment activities. My son goes to full day kinder and it took him about two months to get used to it, but he enjoys it and gets the opportunity to do learn about music, art, PE, etc. that he would not get if the curriculumn had to be crammed into a half day program. I do think that homework is not necessary after a full day though.

Romana - posted on 12/11/2008

My daughters also went (and go) to full day kindergarten. They go full day but every other day. So they have a day to rest in between. And although it is a bit difficult in the beginning, they are kids and so they adapt to it very quickly. Now my older daughter is in grade 2 and my younger is in SK and they are both enjoying school very much. I dont know though how it is for you, I mean if it is full day every day or every other day. In our area I have heard they are starting the full day every day program in 2010. And I think that it may be difficult in the beginning but kids being kids they will get used to it. I also had very mixed feelings about this in the beginning but now that the kids are used to it and enjoying Im glad it is the way it is.

Jackie - posted on 12/10/2008

All three of my children attended full day kindergarten and it was harder on me than on them. They loved it and still love school. They have nap time and snack time, they were no more tired when they got home than the home schooled children next door to me or the 4 year old in 1/2 day preschool on the other side of me. When we get home they all go out and play together. They are only children for a short time, but believe me when I say, they love school.

Michelle - posted on 12/08/2008

I agree with you. I teach a 1/2 day kindergarten at an Early Childhood center. (we only go up to kindergarten.) It is much more developmentally appropriate than a lot of the full day kindergartens (I know there are MANY great full day kindergartens...and all 3 of my children went to full day or will go to full day next year...because I can't have them in my class!:) But, I am able to teach the entire kindergarten curriculum in the 1/2 day program. My students entire the full day 1st grade with no problems. Some parents put their kids in my class and then put them in full day the next year (usually bacause of late birthdays). If it's an option for you, I highly recommend the extra year in developmentally appropriate learning.