...Young kids can reason. some parent you are

Put them in a montessori and watch them problem-solve by gravitating toward their strengths. They also learn the basics but in a very independent manner and at their own pace.

Place them in a play-based preschool and watch them develop in a well-rounded way, as they need to run and jump and move. They can learning counting through movement. They can identify letters by playing games.

Kumon is bullshit, hon. You can fool yourself all you like, but you're not creating a genius by having him sit on his ass for a few hours a week.

Don't preach to me, as I know of what I speak

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the rush, and what does the "leg up" actually achieve? (and my kid is ahead in math without the worksheets or the $$$ spent)

Not being snarky -- I just don't get it.

insecure parents

By 3rd grade, kids basically catch up to each other. So the advanced prep at this stage is just silly.

You are helping to create a generation of kids who can't think critically, nor can they understand the basics of discourse, as all of their learning is rote.

pathetic parents

You realize that one has to learn the basics to have the foundation to read, do math, etc. Critical thinking is not important or possible for 3, 4, 5 yr olds but they do need to learn their numbers and letters, letter sounds/phonics, etc. which all have to be learned "rote." The reason most kids don't do well in read and math in the U.S. is b/c people like you seem to think rote learning is evil. They don't in Asia, they emphasize drilling in reading, writing/spelling, and math like times tables in the early grades so the basics become second nature. You can't think "critically" if you can't read.

Young kids can reason. some parent you are

Put them in a montessori and watch them problem-solve by gravitating toward their strengths. They also learn the basics but in a very independent manner and at their own pace.

Place them in a play-based preschool and watch them develop in a well-rounded way, as they need to run and jump and move. They can learning counting through movement. They can identify letters by playing games.

Kumon is bullshit, hon. You can fool yourself all you like, but you're not creating a genius by having him sit on his ass for a few hours a week.

Don't preach to me, as I know of what I speak

Anonymous wrote:

insecure parents

By 3rd grade, kids basically catch up to each other. So the advanced prep at this stage is just silly.

You are helping to create a generation of kids who can't think critically, nor can they understand the basics of discourse, as all of their learning is rote.

pathetic parents

by an envious parent

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the rush, and what does the "leg up" actually achieve? (and my kid is ahead in math without the worksheets or the $$$ spent)

Not being snarky -- I just don't get it.

insecure parents

By 3rd grade, kids basically catch up to each other. So the advanced prep at this stage is just silly.

You are helping to create a generation of kids who can't think critically, nor can they understand the basics of discourse, as all of their learning is rote.

pathetic parents

You realize that one has to learn the basics to have the foundation to read, do math, etc. Critical thinking is not important or possible for 3, 4, 5 yr olds but they do need to learn their numbers and letters, letter sounds/phonics, etc. which all have to be learned "rote." The reason most kids don't do well in read and math in the U.S. is b/c people like you seem to think rote learning is evil. They don't in Asia, they emphasize drilling in reading, writing/spelling, and math like times tables in the early grades so the basics become second nature. You can't think "critically" if you can't read.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the rush, and what does the "leg up" actually achieve? (and my kid is ahead in math without the worksheets or the $$$ spent)

Not being snarky -- I just don't get it.

insecure parents

By 3rd grade, kids basically catch up to each other. So the advanced prep at this stage is just silly.

You are helping to create a generation of kids who can't think critically, nor can they understand the basics of discourse, as all of their learning is rote.

pathetic parents

insecure parents

By 3rd grade, kids basically catch up to each other. So the advanced prep at this stage is just silly.

You are helping to create a generation of kids who can't think critically, nor can they understand the basics of discourse, as all of their learning is rote.

pathetic parents

Anonymous wrote:What is the rush, and what does the "leg up" actually achieve? (and my kid is ahead in math without the worksheets or the $$$ spent)

Not being snarky -- I just don't get it.

Anonymous wrote:

As the mother of a high school student and sister of a kindergarten teacher I warn you that this advance instruction often leads to boredom in the classroom come kingergarten because many students will not be as advanced as your child. This begets a whole set of issues. Bored child, frustrated parents, beleaguered teacher.

What is this goal of this advance instruction? What do you hope to accomplish by this leg up? As I often ask, where's the fire? Many schools do not differentiate in math until the upper grades, including some of the most selective privates.

Therefore, the brilliant solution you are proposing to avoid potential "boredom" in our stellar American elementary school systems is simply retard the academic and intellectual advancement of children to avoid "boredom" when they
enter the alluring ivy gates of our outstanding public and private elmentary and primary educational institutions in the D.C. area.

Now that we have yourexpert opinion as mother and sister of a kindergarten teacher. I wonder what a music, art or sports Coach would do with a 5-year-old advanced at the violin, lacrosse, soccer or swimming?

From your logic, this Coach would warn the parents that advance instruction often leads to boredom in the music classroom, pool or soccer field because many students will not be as advanced as your child...the problems this may beget for the child, Coach, music teacher are legion. Why advance. You would recommend restricting the child's instrument playing, time on the soccer field or swimming pool, time reading a book because of the "boredom" the child will certainly get being ahead of many other students.

Your solution is simply academic and intellectual retardation of the developing mind rather than stimulation, advancement and enrichment. This strategy will synchronise the child's progress to our wonderful and challenging elementary schools and teachers in the D.C. area.

Would you also recommend this solution for music and art teachers, lacrosse, tennis, soccer and swim coaches with young kids performing at much higher levels than their peers?

I appreciate your maternal instincts and philosphy regarding raising and educating children that are at a stage in life where their minds and bodies are so plastic and malleable (e.g., sponges) they take rapidly to all forms of stimulation and challenge. I am always struck by the children I visit in Africa and Europe speaking many languages (including English) before the age of 7 or 8. I rarely encounter this in the US and I would not discourage their exposure and learning of multiple languages simultaneously even if it means these kids will be far more advanced , linguistically,
than their American counterparts. The American standard is not de jure the gold standard. The D.C. area school
educational standard is not de jure the gold educational standard ... certainly not for my children. Is mathematics any different? Is reading any different? Is computer science any different? What are your recommendations for advanced 4 and 5-year-old swimmers, runners and musicians? if the wordadvanced disturbs you, it simply means these kids run and swim much, much faster than kids their own age. How should these kids avoid the boredom of running and swimming against snails?

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how small minded people are- they think parents who have their children do Kumon don't play at all. There are so many hours in a day, 7 days a week. Of course there is time to play too.

Anonymous wrote:At our "play-based" preschool, the teachers teach writing, counting, and other "academics" during the pre-K year. It's "play-based" but not all play; good balance between academic learning and lots of unstructured playground time/imaginary play.