4/29/2008
A reasonable alternative to 4K?
Possibly. In a brand new position the first of this year, Amy Wilson was hired to coordinate Appleton Area School District’s (AASD) Birth to Five initiative, a collaboration with the community and its agencies to do what it takes to get our kids reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
And what that takes is all over the board, depending on the needs of each child. In mid-March, the Post-Crescent did a good job explaining the key pieces of the community supported initiative that supports young children where they need it.
The first five years of life, … making sure all children come to school ready to learn is the heart of the new focus, said Baseman, and everyone from businesses and the United Way to the local children's museum and child care agencies is on board.
From the office of Superintendent Lee Allinger:
…it has become clear that if we are to realize our District goal of all students reading at grade level by the end of third grade, that we will need to reach out as a school District and community to our future students and their families during their birth to five years.
According to research on brain development, birth to five is a critical time period for rapid brain development and that by the time children reach the age of three, their brains are twice as active as those of adults. We know through kindergarten assessment data and teacher anecdotal information that our kindergartners enter … with a broad range of pre-literacy experiences. While accelerated growth is possible, it is clear with some students that a critical window of opportunity has been missed during the birth to five time period to develop needed language and pre-literacy skills.
Look to the bottom of this Appleton Education Foundation press release to find AASD’s 10 birth-to-five initiatives. Good stuff. Here are just a few…
- 3- and 4-Year-Old Screenings – Encourage all families of pre-schoolers to attend developmental screenings prior to kindergarten.
- Parent Connection of Northeast Wisconsin Family Services – Offer on-site parenting classes at area elementary schools.
- Title 1 Parents as Teachers Project – Engage parents of children ages birth to three in early education opportunities.
- Books for Babies – Educate parents on the importance of reading to their newborns and infants.
Nowhere does it mention 4-year-old kindergarten….Targeting children with low achievement – or potential for low achievement – yes. But 4-year-old kindergarten available for all. No.
Now, compare that rationale for birth-to-five, above, with this from an article in the Green Bay Press Gazette – in the middle of a hotbed of new DPI grant-inspired 4K programs.
Proponents of 4-year-old kindergarten programs say they help level the playing field for children who might be starting school with different academic or social skill levels. Programs often focus on early literacy and learning through play while introducing students to the concept of school and routine of a regular school day.
And you’ll find similar info via DPI as well.
So two different programs looking for similar results. Kids that can read at grade level at the end of grade 3. But AASD is searching out that portion of our school-age kids not as ready to learn - and then doing what it takes to get them up to speed early on.
AASD has the right idea
Screening, prevention where needed, outreach, outreach, outreach. And do you think the Birth-to-Five initiative even comes close to the cost of bricks and mortar and teachers and aides and school buses? No way. Will the Birth-to-Five program show better results? Possibly. Either way AASD, good work.
COMMENTS
You note that Amy Wilson is a "new" position. In todays paper it also notes a new administrative position at Ferber. With benefits----probably $200,000.
Yup, you're right. Good points. JE
David (Tue Apr 29 08:10:44 2008)
I agree Jo. Good work AASD. Let's also encourage parents to use the Public library for reading programs. Instead of adding on to the Library downtown build satellite locations as a possibility.
Dale (Tue Apr 29 08:15:12 2008)
Jo,
This is a good approach to identify goals and at risk kids. It talks about coordinating services for at risk kids. This is all good. What the program does not address is what those services are and how they can be applied effectively to at risk kids who have been identified. Does anyone out there have a comprehensive lists of the programs that can provide services to at risk kids in a continuous daytime setting and at no cost or a low enough cost that parents can afford it?
Hmmm. It's my understanding provision of those services at reasonable cost and/or taxpayer funded, is exactly what's happening via Birth to Five. JE
dave allen (Tue Apr 29 09:00:36 2008)
Hiring a new person is government by intentions rather than results which educators often are guilty of. Educators should target the kids having problems. Educators should measure the progress these underachievers are making. Do this rather using a shotgun approach to the reading problem hoping it will solve the problem. Take the 200K and offer it to teachers for aids who could work directly with the problem.
Ed Hudak (Tue Apr 29 09:34:25 2008)
Jo, I saw program names but no discussion of how they would be an accessible and affordable alternative to 4k. Perhaps the details can't be spelled out in the one press release. The concept is a good one but like the previous comment, wouldn't $200k (if that is the right#) go a long way to beefing up reading specialists?
dave allen (Tue Apr 29 11:15:20 2008)
I think it's in Pink Floyd's "The Wall" that has the lyric: "Hey. Teacher. Leave those kids alone."
