The kindergarten classroom

How can 1 teacher teach 22 kindergarteners how to read, write, work on math, spelling etc...??? I met with my dd's teacher who is a saint. While listening to her, I was wondering how the heck she does it all. I also noticed that things that back in the day were going on are so different now. She was telling me how the kids try to tell on one little boy who is a nightmare and she has to tell them to just work it out bc she has 21 other kids. There is a TON of responsibility placed on 1 teacher. They have an assistant but she "seems" to be working behind the scenes. (do they have a degree in education at all?).

Re: The kindergarten classroom

I know my kids' school they do centers, where the kids do work by themselves so she can do some small group instruction with a few kids at a time. Everyone does the centers and the small group, just not all at once. This was how reading was done especially.

Re: The kindergarten classroom

Re: The kindergarten classroom

DD has play centers too - they get to choose what play center they want to go to - games, arts and crafts, library etc etc. The teachers assistant is a fully qualified teacher but she took time off to raise her kids and now she is back working as a TA.

I think this might be the case for some but not all T.A's

Its amazing but the kids listen to much better to their teachers than to their parents so its not as hard for them

Also there are specials ie gym, science, art, music, library etc and the teacher does not take them to these classes so she has down time then to prepare for the class.

Re: The kindergarten classroom

In theory it sounds like a lot but a good classroom is structured in a way that makes it easier for the kids to be more independent in small groups. I agree with a pp who stated kids act entirely different in a school setting and yes, they have specials, lunch and recess when the teacher is not with those students.