I have taught kindergarten before and currently teach first grade so I have participated in kindergarten screening and I do find it an important tool for the school and future teachers. I recently found an article in the New York Times about the screening tests that are used for kindergarteners who want to get into a private school. On the east coasts kindergarten students are being assessed as part of an application process to the school. What is becoming a problem is that some parents are paying for special tutoring sessions to prep their youngster for the admissions test. Private schools are saying they frown upon tutoring for these students because they want the assessment to show the child’s true abilities not the tutoring sessions that teaches to the test.
I find all of this very interesting! First off, I agree that the screening or assessments used are only beneficial if is the true child’s abilities showing. I also cannot believe that parents are paying up to $1,000 for this special tutoring or books for home use that cost up to $90. These are four year olds so the information they need to know if information all parents should know and be able to teach. In my opinion a little parent involvement goes a long ways. I strongly believe that if parents play with their child frequently and “teach” them (play games, read books, talk about the world around them, etc) their child be a successful preschooler and do well in kindergarten. I also think these tutoring sessions are way too stressful for such a young child. The tutoring sessions work on aspects of the test and prepare a child to sit for an hour. An hour! I find that shocking. I have students who are six and seven and can’t sit for an hour, I don’t know if I believe that a three or four year old should be forced to sit that long. These are some of my own personal professional opinions on the matter and I would be interested in what others think. Would you pay for special tutoring?
Why restructure? Does it really do anything?
15 years ago
Paying for special turoring, in my opinion, kind of defeats the purpose. Aren't these kids entering the private school based solely on their abilities? Parents must understand that by christmas, unless they keep paying for a tutor, their child will "show their true color." Four year olds need to be four year olds and not used as a tool for their parents to be able to say that "my child is in a private school!" Like you mentioned: parents can educate their child through interacting, reading, playing, etc. So I guess my thoughts are, no I would not pay for a tutor just so my child could go to a private school.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting topic on so many levels! First off I cannot believe there is all this hoopla over private kindergarten! Don't get me wrong, I think kindergarten teachers are absolutely fantastic, brave, compassionate and should be the highest paid k-12 teachers, but what can a private school teacher offer a kindergarten student that a public school cannot? It is not like these students are using high-tech labs that only private schools can afford. Second, parents hiring tutors to prep kids for this entrance test sounds a lot like the SAT/ACT high stakes testing system we have in place now across the country. We all studied our butts off, bought the books and some even got a private tutor to take college entrance exams. These tests are a good indicator of future success IN COLLEGE ONLY, not in real life but I am not sure how a kindergarten test can show how a student will do for that year.....
ReplyDeletect
Who would have thought? Parents are always trying to get the edge when it comes to sports or academics, but I did not think that it would come at such an early age already. I do agree that the test should be a actual picture of where the students currently are and not where they are after being taught to the test. I also agree that parents should be playing with and teaching there kids throughout childhood and not rely on a tutor cram in what the kids should have learned from their parents. By preparing ahead of time, parents will be able to have their kids prepped. I do think it is ok to teach the kid the format of the test. This makes sense in helping them be familiar with the format. I would hope that I would not put my kindergarten kid through this. So in order to not let it happen, I am making the decision now. I won't put my kid through tutoring sessions at kindergarten. There, done deal. Great topic.
ReplyDeletePhilip
No, I would NOT pay for a tutor for my 3-4 year old. I can't imagine a parent wanting their child to get into a private school so much, they would be willing to pay that much to have their child prepped for a test. Plus, they can excel their education right now and work off from memory, but what happens when they are in first or second grade and they no longer can keep up? Are the parents going to still pay thousands of dollars to keep a tutor? I agree with you, a little parental involvement goes a long way. If parents just sit and play with their children, they should learn the skills they need for preschool. If they are meant to get into a special private school, they will. And if they aren't, then life goes on. Whatever happened to kids just getting to be kids?
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! Jenna