All Day Kindergarten

[EagleDad]

archwinsome said:

As society seems to be shifting more towards treating life like a task-list rather than enjoying the moments in between, I am not at all surprised that many start to honestly believe that the creative endeavors (art and music) are 'just a waste of time' and 'no big deal'. It's as if no pleasure is taken in anything anymore and everything is being condensed down to a measurable commodity on a powerpoint presentation (a test standardized test score) and that's all that seems to matter.

Pretty sad, IMO, if that's what we're teaching kids now.

I would be firmly in the "no big deal" camp when it comes to art and music. I tried moving into the "just a waste of time" camp, but they were all filled up.

It's not to say that I don't enjoy art & music - I do, I just don't need to make it.

As an engineer, I took Art Appreciation/Music Appreciation (Art in the Dark/Music in the Dark) in college as a blow off course - and to meet girls.

I know, I'm a curmudgeon and a barbarian, but I'm fine with that - and honest about it

[casey]

eagledad said:

I know, I'm a curmudgeon and a barbarian, but I'm fine with that - and honest about it

And I thought shenanigans was a fun word! ;D

[Arch]

Hmm. Dates on a cart.. You might be onto something there, ED.


In all seriousness.. this is making the assumption that there will be an across the board improvement in the students.

While, that may or may not hold true for K compared to today, where does it put the kids by grades 3 or 4? Will there really be any noticeable difference at all compared to today? Do they plan on shuffling the struggling kids who can't improve because they've not figured out the correct way to actually help the child off to another school and let that school take the 'hit' to the test scores while the others (by virtue of shuffling out the lower scoring kids) improve as a result of the shuffle and not necessarily the all day K program?


That's not an unfair question because they already stated they are probably going to offer 1/2 day to those that want it in 'select' locations.

[gumby]

eagledad said:

archwinsome said:

As society seems to be shifting more towards treating life like a task-list rather than enjoying the moments in between, I am not at all surprised that many start to honestly believe that the creative endeavors (art and music) are 'just a waste of time' and 'no big deal'. It's as if no pleasure is taken in anything anymore and everything is being condensed down to a measurable commodity on a powerpoint presentation (a test standardized test score) and that's all that seems to matter.

Pretty sad, IMO, if that's what we're teaching kids now.

I would be firmly in the "no big deal" camp when it comes to art and music. I tried moving into the "just a waste of time" camp, but they were all filled up.

It's not to say that I don't enjoy art & music - I do, I just don't need to make it.

As an engineer, I took Art Appreciation/Music Appreciation (Art in the Dark/Music in the Dark) in college as a blow off course - and to meet girls.

I know, I'm a curmudgeon and a barbarian, but I'm fine with that - and honest about it

I used to be the same way. But, we now have a daughter that's very talented in art and I would hate for her to not get the support in school.

[title1parent]

Gumby I agree. My son is looking into a career in art/graphic design. His ES art teacher encouraged him to continue toward this goal and even gave us information on an Art Camp at a university which he has attended for 4 summers.

In regards to the music, we have a fabulous program in this district. 4th and 5th grade is when most kids get hooked on chorus, orchestra and band. If they have a "crappy" experience then I see this affecting the quality of this program also.

I am for ADK in terms of helping those extreme cases as I mentioned. However across the board with the crowding issues and the ala carte changes, I would not be supportive.

[wvhsparent]

Re-open Wheatland as an all-day K for those who want it.

[momof3]

Wait a minute, so the research shows that kids do better in 1st grade due to all day K.
So how exactly does this offset 30 in a classroom in 2nd - 5th grade?
And 6 years of art and music on a cart?

Board Discusses All-Day Kindergarten
Reported by [e-mail] on 11/14/07

At its meeting on November 12, the board of education discussed offering all-day kindergarten beginning next fall at each elementary school. The district is currently piloting an all-day at-risk program at four of its schools this year.

Administrators presented the recommendation after reviewing initial data from this year's pilot program and examining research on how a student responds both academically and socially. Research shows that full-day kindergarten programs enhance a student's self-confidence and independence. Children in full-day kindergarten make significantly higher progress in learning and social skills.

Academically, there is a positive relationship between full-day kindergarten and first grade academic performance.

The additional class time will provide opportunities for students who need extra assistance, but it also allows enrichment time for students who need to reach beyond the curriculum.

Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said the program will benefit all of the district's kindergartners. "This is the most powerful thing we can do to prepare our youngest learners for their educational journey. It's a developmentally appropriate program that gives students the tools to succeed academically and socially."

The board is expected to discuss the topic again at its November 26 meeting.

