Full Day Kindergarten
Natassja Libson
Professor Funk
English 1121
8 April 2011
Full Day Kindergarten
Full day kindergarten should be mandatory and of no extra cost for all of the elementary schools. This will boost the children’s academic achievement. The children that are exposed to full day kindergarten will learn more in literacy and mathematics than those in half-day kindergarten. The students that are in a full day program get to spend more time on their math, writing, and reading activities. The full day students also get the advantage of being able to participate in gym, art, and music classes. The half-day students do not get to experience gym, art, or music class. I have seen results first hand because I chose to put my son in a full day kindergarten versus the half-day. I chose to bring my son to a school that is located in Fridley so that he could receive the benefits of the full day kindergarten. The half-day program that Blaine offers has a very undesirable schedule for parents who work. The half-day schedule for Blaine elementary school is full days Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday. I think that the earlier the educational intervention begins the higher the impact and the more likely the effects will be retained. Other than the health of a child, I think that nothing should be more important than their education.
Giving children the opportunity to be in a full day kindergarten program gives them opportunities that the half-day students do not receive. One of the opportunities is being able to spend more time on reading, writing, and math. The teachers also have more time to sit one on one with each student one or in small groups and work on these skills. They also have a different theme for each month that they focus on. Some examples of the themes are the solar system, U.S. presidents, maps, and the celebrations around the world. Children also absorb things more easily when they are younger. Being a mother of a full day kindergarten student, I see the results
Professor Funk
English 1121
8 April 2011
Full Day Kindergarten
Full day kindergarten should be mandatory and of no extra cost for all of the elementary schools. This will boost the children’s academic achievement. The children that are exposed to full day kindergarten will learn more in literacy and mathematics than those in half-day kindergarten. The students that are in a full day program get to spend more time on their math, writing, and reading activities. The full day students also get the advantage of being able to participate in gym, art, and music classes. The half-day students do not get to experience gym, art, or music class. I have seen results first hand because I chose to put my son in a full day kindergarten versus the half-day. I chose to bring my son to a school that is located in Fridley so that he could receive the benefits of the full day kindergarten. The half-day program that Blaine offers has a very undesirable schedule for parents who work. The half-day schedule for Blaine elementary school is full days Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday. I think that the earlier the educational intervention begins the higher the impact and the more likely the effects will be retained. Other than the health of a child, I think that nothing should be more important than their education.
Giving children the opportunity to be in a full day kindergarten program gives them opportunities that the half-day students do not receive. One of the opportunities is being able to spend more time on reading, writing, and math. The teachers also have more time to sit one on one with each student one or in small groups and work on these skills. They also have a different theme for each month that they focus on. Some examples of the themes are the solar system, U.S. presidents, maps, and the celebrations around the world. Children also absorb things more easily when they are younger. Being a mother of a full day kindergarten student, I see the results
Cited: Calvin, MaryBeth. Expectations for Kindergarten in 2010. 3 February 2010. 3 March 2011. <http://www.suite101.com/content/expectations-for-kindergarten-in-2010-a196473> Clark, Patricia. Recent Research on All Day Kindergarten. 2004. 4 March 2011. <http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-1/kindergarten.html> Debra J Ackerman, W. S. Making the Most of Kindergarten. March 2005. 4 March 2011. <http://nieer.org/resources/policyreports/report4.pdf> Janssen, Ms. (2011, March). Personal Interview. 6 March. 2011. Mack, J. Kalamazoo Public Schools Reports Progress on Test SCores. 19 November 2010. 4 March 2011. <http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/11/kalamazoo_public_schools_repor.html> NEA. Full Day Kindergarten Helps Close Achievement Gaps. 2008. 4 March 2011. <http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/mf_PB12_FullDayK.pdf> Plucker, Jonathan A, Jessica Eaton, Kelly Rapp, Woong Lim, Jeffrey Nowak, John Hansen, Amy Bartelson. “The Effects of Full Day Versus Half Day Kindergarten.”9 Nov.2004. 6 April 2011. <http://ceep.indiana.edu/projects/PDF/FDK_report_final.pdf> Dr. Martinez, Sherrill, Lue Snider. Summary of Research. Full-Day Kindergarten. February 2001. 6 April 2011. <http://www.ksde.org/portals/0/research%20reports/full_day_kindergarten.pdf> *