| Posted By |
Message |
Naturalmama
Love my boys!!
Member since 1/12 3548 total posts
Name:
Christine
|
Kindergarten moms
My oldest is in K, at a Catholic school in Nassau county. I am absolutely floored at what K has become. I am wondering if it is just my DS's school, maybe public schools are different?
There is ZERO playtime. They play during their 25 minute recess. They also have a 45 min. gym period every Tuesday. EVERYTHING else is table work. I emailed the teacher the other day to see if DS is exaggerating. Basically the day goes something like-
morning meeting on the carpet
ELA
science
special- gym, spanish, library, art, music
lunch & recess
math
social studies
religion
pack up to go home
He comes home with 4-5 worksheets A DAY. Plus 3-4 per week for homework. They get a math test every other Friday. SOMETIMES a project will be tied in, but more often it isn't. There are no toys in the classroom- no easels, dress up, kitchen, nothing. I saw some bins of legos. That's it. I love his teacher, and she acknowledged it is a lot. But she said there is just so time for play when she can barely get done what is required each day. This is insane to me. Is DS's school the only K like this??
|
Posted 10/13/16 3:54 PM  |
| |
|
MrsO
Big Brothers to Be
Member since 1/07 4521 total posts
Name:
Maureen
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Unfortunately that is what kindergarten has become. It is a sad world when kids can not learn through play and be children.
I believe my boys would get some free time on Friday afternoons
Message edited 10/13/2016 4:07:59 PM.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 4:07 PM |
| |
|
Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
|
Kindergarten moms
Nope...public school is exactly the same way except PE is 3x a week. It's awful. We actually have a petition going around to increase recess time.
Also, once it hits 40° they no longer go outside for recess. They have "quiet play" in classrooms.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 5:17 PM |
| |
|
nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
No more playtime... but truthfully, DD doesn't have free playtime in nursery either (other than recess).
K is the new first grade... not like when I was young & had nap-time
But we do have more PE (3/5 days) and recess every day (indoor or outdoor).
Library, art (they probably have easels elsewhere) & music kids are up & about.
Some lessons they do up and about too (like math and reading: our school uses a "smart board").
Honestly, my very active, young boy was fine with the schedule.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 5:37 PM |
| |
|
Naturalmama
Love my boys!!
Member since 1/12 3548 total posts
Name:
Christine
|
Kindergarten moms
Thanks, ladies. DS isn't stressed about it, he LOVES school and adores his teacher. They do have recess every day, but P.E. only once a week. Classrooms at our school have smartboards as well, and I know she pulls up things on You Tube for them sometimes, like kids yoga. I guess I was just surprised there was no kitchen or art center or anything like that. I guess it is what it is, but I was shocked when he came home with a math test for me to sign a couple of weeks ago! As long as he is happy and thriving that is all I care about.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 5:55 PM |
| |
|
LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
In our public school gym is two times a week. We have the same specials minus the religion. In kindergarten in our district, the religion section is replaced by free choice which included play time. Back in kindergarten my dds class had a doll house. My son's class did not. The inclusion of a doll house was up to the teacher. None of them had dress up. That was a preschool activity. They did have puppets, board games, and Legos in both classes.
My kids specials are
Music
Gym
Computers
Library
Art
They also rotate through Spanish, science, and social studies. In fourth grade my son now takes Latin. We are in a NJ public school.
Edit home work and the amount is really up to the teacher. My son had tons of homework. It was incredibly excessive. If you search my name I know I complained about it a few years ago.
Message edited 10/13/2016 6:40:17 PM.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 6:38 PM |
| |
|
StarsStripes
LIF Adult
Member since 12/12 1192 total posts
Name:
|
Kindergarten moms
No. My daughter kindergarten in public school had "centers" where they were allowed free play. They had toys, games etc. she loved it. Homework seemed to be a bit much but not to the extent you are saying.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 6:39 PM |
| |
|
luckysmom
Yes it is! Going as planned:)
Member since 6/07 5339 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by MrsO
Unfortunately that is what kindergarten has become. It is a sad world when kids can not learn through play and be children.
This! My twins have gym twice a week, art, library, computer, and music. They go to recess for 20 minutes after lunch. The amount of work they come home with that they did during the day is crazy. Homework is anywhere from 2-4 dittos a night monday-thursday but it's all due on friday. My daughter HATES it. Says it's too hard. All work, no play. I agree with her. She keeps begging me to put her back in pre-k. Her twin brother doesn't hate it and does the work but will say every so often it's too much. My daughter has a belly ache every morning before school. She gets so anxious. The last 2 weeks the public schools had a couple days off but we still had to bring my youngest to pre-k. He's in a catholic pre-k. My twins had to come with us to drop him off since they were off and my daughter ran up to all her old teachers and hugged them and then she would cry after we left saying she misses pre-k and wants to go back because she hates kindergarten. Seriosuly heart breaking 
|
| Posted 10/13/16 10:04 PM |
| |
|
NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by StarsStripes
No. My daughter kindergarten in public school had "centers" where they were allowed free play. They had toys, games etc. she loved it. Homework seemed to be a bit much but not to the extent you are saying.
