Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

This is sort of a spin-off to all the K posts I've been reading and I'm wondering if this is more the norm than not since I've seen quite a few people post it.

Does your K class differentiate - by that I mean children are grouped and taught according to the level they are at - or that the get different work and homework assignments based on the level they are at. For ex. if there are kids in the class that are reading they are not doing letter sound homework they are doing something more on their level? Our school does not. The curriculum is the curriculum and if the child is ahead they are still learning what everyone else is.

If yes, what school district are you in?

TIA!

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

My children are in private K.

The only differentiation I have seen so far is with reading.

My DD and another girl (actually a year older, she should be in first grade) tested very high for reading. They both go to the 1st grade classroom once a day for reading.

As far as reading groups within the room, I have not asked because we read a lot at home and they are both reading at or above grade level.

I do have two children in K with two different teachers and get to see how they teach the same curriculum in different ways.

Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

Group lessons are all the same and go with the curriculum. If they beleive the worksheets are to easy for some kids they will supplement those and tailor to the child's level. Such as, some kids are still learning to write letters while others already can spell, so when it gets to indiviual work time the kids that know how to spell will start journaling while others just trace letters. Same thing for math. I don't think it's a school mandated thing though and it depends on the teacher.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

I am pretty sure there is no difference in the lessons or groups in DS' kindergarten class.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

My DD is in a private school. They teach differentiated education to grade 8.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

I*think* some of the better readers, including dd, are grouped together. But they are all taught everything else together.

She goes to public.

Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

reading and math-in class lessons with teacher are different.
in the morning hours, class is seperated into 4 groups.
aid has a group, a volunteer mom has a group, a group is at table doing morning work, teacher has a group.
they are in these spots for 30 mins. teacher teaches different lessons according to level.
different reading books come home for homework.
there is a man who is getting his doctorate who is in the class 3 times a week. he works with josh exclusively. i had no idea this was going on until josh's cousin who was in the class told me.
he was chosen since he was a reader with nice temperment i was told-but i asked to sit in to see what was going on...
it is awesome. this guy is so encouraging and practically a reading tutor 30 mins a day 3 times a week.
he also is given the job to collect lunch orders, count and group them. he was taught to collect library books from classmates and check their names off list when books are returned.
all these little tasks are to keep him interested. he is on a different reward system-teacher gives him sharks teeth daily.
i cannot express in words how happy i am with his teacher. she's been at it 33 years. i feel like she has a way of tapping into the kids to motivate them.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

My home district does not in K (only 1/2 day)

My work district does small groups where half the class leaves for special and the other half stays in class for small group work.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

Yes, our district has a push-in math, ELA and reading specialist. Although it is mainly group-instruction, I know that children are grouped based on ability for reading. Not sure about the other two.

HW is the same packet, but there are optional sheets at the end for students who need more of a challenge.

Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

My DD is in a CCT class, so there is a special ed teacher who works with the 6-7 kids who have IEPs. My DD is part of a group of 4 who are pulled out for reading intervention, and several other kids are also pulled out for the same reason.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

I am wondering if any Long Island school districts utilize a strong balanced literacy program, based on Teacher's College reading and writing project ? It's all about differentiated teaching, and it works so well.

Re: Question for Kindergarten Parents - Does your school differentiate?

I know the principal at the beginning of the year said they are based on differentiated learning. I could be wrong but I think there used to be a link the schools page discussing it more in detail.