Dear teacher,
We have a decision to make soon. Our son has a fall birthday, but he still makes the cutoff date. He is a bright child who already knows his letters and numbers, and definitely could handle kindergarten, according to his preschool teacher.
I’m torn about whether I should send him to kindergarten in the fall or enroll him in our district’s transitional kindergarten program. What are the benefits of transitional programs?
Dear parent,
It has been pointed out that today’s kindergartens are quite often yesterday’s first grades. On the other hand, transitional kindergartens are more like kindergartens used to be. In them, academics take a back seat to socialization. Children learn how to wait their turn, share, and play with other children. Most of their learning is done through hands-on activities. These programs are fun, and children tend to fall in love with school, which is not always the story when regular kindergarten academics may keep them at their desks doing worksheets. This can turn young children off to learning.
As far as research goes on the benefits of transitional programs, most of it is positive. The only big negative seems to be that it can add a year of schooling. Positives include less retention, less need for special education programs, and higher achievement scores beyond grade three. Plus, children attending transitional programs will be older and more mature in high school and college.
Not all children can attend a public transitional kindergarten program. In some areas there is no funding available, or enrollment may be limited to disadvantaged children. The advantage of attending a public program rather than non-school-based programs is that the teachers are certified in public programs, and the curriculum is aligned with the school district’s kindergarten program. At the present time, far more children attend non-school-based programs.
Individual learning styles
Dear teacher,
My sixth-grader learns most easily by reading. However, her teacher puts a great emphasis on lecturing and class discussion. How can I get the teacher to give my child more reading assignments?
Dear parent,
Back in the 1970s, individual learning styles were a hot topic in education. The idea was that teachers should discover each student’s learning style and teach in a way that best fits that student. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any solid scientifically based research to support this view. Further research is needed.
Your daughter has a preference to learn through reading. Most people do have a favorite way of processing information. Ignoring children’s learning styles does not inspire or excite them to learn. The best approach is to incorporate all learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) in a teacher’s instruction.
You certainly can talk to your child’s teacher about your child’s learning preferences. It is quite possible that the teacher would be able to give your child a list of materials to read that might make it easier for her to learn certain subjects. Be very careful that you are not criticizing the teacher’s teaching style when you talk with him or her.
A problem with listening
Dear teacher,
Why would a smart 8 year old have problems listening to his teacher’s instructions? No hearing problems have been found. Do you have any ideas?
Dear parent,
Many children have never learned to listen. Listening is not the same thing as hearing. Hearing is a passive activity. For example, children hear thunder, the car engine, and bees buzzing. Listening involves active participation of their brain. What they hear must register in their brain. Listening is an extremely important skill — one that is closely related to academic success in school.
First of all, you want to be sure that you listen to what your child is saying. Set a good example by making eye contact with your child and responding to what the child says.
Fortunately, parents can improve their children’s listening skills through activities that are fun. Try some of these with your child to help him become a better listener:
• Make a habit of reading to your child and pausing to ask questions about what has been read.
• Make a deliberate error in what you are reading, and see if your child catches it. For example, call the cat in the hat a dog in the hat.
• Play Simon Says, 20 Questions, and Junior Trivial Pursuit.
• Share family activities at the dinner table.
• Talk to your child about activities that interest him.
• Clap your hands in different patterns, and have your child imitate them. Then add thigh claps or head taps.
• Listen to a favorite TV program for a few minutes, then have your child shut his eyes and identify the speakers.
• Start a story at the supper table. Each family member ends a sentence with “then.” The next person completes the sentence and ends it with “then” until everyone at the table has added something to the story.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or ask them on the columnists’ website at www.dearteacher.com.
© Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2013.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate.