This. DD had a dollhouse and a work bench in her K class and the students were encouraged to bring in a doll or toy from home to play with in the doll house etc.
She played daily, had gym 3 times a week, music and art once a week and library once a week. They had lunch and recess daily. Homework was never excessive imo...a math and an ela worksheet monday through Thursday.
Message edited 10/13/2016 10:18:21 PM.
|
| Posted 10/13/16 10:17 PM |
| |
|
divz80
LIF Infant
Member since 11/12 62 total posts
Name:
D
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by StarsStripes
No. My daughter kindergarten in public school had "centers" where they were allowed free play. They had toys, games etc. she loved it. Homework seemed to be a bit much but not to the extent you are saying.
This is similar to what my DS had in Kindergarten in a Catholic school. Homework was 1 - 2 worksheets a day.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 9:27 AM |
| |
|
ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by StarsStripes
No. My daughter kindergarten in public school had "centers" where they were allowed free play. They had toys, games etc. she loved it. Homework seemed to be a bit much but not to the extent you are saying.
This. DD had a dollhouse and a work bench in her K class and the students were encouraged to bring in a doll or toy from home to play with in the doll house etc.
She played daily, had gym 3 times a week, music and art once a week and library once a week. They had lunch and recess daily. Homework was never excessive imo...a math and an ela worksheet monday through Thursday.
Same as Nell but no homework (our district had just switched from half to full day).
They also had a "rest" time after recess and on nice days their teacher gave them "extra" recess or would take them on nature walks.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 9:31 AM |
| |
|
Bamama
LIF Adult
Member since 8/11 991 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by StarsStripes
No. My daughter kindergarten in public school had "centers" where they were allowed free play. They had toys, games etc. she loved it. Homework seemed to be a bit much but not to the extent you are saying.
This, but k homework is only 2x per week.
I think you will find that the amount of play varies greatly by district.
It makes me so sad to hear what is happening in some districts.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 12:10 PM |
| |
|
MrsH2009
Thank you St. Gerard!
Member since 8/09 6631 total posts
Name:
M
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
I am so lucky to have the K teacher we do. Yes they have a short recess, but they do have PE 3 x a week, but she builds movement into their day. For example during math stations, they are rolling big foam die and then jumping on a mini trampoline that amount of times. During writing workshop, they are acting out their stories with puppets. She goes above and beyond, while still working within the confines of the "new kindergarten." We feel so lucky.
ETA: Centers are free sand table time, kitchen time, blocks etc.
Message edited 10/14/2016 2:19:43 PM.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 2:19 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by nycgirl
No more playtime... but truthfully, DD doesn't have free playtime in nursery either (other than recess).
K is the new first grade... not like when I was young & had nap-time
But we do have more PE (3/5 days) and recess every day (indoor or outdoor).
Library, art (they probably have easels elsewhere) & music kids are up & about.
Some lessons they do up and about too (like math and reading: our school uses a "smart board").
Honestly, my very active, young boy was fine with the schedule.
K is actually what 3rd grade was to us 
Message edited 10/14/2016 3:23:35 PM.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 3:23 PM |
| |
|
MrsPenthouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 924 total posts
Name:
|
Kindergarten moms
I'm debating enrolling DS in an independent school for Kindergarten next year and keeping him there through 2nd grade. It would be a financial sacrifice for us but I am concerned about the lack of free play/movement/creativity.
Common Core standards are killing early childhood education.
Message edited 10/14/2016 5:06:54 PM.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 5:06 PM |
| |
|
Sixofus
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/13 594 total posts
Name:
|
Kindergarten moms
Sounds like our catholic school. They have increased gym to twice a week for k and first grade but other than that it is exactly as you describe. Our school doesn't even have a playground. They close off the street.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 9:35 PM |
| |
|
NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
I am so impressed with what Dr Hynes is doing in Pat Med. He was on the news last month for doubling recess time and also adding play into the day in ADDITION to the double recess. They also do yoga, etc.
He is amazing and I am so jealous.
|
| Posted 10/14/16 9:39 PM |
| |
|
Naturalmama
Love my boys!!
Member since 1/12 3548 total posts
Name:
Christine
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by Sixofus
Sounds like our catholic school. They have increased gym to twice a week for k and first grade but other than that it is exactly as you describe. Our school doesn't even have a playground. They close off the street.
Yes!! In our catholic school the nursery & pre-k have a playground, but K-8 use the church parking lot. Overall I really love the school, and DS just likes to run, he doesn't care about playing in an empty parking lot. It is just the lack of play and imagination and creativity. But, DS is thriving and is in love with school. I think he has a crush on his teacher. 
|
| Posted 10/14/16 10:33 PM |
| |
|
Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
|
Re: Kindergarten moms
Posted by NervousNell
I am so impressed with what Dr Hynes is doing in Pat Med. He was on the news last month for doubling recess time and also adding play into the day in ADDITION to the double recess. They also do yoga, etc.
He is amazing and I am so jealous.
I agree! What he's doing is really remarkable.
My daughter is doing very well in kindergarten...absolutely loves it... But I do worry that she's going to get burnt out too early.
|
| Posted 10/16/16 9:35 AM |
| |
|
