Reply to Extended School Year Approved for 2 MoCo Elementary Schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No, it doesn't. It answers a different question

Q: How can schools close the gap?
A: They can't.

So, what can close the gap, and how?[/quote]

Having all parents understand that education starts at home and doesn't just occur during the school day once a child turns 5. We get kids who arrive in Kindergarten not knowing the names of colors, shapes, how to count to 5, how to recognize their own name in print, how to toilet themselves, or how to hold a pencil or scissors. It also takes them a while to acclimate to how to be in school and that expectations in school are different than at home. No, it doesn't mean preschool is necessary for everyone, but for some kids coming to school is completely brand new on every level.

By the time these kids learn these skills they are already way behind. The curriculum is written assuming children have background knowledge they don't have. Yes, there are interventions but when it takes them two marking periods to learn the skills listed above, they're already way behind. They are spending their time and energy learning those skills, so all of the skills being taught above and beyond those aren't sinking in, so when the same skills are spiraled in later meant as reinforcement these kids are learning them for the first time and aren't building upon them as designed--they're experiencing them for the first time. This cycle builds and builds until there are gaping holes that just can't be filled in the time they're in school. [/quote]

[b]Some of this is on the preschools and day cares for not teaching as well.[/b] It is a parenting issue as many parents, even wealthy don't teach their kids this.

My kid doesn't do summer camps.  We do workbooks during the summer but not all kids do summer camps due to cost.[/quote]

These kids for the most part aren't in preschools or day cares. They spend time with extended family or babysitters in the neighborhood. They're not being paid to teach them anything--many end up in front of the TV all day and they're not watching Sesame Street or anything of that sort and they're around lots of adult activities throughout the day because it isn't a child focused arrangement. [/quote]

None of the preschools or day cares we looked at but 1 really did heavy academics at age 4.  We only found one and went.  It made a huge difference in preparing my and all the kids for school.  I know plenty of wealthy parents who don't teach the foundation.[/quote]

I'm not talking about heavy academics. I'm talking about doing things like going to the grocery store and pointing out that apples are red and round and cucumbers are long and green. Pointing out environmental print--"look, it's a big M for McDonald's!" etc. All of that is considered rich language from 0-5. Getting kids used to holding a crayon or pencil by having them color on blank paper. The point is that SOMEBODY has to teach the foundation whether it's the parents or it's outsourced. Kids who have not been taught the foundation by the time they start school are at a disadvantage and continue to be. 20 extra days of school per year isn't going to fix that. We already have the data that shows that retaining kids only gives them a fleeting additional boost and then it levels out quickly and that's an entire year of extra schooling. Sure, we can see what happens and what the data shows but until we get to the root of the problem not much will change. [/quote]

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