Introducing 4 year olds to authority figures benign though they may be are authority figures nonetheless. I don't care if they're dressed up like Barney.
My take on this is that regimentation (called learning social skills in the piece today) should be viewed with suspicion by parents rather than being a new and better way of getting some day care.
Children's play at an early age is well understood to be a necessary form of development. That play when structured becomes no play at all.
For parents, think not only about what you will gain but what the child will lose.
I started out this note quoting Pink Floyd. I'll close with a reference to a children's record, one made for children, by They Might Be Giants. The cd is entitled" "No!".
Lon Ponschock (Tue Apr 29 11:58:32 2008)
I fear this will be just another way to target kids earlier and earlier...for special ed, which brings in more money than "ordinary" kids.
When I went to scholl, kindergarten was for PLAY. We learned the numbers 1 to 10 by then end of the year. Now, all this focus on earlier and earlier will just put more intense pressure on youngsters to perform--and some just aren't ready.
We took our eldest out of school, due to early labelling--and she learned to read in 3 months at home. By 6th grade, when she went back to school, she was reading at "post-high-school" level according to their tests. My youngest (of 5) finally learned how to read at age 9, and went immediately to the "young adult" section of the library. So I don't see thaT anything is necessarily served (except the education establishment) by early-early-early pushing of kids.
emily matthews (Tue Apr 29 13:39:58 2008)
Why did I, my four brothers and sister all learn to read without these programs? It wasn't that my mother who worked like crazy to keep us clean, fed and from laying waste to each other, had tons of time to sit down and read Dick & Jane. I received the love of reading in school, public and Catholic. I do know that the quality of parenting has fallen for many, but the confusion about just what is important in the curriculum didn't exist.
Just as at the beginning of the 20th Century, reading, simple math and a semblence of writing was paramount, follwed by history and geography, although none of the aforementioned is any longer listed in the curriculum. God forbid we should return to McGuffey's Primer.
Well, go figure...
Richard Parins (Tue Apr 29 15:00:27 2008)
I am happy that so many people had upbringings that allowed them to read at home or in the normal pace of school. However, for every one of those success stories there are a significant number of stories about kids that do not get the proper opportunity to prepare for school and are behind when entering. Also, the education standards are higher today and learning to read earlier is more important than before. I don't believe there are any proposals to make 4year old kindergarten mandatory so, those who believe the program is some kind of social control have no basis upon which to make that statement.
dave allen (Tue Apr 29 16:49:06 2008)
Why is that our vaunted AASD lays off teachers,(although I will grant they did reduce the numbers of teacher layoffs)wants to build athletic facilities at the cost of a residential area, but not only refuse to look to reduce administrative costs by getting rid of admintistrators, but adds them?
At some point, we the people, need to stand up and stop this stuff.
Michael Potter (Tue Apr 29 20:07:27 2008)
Great Post award from David to Ed Hudak (Tue Apr 29 09:34:25 2008)
David (Wed Apr 30 09:25:42 2008)
Jo, This post generated a lot of great comments. More needs to be said. Much more!
David (Wed Apr 30 09:29:33 2008)
Coming to school "ready to learn" is commie talk for eroding parents' rights.
Bug (Wed Apr 30 14:55:34 2008)
Lets face it parents..WE are not worthy !
The State of Wisconsin has validated that, with curtailing of Virtual Schools, and California's Court has done the same ,saying that "Parents" are not qualified to teach their children.
SO... get over it folks..you can't handle teaching your kids anything.
It all started with Drivers Ed.. Schools and Insurance companies said you were unqualified.. so school boards took over. Then they said we needed full day kindergarden, so that occured.
Then you were not packing Lunches properly, and forcing kids to eat lunchmeats (BAD) so they gave free burgers to the kids at noon.
Since kids hurt themselves, no running allowed at recess...but guess what? You are the fault that the kids are overweight !.. Now they are giving out breakfast, because the kids don't eat right ( stupid parents again !)
So all this, and smaller class sizes TOO (!) ..and the kids are DUMBER.
So the answer is MORE school, like four year old kindergarten. The latest answer in the quest for control Yep, they do not read and don't know math, and the scores are lower...in fact, Wisconsin kids have some of the lowest scores in the US.
Oh, you don't believe me ? Read this. Note that Wisconsin is but 16 percentile of all States and #2 from the BOTTOM on 3 rd grade reading. But we have a good education system!(sic) I find it very strange... the more we as parents turn over to others, the lower OUR childrens' education gets ! Can you draw a conclusion ? probably, if you have been out of school for awhile !
Rich Carlstedt (Mon May 05 19:28:38 2008)
|
