The Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (CAPS) and the 10! Show on NBC-10 spent the morning of Sept. 3, 2009 in kindergarten at Lafayette Elementary school in the Bristol Township School District demonstrating how kindergarten has changed over time.
Amy Waldron's new kindergarten class welcomed the 10! Show's Tim Furlong for two live segments as they showed off their computer room, began art projects and sang about the days of the week - all this on the second day of school. "It was a wonderful experience for the children and an exciting way to start their school years," said Waldron who is beginning her third year as a kindergarten teacher in the school.
The show demonstrated that kindergarten is much more than playtime, naps and socialization, as it may have been a generation ago. Students are now learning basic computer skills, how to read words instead of just learning letters, how to count to 100, and how to write and illustrate a story. Waldron explained that small groups rotate through computer, writing, art and library learning centers and there is time for movement and singing as well as trips to the larger computer room as well.
The program at Lafayette Elementary is a full-day kindergarten class. Research has shown that children who attend full-day kindergarten exhibit more independent learning, classroom involvement, and productivity in work with peers, according to the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Overall, they show greater reading and mathematics achievement gains and long-term educational gains than those who attend half-day programs. This is especially true for low-income and minority students. An Ohio study also showed higher scores on reading tests in the early elementary grades, and achievement tests administered in third, fifth and seventh grades.
According to Linda J. Weaver, a special education teacher in Bristol Township School District and president, Pennsylvania State Education Association, Mideastern Region, "A full-day program provides more time to get to know students and identify and address their learning challenges early. This increases the odds that children will be successful later in school and saves money and resources over the long-term. Additionally, the longer day offers social and emotional as well as intellectual benefits by allowing more flexibility and the chance to complete longer-term projects and more in-depth lessons."