If the board approves all-day kindergarten, the district will provide information to parents shortly after the beginning of the year regarding registration. At that time, parents will have the opportunity to enroll in either the current half-day program or the full-day program.

[Arch]

I'd like to see the data of where the all day K kids are compared to the 1/2 day kids in the same school at the same grade level down the line in grades 3-5. Any difference there that can be attributed back to full day versus half day?

Oh, wait... nevermind... we don't even have that data to make that leap of faith.

[slp]

momof3 said:

Wait a minute, so the research shows that kids do better in 1st grade due to all day K.
So how exactly does this offset 30 in a classroom in 2nd - 5th grade?
And 6 years of art and music on a cart?

Board Discusses All-Day Kindergarten
Reported by [e-mail] on 11/14/07

At its meeting on November 12, the board of education discussed offering all-day kindergarten beginning next fall at each elementary school. The district is currently piloting an all-day at-risk program at four of its schools this year.

Administrators presented the recommendation after reviewing initial data from this year's pilot program and examining research on how a student responds both academically and socially. Research shows that full-day kindergarten programs enhance a student's self-confidence and independence. Children in full-day kindergarten make significantly higher progress in learning and social skills.

Academically, there is a positive relationship between full-day kindergarten and first grade academic performance.

The additional class time will provide opportunities for students who need extra assistance, but it also allows enrichment time for students who need to reach beyond the curriculum.

Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said the program will benefit all of the district's kindergartners. "This is the most powerful thing we can do to prepare our youngest learners for their educational journey. It's a developmentally appropriate program that gives students the tools to succeed academically and socially."

The board is expected to discuss the topic again at its November 26 meeting.

If the board approves all-day kindergarten, the district will provide information to parents shortly after the beginning of the year regarding registration. At that time, parents will have the opportunity to enroll in either the current half-day program or the full-day program.

Completely agree.

The stats on ADK are one thing, but to implement it in a district which is already at capacity would negatively impact other grade class sizes as well as art and music. That is not accectable.

My kids have had a great introduction to music in 5th grade at their ES. I think that experience far outweighs any benefit they may have received having been in K all day.

For those kids that 'need' full day K due to testing deficiencies, then the district should have an intervention program to provide those families with an all day option. (WVHS parents' idea of turning Wheatland into an all day K is a very good idea) For the rest of the K kids, I personally think all day K becomes taxpayer funded babysitting. To receive all day K, a child should test into it.

[we4]

eagledad said:

archwinsome said:

I know, I'm a curmudgeon and a barbarian, but I'm fine with that - and honest about it

Too bad I could find Sam the Eagle being a curmudgeon.




In my quest to find the above picture, I found this (see below). Now tell me, if you watched the last SB meeting, who does this look like.

[EagleDad]

A pic of a curmudgeon for the true geeks in the crowd:

[southsidemom]

When I signed on to my yahoo account this evening, this is what I found. No joke, check it out for your self!

Music lessons pay off in higher earnings: poll Wed Nov 14, 11:15 AM ET



Those hours practicing piano scales or singing with a choral group weren't for nothing because people with a background in music tend to have a higher education and earn more, according to a new survey.

The poll by Harris Interactive, an independent research company, showed that 88 percent of people with a post-graduate education were involved in music while in school, and 83 percent of people earning $150,000 or more had a music education.

"Part of it is the discipline itself in learning music, it's a rigorous discipline, and in an ensemble situation, there's a great deal of working with others. Those types of skills stand you well in careers later in life," said John Mahlmann, of the National Association for Music Education in Reston, Virginia, which assisted in the survey.

In addition to the practical skills gained from studying music, people questioned in the online poll said it also gave them a sense of personal fulfillment.

Students who found music to be extremely or very influential to their fulfillment were those who had vocal lessons and who played in a garage band. Nearly 80 percent of the 2,565 people who took part in the survey last month who were still involved in music felt the same way.

"That's the beauty of music, that they can bring both hard work and enjoyment together, which doesn't always happen elsewhere," Mahlmann added in and interview.




Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written

[momof3]

NCLB doesn't measure successful adults.

Cut music! We want higher test scores for first graders!

[Arch]

Solutions in search of problems.

[gatormom]

wvhsparent said:

Re-open Wheatland as an all-day K for those who want it.

That is interesting parent. Were you around when they tried to implement a kindergarten center? It was a disaster. People were not happy and the district backed down. That was around 16 years ago.

The plan was to house K in Indian Plains and bus all the K students there. This was before the overpass on Eola and parents were outraged at the plan.

ETA: It might work for those who are interested and a good way to see how many people really want it. Use a lottery system to select children.