What is kindergarten like in MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Wondering about the shape of the day, recess/play time, length of time for lunch or snack, use of screens, etc.

Our local school doesn’t run an open house until it is too late to apply to other options...and then only for language immersion, not the English-speaking K.

[Anonymous]

Do you know anyone in your neighborhood you could ask? They’re all different. Some offer snack time, some dont. Some still have play kitchens/free play, some don’t.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in K at Bethesda Elementary. I love it. She loves it. I am a teacher at a local independent school ask my standards are high. My daughter is also the kind of kid who would do well most places (independent, mature, bright) but she is really thriving at BE!

There is a special class 4 days a week (music, PE, Library, art.) There are 2 recesses daily and I think they batboy is amazing! I love that they have STEM carts (building materials) occasionally.

Here is an approximate schedule:
-Rug time where they discuss the day
-Work time in various academic stations around the room and independent reading/small reading groups with the teacher
-Recess
-Lunch
-Special class
-Recess
-Rug time
-Dismissal

[Anonymous]

Please excuse above typos and autocorrect

[Anonymous]

Is there 90 mins of math stations a day and 90 minutes of literacy stations a day? Plus one of the four specials each day.

[Anonymous]

My child loves kindergarten at an mcps school. They have 90 minute reading blocks, 60 minute math and writing blacks, a special 4 times a week, recess and then another break with snack too. Science and social studies are thrown in there but they don’t have them every day. They also have play kitchens and other toys in their classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there 90 mins of math stations a day and 90 minutes of literacy stations a day? Plus one of the four specials each day.

BE previous poster here...Yes, 1 special a day (except Friday/ for her class, at least .) 90 min for reading and 90 min for math seems like an overestimate, but I don’t know. I think that much of math/reading would be hard to work into an already busy, rich schedule .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know anyone in your neighborhood you could ask? They’re all different. Some offer snack time, some dont. Some still have play kitchens/free play, some don’t.

Unfortunately, no one with a recent K kid. More like 3rd-4th grade. My major area of interest is non-desk time, and recess time--two recesses a day sounds great in Bethesda! We have heard from friends in Takoma Park that it's one 20-minute recess.

It's a little surprising to me if there is this much variation--I thought they were all supposed to be following the same curriculum? I have a lot to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there 90 mins of math stations a day and 90 minutes of literacy stations a day? Plus one of the four specials each day.

Just 90 minutes of reading. 60 minutes max of math.

[Anonymous]

What school OP? They do seem to vary. My daughter’s experience at Rosemary Hills was good but very academic. 90 minutes of reading, 60 minutes of math, and 60 minutes of writing a day. A special 4 days a week. Science and social studies. No blocks, play kitchens, etc. This year they did add in a short snack time for K students, which is good.

DD had terrific teacher, but I am glad that she has a September birthday so was on the older side. There was not much focus on social-emotional development.

[Anonymous]

My kid had one recess a day in K , it was 30 mins and right after lunch. It varies so much even within MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you know anyone in your neighborhood you could ask? They’re all different. Some offer snack time, some dont. Some still have play kitchens/free play, some don’t.

Unfortunately, no one with a recent K kid. More like 3rd-4th grade. My major area of interest is non-desk time, and recess time--two recesses a day sounds great in Bethesda! We have heard from friends in Takoma Park that it's one 20-minute recess.

It's a little surprising to me if there is this much variation--I thought they were all supposed to be following the same curriculum? I have a lot to learn.

Then start a thread here with the name of the ES and I’m sure a handful with first hand knowledge of that school will weigh in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you know anyone in your neighborhood you could ask? They’re all different. Some offer snack time, some dont. Some still have play kitchens/free play, some don’t.

Unfortunately, no one with a recent K kid. More like 3rd-4th grade. My major area of interest is non-desk time, and recess time--two recesses a day sounds great in Bethesda! We have heard from friends in Takoma Park that it's one 20-minute recess.

It's a little surprising to me if there is this much variation--I thought they were all supposed to be following the same curriculum? I have a lot to learn.

They follow the same curriculum, but their daily schedules will vary from school to school.

[Anonymous]

Chaos

[Anonymous]

Recess is not standardized throughout the county. Once/week art, music, PE is standard. How the schools fill out the “specials” time the other 2 days/week is not standardized. Many schools add media center/library as a 4th “special.”’ Some have a STEM or STEAM or computer lab slot. Our school does a social-emotional learning program with the classroom teacher as the 5th “special.” Recess and snacks are not the same from school to school.