I am constantly amazed at how different kindergarten is then from what I remember. I remember coloring, play time, beginning reading and learning how to tie my shoe. Liam's kindergarten is not that easy. He is learning word patterns and reading and writing and measuring and other beginning math concepts. He has homework every single night. And it's not an easy "color the animal with stripes" kind of assignment. It is more along the lines of "look at this picture and write a full page story about it kind of assignment." And it gets graded. Last week when Liam turned his homework folder in the homework slipped out and he turned in an empty folder. When Emily explained what happened on Monday Mrs. Jessen said "sorry-that will be a two point deduction for being late." Really?? Two points out of a 4 point system? That is half off!
I know the whole point is to establish good study habits and responsibility. I get that. But does it have to be graded in kindergarten? Isn't kindergarten supposed to inspire kids to WANT to learn in the first place? I question giving out grades on homework to little kids who are really and truly trying to do the best they can. Kids (like my perfectionist chid) who may get easily discouraged when they receive a "2" instead of a "4".
I sort of miss the days when if you colored a nice picture and paid attention and showed good manners you could excel in kindergarten. Of course these days, kids are taught that in pre-pre-school.
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