10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom - 10 Guides to Choose a Better Kindergarten
10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom - 10 Guides to Choose a Better Kindergarten
Great write up on the 10 signs of a good kindergarten classroom. I’m sure it will be helpful for families who are searching for a kindergarten program. I am a kindergarten teacher with the Memphis City School system in TN. I was looking for web sites to help with the inclusion of Special needs students in the regular class. I find this site and I have saved it to my favorites because it is so useful. I will be visiting this site often. Thanks.
Kindergarten is a time for children to expand their love of learning, their general knowledge, their ability to get along with others, and their interest in reaching out to the world. While kindergarten marks an important transition from preschool to the primary grades, it is important that children still get to be children — getting kindergarteners ready for elementary school does not mean substituting academics for play time, forcing children to master first grade “skills,” or relying on standardized tests to assess children’s success.
Kindergarten “curriculum” actually includes such events as snack time, recess, and individual and group activities in addition to those activities we think of as traditionally educational. Developmentally appropriate kindergarten classrooms encourage the growth of children’s self-esteem, their cultural identities, their independence and their individual strengths. Kindergarten children will continue to develop control of their own behavior through the guidance and support of warm, caring adults. At this stage, children are already eager to learn and possess an innate curiosity. Teachers with a strong background in early childhood education and child development can best provide for children what they need to grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Here are 10 signs of a good kindergarten classroom:
Children are playing and working with materials or other children. They are not aimlessly wandering or forced to sit quietly for long periods of time.
Children have access to various activities throughout the day, such as block building, pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as legos, pegboards, and puzzles. Children are not all doing the same things at the same time.
Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend time only with the entire group.
The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and dictated stories.
Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. Exploring the natural world of plants and animals, cooking, taking attendance, and serving snack are all meaningful activities to children.
Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Filling out worksheets should not be their primary activity.
Children have an opportunity to play outside every day that weather permits. This play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.
Teachers read books to children throughout the day, not just at group story time.
Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Because children differ in experiences and background, they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel safe sending their child to kindergarten. Children are happy; they are not crying or regularly sick.
Individual kindergarten classrooms will vary, and curriculum will vary according to the interests and backgrounds of the children. But all developmentally appropriate kindergarten classrooms will have one thing in common: the focus will be on the development of the child as a whole.
Additional Resources:
Good teaching practices for older preschoolers and kindergarteners. 1990. Washington, DC: NAEYC #522. 50¢ each/100 for $10. Spanish edition, Prácticas de enseñanza apropriados para niños mayores en preescolar y kinder, #523.
Peck, J., G. McCaig & M.E. Sapp, Kindergarten policies: What is best for children? Washington, DC: NAEYC. #141/$6.
Thanks for this great list. With all of the standardized testing and standards expectations going on in our kindergarten classrooms, it is wonderful to see a list of what we as teachers know is really important, our children’s overall development, not just test results.
I am a kindergarten teacher with the Memphis City School system in TN. I was looking for web sites to help with the inclusion of Special needs students in the regular class. I find this site and I have saved it to my favorites because it is so useful. I will be visiting this site often. Thanks.
I am so happy with the my son’s preschool. It was a last minute decision not to send him to the school we had first chosen. I wondered why my son and I like his school so much.
All 10 on your list checks out.
this is a very good site which offers very useful information that can be used as guidance by the nursery as well as parents.
The information in this article is helpful and is exactly why I’m thinking of home schooling my children. I worked with the Bd. of Ed. for 16 years and saw a lot of problems facing ours youths today within the classroom setting. My speaking out about a lot of the injustices against our children didn’t make me popular with other teachers or the administration for that matter. I decided to start a daycare and I will use the valuable info in this article. Again, thank you.
I work at a private school now, and know sometimes days are stressful, but I also know that it’s not the children’s fault. I hope that when my son starts kindergarten (this fall), that he is blessed enough to meet teachers and assistants who really want to help every child.
As a new kindergarten assistant teacher, I am very pleased to see what you have listed here. Parents sometimes forget that even eating snack together is a learning experience. I am happy to report that the teacher I work with is absolutely doing everything on your list and more. She is WONDERFUL!
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