Scare Tactics: Kindergarten Orientation

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As I close out another year of preschool and pre-kindergarten classes it is with great disappointment that I hear parents and families discussing the “dreaded kindergarten orientation” meetings they have or will have to attend.  It seems that with an increased focus on the common core curriculum, standardized testing and rigid academic expectations, teachers and administrators have created a meeting around fear and panic.  They outline the daunting year ahead for the five-year-olds and explain how “kindergarten has changed”.  How is this a positive way to begin a new adventure in education?  By explaining the high demands and expectations of FIVE YEAR OLDS, kindergartens in my area are scaring grown ups!  As far as I know there is still only one requirement to go to kindergarten… a child must be 5 years old.  That is it!  Meanwhile, kindergarten orientations are creating their own demands…
  •       100 sight words by December
  •       Writing fluid sentences by spring
  •        Spelling tests

Kindergartens are not only preparing children, but grown ups for the upcoming workload ahead of them..
  • ·      Pages of homework to complete
  • ·      Tutoring if a child is not at the anticipated “reading level”
  • ·      School beginning weeks early to get in more assessments


From my experience with families and preschool I find it most important to make a connection to those about to embark on a new school year.  Our school’s director does an amazing job of explaining the importance of trust to new families.  She tells them that if you don’t feel comfortable handing over your car keys to her or one of the teachers than you should definitely not hand over your child for the day.   Why do we put so little value on this relationship?  Don’t you want your child’s teacher to protect, listen to and build a relationship with your child?  I believe that this should come first.  Research supports the importance of building relationships between families, students and teachers.  It sure seems like the best way to get this relationship off to a bad start is to host a meeting where you describe how hard the school year ahead is going to be.

It is sad and disappointing to hear the threats and high demands.  And, furthermore, it’s time for families to start saying, “Why?”… “Why are you expecting my child to get ready for you instead of you preparing to meet my child where they are at?”  “What are you going to do to support my child at their learning level?”  “How will you accommodate my child’s learning style?”.  Maybe if we start giving demands back to the administrators, school systems and teachers then we will stop being “bullied” at kindergarten orientations. 


Resources for Families on Advocating for Appropriate Early Childhood Education:
§  Race To Nowhere
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www.allianceforchildhood.org

What does The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Say is "appropriate"?

§  
Recent Article in NY Times about Problems in Kindergarten

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