| Were you or your children ready for Kindergarten | | | | This leads to the question of what practices and |
| at the age of five years old? Most students pass | | | | procedures are the teachers currently |
| the physical, emotional, and academic criteria to | | | | administering in the classroom? There are specific |
| enter Kindergarten. However, some students | | | | standards that must be met in the public school |
| have trouble transitioning from preschool to | | | | system. Some subjects have national guidelines |
| Kindergarten in their early childhood education. | | | | while others have state by state guidelines. |
| These children can benefit from early childhood | | | | One of the major requirements for early |
| education programs such as Head Start. | | | | childhood teachers, as well as teachers of all |
| There is a constant debate as to why some | | | | levels, is to provide developmentally appropriate |
| students are not ready for Kindergarten like their | | | | content and presentation. An example for early |
| peers. There are varying circumstances that can | | | | childhood teachers is not to expect students to |
| cause this to happen. The student may not be | | | | write a two page essay about their summer |
| emotionally or developmentally ready. Their | | | | vacation when they don't even know how to hold |
| experiences at home or a physical disability may | | | | a pencil. |
| have impaired their psychological and physical | | | | Education in the early childhood years tends to |
| development. | | | | focus on motor skills and "play". Children in these |
| The government, educational organizations, | | | | years learn greatly through "play". Early childhood |
| teachers, and parents all play a role in the | | | | teachers take these developmental stages into |
| educational development of each child. When | | | | account when creating lessons and activities. They |
| things go wrong, each party tends to point fingers | | | | cover the specified guidelines as determined by |
| at another party. This can be counterproductive | | | | their state. |
| and many times erupts from misunderstanding | | | | If your child is not ready for Kindergarten it may |
| between the parties. | | | | not necessarily be the fault of their school |
| The government sets specific guidelines and | | | | system. Consult doctors, counselors, and |
| standards for education. For example, President | | | | educational professionals to determine the |
| Bush has enacted the "No Child Left Behind Act". | | | | readiness of your child. Your child may have a |
| The purpose of this act is to have all students | | | | learning disability that can be treated successfully |
| achieve a competent to above average | | | | because it was recognized early. Then your child |
| educational score. This act is based on positive | | | | will be ready to take their first snack of graham |
| ideals, but has been found to be very difficult to | | | | crackers and milk as a Kindergarten student. |
| achieve in the American school system. | | | | |