THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDERGARTEN

THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDERGARTEN

Children’s early learning experiences have a profound effect on their development. These early interactions directly affect the way connections are made in the brain. Early learning experiences are crucial to the future well-being of children, and establish the foundation for the acquisition of knowledge and skills that will affect later learning and behavior. Before they go to school, children have been learning in a variety of environments – in their homes and in childcare and community settings. Children arrive at school with different backgrounds and experiences and at different stages of development. Positive early experiences with school are of paramount importance to young children. Children thrive within classrooms that meet their physical and developmental needs and that provide a secure, respectful, and nurturing environment.

  Even though kindergarten is not a mandated program believes it should be included within the scope of the common core standards. This means students in kindergarten must be taught English Language Arts standards under the following areas: reading, writing, listening, speaking and language. In Mathematics, the following standards must be addressed in kindergarten: counting and comparing numbers, the concept of addition and subtraction, number and place value, measurement and classification of objects, and identification and analysis of different shapes. According to Commissioner King, the educational expectation for kindergarten is the same as every other grade within our school district. As a community and a school, we should have this same expectation.

To give each child the best start possible, it is essential that The Village School Kindergarten Program continue to be a part of the culture in our district, providing a variety of learning opportunities and experiences that are based on assessment information and the strengths, needs, and interests of the children. Although Kindergarten programs are critical in laying the foundations for success in learning, the Kindergarten years are also an important time in children’s total development. Teachers, early childhood educators, members of the community, and families should work together to provide challenging and engaging learning experiences that will build children’s confidence, encourage them to continue to see learning as both enjoyable and useful, and provide a strong foundation for their future intellectual, physical, and social development.