Our K is half day (9 AM - 11:30 AM). They have 30 minute specials (library, gym, art, music, computer lab, and PE) every day, with 2 (computer lab & library) on one day. They do have snack and recess every day, and also circle time. They manage to squeeze in some fun art projects, and one of my twins' classes even has one child do show and tell every day. The classes are extremely busy. My twins both knew how to read going into K, but the main thing that they spend time teaching in K here is reading and handwriting (mainly reading). Most kids do not start K knowing how to read more than a few words. They are expected to be able to read level 1 readers coming out of K, and to write simple sentences. They also teach a little math, and now at the end of the year have just started simple addition and subtraction, which is boring my twins to tears, as they want more difficult math.
I don't know many kids here who are not gifted who would have been ready for K without preschool, as they definitely don't have time built into the schedule to teach the kids how to act in school, sit still in circle time, or how to hold a pencil, etc.
Edited to add - one of my children has learned nothing in K - literally nothing at all, and at one point I was told it was fine that he was "maintaining his level." It is because of this attitude that we had to seek out the gifted program at our school. The other child benefited from working on handwriting, and flew through the reading levels at a very fast pace, but once they finished the handwriting curriculum, he hit a wall of frustration as it was apparently the only thing that he needed from the curriculum. He is also gifted, and we are working to create gifted IEPs that will make 1st grade better for both, and hopefully not so terribly boring.
Last edited by momoftwins; 05/20/13 07:50 PM.
