Kindergarten and Elementary Issues

Weigh the pros and cons of preschool, full day kindergarten and other issues affecting our youngest learners. Learn what can be done to help your child prepare to enter school, boost confidence, and encourage reading at the grade school level.

View the most popular articles in Kindergarten and Elementary Issues:

Full Day Kindergarten: The Pros, the Cons, and the Growing Public School Debate

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Full Day Kindergarten: The Pros, the Cons, and the Growing Public School Debate
Learn about the debate surrounding full-day kindergarten and which choice is best for your child.

A growing number of researchers are discovering that younger children’s access to early education leads to an enhanced ability to read and cognitively perform more effectively throughout their lives. Subsequently, many public schools are considering new programs that require kindergarten students to attend classes for a full day.

Traditionally, these younger students were slowly introduced into the academic world with only half or partial day classes; however, as more schools implement these programs, both educators and parents are forced to evaluate the many pros and cons of this rising trend.

The following video from the AMSD 2013 Annual Conference discusses how to prepare for the transition from half-day to full-day kindergarten.

The Current Public School Dynamic

Nationally, according to the Education Reporter, 31 states increased their funding in 2006 for early elementary programs. In addition, “…in 2007, at least 40 state legislatures have considered preschool programs and full-day kindergarten initiatives.” Specifically, “Legislators in Connecticut, Indiana, and Rhode Island proposed bills in 2007 to require school districts to offer full-day kindergarten,” while “At least eight other states have considered reimbursing schools that offer voluntary full-day kindergarten.” While many areas are promoting these new full-day agendas, many individuals are torn on the various arguments of this heated debate.

The Pros of Full-Day Kindergarten Instruction

Children enjoy long-term academic benefits

As the Milton View explores in their article, “Full Day

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Pros and Cons of Public Preschool: The Debate

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Pros and Cons of Public Preschool: The Debate
Learn about both sides of the public preschool debate and analyze the pros and cons to this educational mandate.

Could public preschool benefit your children? The school districts in Georgia and New York do, and they subsequently have created a universal preschool curriculum for four-year-old students.

While many parents, teachers, and communities debate the benefits of a public-wide preschool, many states are considering mandated and/or government-supported programs for young children and families.

Why the Public Preschool is Gaining Attention

Political Base states:

“State-funded public preschool is usually a means-tested program that provides early education to 3 and 4-year-olds. The goal in providing subsidized public preschool for low-income families is to provide a stable environment for young children during a crucial age of development.” Essentially, since lower-income families cannot always provide sufficient child care, “their children would be left at home. For many, this means unstable environments and T.V.s instead of teachers. It may also force single parents to stay home to raise children instead of work.”

As a result of these struggles, many states are implementing government-funded schools and educational programs to provide lower-income families with added assistance. Building on this framework, the state-mandated preschool programs are also ideally intended to provide families of all financial backgrounds with more supportive educational options for children of a younger age.

The Benefits of Preschool

One of the most significant benefits of publicly mandated preschool programs is ensuring that lower-income families have opportunities to enroll their children in early education programs while saving on the often expensive costs of preschool and childcare programs. As policy

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Elementary School: Dealing With Behavioral Issues

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Elementary School: Dealing With Behavioral Issues
Every child is unique, and therefore, personalized behavior management strategies are vital. The article explores various evidence-based approaches, such as positive reinforcement, behavior contracts, and visual cues, to motivate and guide students towards positive behavioral choices. It also highlights the significance of collaboration between educators, parents, and support staff to develop individualized behavior plans that address specific needs.l.

As young children are introduced to new academic environments, they often exhibit problematic behaviors. These behaviors may appear as a child struggles to focus, exhibits negative attitudes, begins touching or hitting others inappropriately, and disrespects adults. Addressing and supporting behavioral issues in elementary school is a multi-faceted and collaborative process. By creating a positive and supportive classroom environment, implementing personalized behavior management strategies, teaching self-regulation skills, and fostering strong partnerships with parents and caregivers, educators can help students develop positive behavioral patterns, overcome challenges, and thrive academically and socially. By recognizing the unique needs of each child and providing the necessary support, we can nurture young minds and set them on a path to success.

Parental involvement is important in encouraging a child to act appropriately. Frequently, behavioral problems witnessed at home will manifest at school; therefore, only a joint collaboration between the parents and the teachers can help the student.

To teach students better modes of conduct and behavior, public schools have adopted specific early-intervention programs to help support both students and parents through the developmental process

Why Children Act Out

According to Diana Browning Wright of the Schwab Learning Foundation, specific negative behaviors may be exhibited as a result of a child’s specific learning disability, such as ADHD, autism, or other learning issues; however, many children without learning disabilities also exhibit problematic modes of conduct, as “success in school involves being able to complete work, stay organized, get along with kids and adults,

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Should Sixth Grade Be in Elementary School or Middle School?

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Should Sixth Grade Be in Elementary School or Middle School?
Should sixth graders be placed in elementary or middle school? We explore the pros and cons of the issue.

Sixth grade has been described as a major crossroads of a child's development. Thus, it would seem important to place sixth graders in the proper environment during this critical period. Curiously, a decades-long debate continues regarding whether sixth graders are better off in elementary school or middle school. After looking at common characteristics of sixth graders, this article examines the pros and cons of each approach. Although a 2007 study concluded that sixth graders in elementary school behave and test better than sixth-graders in middle school, 75 percent of school districts in the U.S. place sixth graders in middle school. Moreover, school district decisions to place sixth grade in elementary or middle school are sometimes based on purely financial considerations. The article concludes with some tips for parents who are concerned about sending their sixth-graders to middle school.

What Are Sixth Graders Like?

Educators agree that sixth graders are an unusually diverse group to which few generalizations apply. They are all moving from childhood to adolescence, but each one seems to move at a different pace. Here are some milestones that parents can expect as their children approach and enter sixth grade:

  • Children mature physically around the time of sixth grade. Girls become concerned about their physical appearance as their bodies begin to change. Boys may gain a lot of height and may start to shave. These physical changes often occur before children develop the emotional maturity to deal with them.
  • Girls mature physically sooner than boys.
  • Children begin to
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