| Quick Facts About Full-Day Kindergarten ---Excerpted from �Current Research Perspectives on Full-Day Kindergarten� by Vincent Puleo, fall 1986, as published in the ERS Spectrum, �Making Early Education Work�, by Mary Drew and Carolyn Law. May 1990, as published in Principal. 1. One study of full-day kindergarten followed up students in the areas of math and reading at the end of fourth and eight grades. They found that the students scored statistically higher than controls. 2. After intervention of full-day, Terens noted that fewer students fell into lower and middle stanines while more fell into the higher stanines on the California Achievement Tests. 3. Full day kindergarteners had less stress, more time for exploration and interactions with others, greater ability to transfer what they had learned in school to resources and projects at home, higher self-esteem and enjoyment of learning than similar children who attended a half-day program. The following advantages are taken from a review of the literature on all day kindergarten programs. They are listed in random order and compiled by the Chartiers Valley School District. 1. Children have more time to master skills and concepts. 2. Students can engage in more special activities. 4. The kindergarten teacher can provide a more flexible program. 5. There is increased time for social and emotional growth. 6. Children are exposed to a more individualized program. 7. The reading level of children in all day programs is higher. Due to increased time children attain readiness skills earlier, begin reading sooner, and read at a higher level in subsequent areas. 8. In the full-day kindergarten, ample opportunity is allowed for the time-consuming enrichment experiences necessary to introduce and reinforce the direct instruction of cognitive and psychomotor skills. 9. Full-day kindergarten does not attempt to take the place of first grade. Rather than extending the curriculum vertically or imposing excessive structured paper and pencil activities, additional time available to the full-day program allows for horizontal and enriching curricular experiences 10. Finally, the full-day program offers the possibility of having more stories, more outside play, more art activities, more block play, more cooking experiences, more time for questions, more time for sharing, and a better opportunity for young lives to unfold in a natural, unhurried atmosphere�all day long. The tentative schedule for Full-Day kindergarten (including recommendations by The Teacher Excellence Foundation and Fox Chapel School District) is: AM-Reading, Math, Religion Focus Instruction, Subject Specials-Phys. Ed., etc. This includes calendar work, stories, songs, fingerplays, use of manipulatives, journal writing, �free play� when time permits, Letterbooks, hands -on math activities, and cutting, pasting, coloring (small motor skills), and Mass. 11:30-Dismissal for AM only students Recess/lunch PM-Learning Center Activities-including both Focus time Activities (Follow up activities from the AM lessons) and Choice Center Activities (things revisited and �free play�-social and emotional development). Quiet Activity Time with Rest-books, and journal time Computer, Social Studies, Science, and Health Content Instruction Small group and individualized instruction (including extra help or enrichment) Other subject specials depending on availability This schedule is meant to be reflective of �typical days�, recognizing that in any given day other activities may occur or become a priority. |
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