https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 23:41:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718251 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 09:47:09 +0000 808love 2718251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Students have little free time at school unless you count PE and art. Those are pretty much standards based as well. However, your kids have weekends, long breaks, afterschool that are 'free' so it is really up to parents to step up provide the balance, playtime, playdates etc to enrich their lives outside of 'desk' work. By the time they get to middle school--even upper grade elementary - there are a lot of projects and teamwork so that's a nice balance. They have to learn how to write (and are able) so why not start them when they are drenched in reading literacy from before starting kindergarten. Desk work is no fun for grown ups but kids seem to manage it a bit better. Most of the lower grades have whole group floor time too. Sounds dreadful as adults, doesn't it? Kids love it. Just read T.H.O.U.'s similar response, yes--centers is always a favorite activity to breakup the desk work too! Teachers have the developmental stuff down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718188 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:52:06 +0000 MamaG 2718188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: I'm anxiously awaiting to see if we get picked for Spanish Immersion starting in 1st grade. But regardless, I know it's going to be BIG! Since we started public school at 4, it's crazy to see the changes she's made. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718163 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:30:35 +0000 Mamaof2 2718163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: that's how ours is too! I think its a nice balance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718160 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:23:09 +0000 Silva 2718160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Standards in our state don't really allow for play based kindergarten. It is a full day. They get a twenty minute recess (and then specials).</p> <p>We are very likely to homeschool kindergarten for this reason. I have no doubt that we will be able to have my daughter where she needs academically to start first grade, but will be able to preserve her childhood a little longer and make sure she is outside and having free, child directed play most of the day.</p> <p>It makes me so angry that our education system has gone in this direction. It goes against the evidence of child development and age appropriate learning. I believe in public schools, and my kids will go to them, but I just can't force them into it when they are 5. </p> <p>Luckily kindergarten is optional here, so our plan is just to keep her home for that year (I'm planning to start a small early childhood homeschool coop to help make sure she's around other kids, and we will enroll her in 1-2 classes a week). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718156 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:15:13 +0000 looch 2718156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: I agree...my son does a morning reflection journal and the other day they sent home some pages...I wish they would have kept it together, but whatever. To see what he wrote on day 18 versus day 65 is amazing.</p> <p>My son can read 3 sentence paragraphs, no problem. As for writing them, he can write 3 sentences that are related to each other, but I am not sure I'd call it a paragraph. When he went to K, he could form letters and couldn't read, so, it's truly amazing what they are capable of.</p> <p>Now, do I wish there was more play, absolutely! It's so important for their overall development to have time to be children. It's just that at a certain point, I have to accept that this is what full day K in my state is and either go that route or find alternatives. My main concern isn't the academics, it is more the length of the day. The program is full day, from 9 to 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718114 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 05:22:21 +0000 FannyMae 2718114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>4 year old kinder here is play based. I was at DD's kinder for 4 hours today and they spent the whole time either playing outside, or children choosing activities at different stations through the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718107 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 23:51:52 +0000 lamariniere 2718107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very academic. But they get almost 1.5 hours of recess every day and frequent special activities. I've been extremely happy with the school, the teacher and my son's progress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718083 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:21:37 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2718083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ETA: all are play-based here. But some schools don't implement it as well as others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718071 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:41:17 +0000 FaithFertility 2718071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: Wait until next year!<br /> 1st grade is like the light bulb year! They truly go off!!!!<br /> Why I love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718069 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:38:11 +0000 Bao 2718069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: writing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718065 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:29:21 +0000 MamaG 2718065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Academic but they are not at the table all day like others mentioned. We still have about 8 weeks left but she is writing a sentence daily in her notebook now. She will write several sentences when she plays and wants to write. It's crazy to see the leap of development in Kinder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718064 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:20:56 +0000 FaithFertility 2718064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Academic<br /> But that's not to say the K teachers at my school don't do dramatic play, and teach.at the carpert, at center's and desks!</p> <p>It's a lot of rigor and yes @ honeybear in my district they are to write 2-3 sentences on topic.... crazy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2718055 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:59:29 +0000 Greentea 2718055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so! Not gonna have my kid at a desk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717999 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:51:37 +0000 honeybear 2717999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: The expectation is that they're writing 3-sentence paragraphs? Or reading them? </p> <p>Public school K here is not play-based. They have a roughly 30 minute recess. But they don't write paragraphs. Some can read them, but not all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717997 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:47:27 +0000 matador84 2717997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not play based.<br /> Typical schedule:</p> <p>755-1030 Reader's Workshop (small group reading with teacher, and rotations (usually iPads, library center, read to self, writing center, word work) and whole group lessons, consisting on phonics, shared reading, interactive writing, etc.<br /> 1030-1110: Lunch<br /> 1110-1130-Recess<br /> 1130-1245: Whole group math and math tubs<br /> 1245-115: Science/Social Studies<br /> 115-155: Music<br /> 155-205: Pack up/dismiss</p> <p>Unfortunately when you look at many state standards for public schools, they don't leave much room for play-based kinder when teachers have so many standards to teach. :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717995 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:28:10 +0000 Andrea 2717995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We opted for a play based private school. They have lots of outdoor time, too. We love the school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717973 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:45:27 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2717973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is not play based but I dont think they spend all day sitting at their desk doing desk work. They still do a lot of "carpet time" where they do group lessons. Plus the other special areas (art class, PE, music etc). Plus they do have time for centers for about 20-30 minutes a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717912 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:04:35 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2717912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They all are in my province. There is talk of extending it past jk and sk because they can see the benefits from having up until grade 2/3, but I'm not sure if that will happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717895 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:53:03 +0000 ShootingStar 2717895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not play based, but in my town the free kindergarten is only a half day in the morning. So most of the typical instruction is done during the morning session. The afternoons have other activities. </p> <p>Here's the schedule of activities from the school's website:</p> <p>Morning Segment:<br /> Morning Meeting<br /> Snack &amp; Morning Recess<br /> EnVisions Math<br /> ELA Block: Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop / Literacy Centers<br /> Science &amp; Social Studies<br /> Fundations Phonics Program<br /> Handwriting</p> <p>Afternoon:<br /> 25 minute Lunch<br /> 25 minute Recess<br /> Academic Extension Activities -center time/choice time/class read aloud<br /> 50 Minute Special Subject Block (1 per day):<br /> -Tech Time (Coding!, iPads/Laptop use, Safe ways to use the internet (Games and Educational Programs)<br /> -Little T’s Stripes Club (Social Emotional Development/Gross Motor Activities)<br /> -Music, Movement and More! (Singing, movement games, and Art)</p> <p>It's a little top heavy with academic instruction all packed into a couple hours. But the entire morning session only goes from 8:50-12:15, so it's definitely not 6 hours of instruction at desks. I'm always curious when people talk about how academic and difficult K is, if they have half day programs of whole day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717850 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 12:55:22 +0000 looch 2717850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, kindergarten is not play based here. It is very academic and structured. They learn how to read, how to do math, even foreign language. They only have 25 minutes of recess and there are no toys in the classroom.</p> <p>Because of this, I elected to keep my son back a year and sent him to a private 5's program that was play based. I hemmed and hawed about it, I wasn't sure if it was the right decision, but it's turned out great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-los-kindergarten-play-based#post-2717843 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 12:48:08 +0000 Bao 2717843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Or academic based? </p> <p>Sadly my LO's is mostly academic, we were told by her preschool teacher they don't play it's all desk work. This makes me SO sad. Kids should be kids, they are always expected to know so much at a young age. Apparently 3 sentence paragraphs are a must know by the end of K. Really interested to see how this next school year goes. </p>