1. The kindergarten child

2. Who is in the kindergarten classroom?
18% leave in poverty
23% leave in single-parent households
9% are ELL
58% are European American
19% Hispanics
15% black
3% Asian
50% of single parent households are low income.
39% of ELL are low income

3. Characteristics of kindergarteners
“kindergarteners are more independent, self confident & exuberant about mastering new skills than they were just a year earlier. They are better coordinated physically, eager to be entrusted with responsibility, more emotionally strong, more willing and able to work cooperatively with others” (Berk, 2006)

4. Kindergartens in US 43 states require schools to offer K, &
9 of them require to offer full day K.
14 states require age-elligible children to at attend least ½ day &
2 states require full day K

5. Discussions
Based on our learning so far from theories and discussions:
Should kindergarten be required?
Should there be full day or half day kindergarten?

6. Going back to the 15 children we talked about in Mrs K’s classroom
There are 3 types of children in kindergarten:
Immature
Inexperienced
Those with disabilities.
Major influences: parenting styles, home environment & preschool preparation.

7. A metaphor for kindergarten’s role & style:
What is more important: family or work???
Socializing & play

8. For your assignment in the field this coming week
Get to know the children and their names
Observe the classroom and come with a plan of the classroom arrangement: show teacher’s desk, various centers, desks, etc. Come prepared to discuss.