'Graduating' From Kindergarten

[fuzzis]

Read this article on Kindergarten Valedictorians (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19359715/site/newsweek/) this morning, and thought that perhaps it was going to go somewhere. It starts off very well, but the last half of the piece seems to just die...like he was looking for something good to say about the whole thing.

Personally, I don't quite get the whole graduation-for-everything movement. I don't understand a 'graduation' from kindergarten, a 'graduation' from sixth grade, a 'graduation' from middle school, etc. When I think of a graduation ceremony, I think of a celebration of accomplishment on a grander scale, although considering tougher standards, maybe it is an accomplishment on a grander scale to make it out of kindergarten.

It seems to me that 'graduation' loses some meaning when everything you do nets you a cap and gown, a cute scroll tied with ribbon, and a party. It's like a cheapening of the process...if that makes any sense.

[redheadedchick]

I teach Kindergarten, and we have a Kindergarten Awards Day. We don't call it "Graduation" because everybody isn't graduating to 1st grade. The kids don't wear caps and gowns (although they did at the elementary I went to). At our school, every child gets at least one award, so that no one feels left out. It is nice to have a day where their families can celebrate the accomplishments they've made. :clap:

[aaron]

I think I graduated from kindergarten, I didn't graduate from anything else till high school. I think they are trying to celebrate good students at an early age. If they didn't, the big red neck kids wouldn't know who to pick on till the end of 1st grade.

[citygirl]

We did have a jr. high graduation. We didn't wear caps and gowns though. Girls wore dresses and boys wore black or navy slacks and white dress shirts.

Now days, you get a class ring and have a prom/dance upon leaving jr. high and entering the high school days of youth. Absolutely 100% ridiculous, I say!

[virgo]

My little guy just graduated from pre-kindergarten and had a cap and gown and everything, but I don't think there is a graduation from kindergarten. As a side note, I also graduated from preschool, but there was no ceremony for kindergarten.

I think the graduation from pre-K is important because it signifies a big event in a child's life. For my son, he was so excited because wearing that cap and gown meant he was going to "big school" and that is something he has been working hard to accomplish all year long.

And while we are on the subject, let me just tell you that preschool is nothing like it used to be. I was in half-day preschool and I remember nothing but playtime. Sure there is playtime, but he knows how to count to 100, knows all his colors, shapes and understands the concept of adding and subtracting objects. He also knows the alphabet (in both English and Spanish) and has the social skills he is going to need in kindergarten. He can even read sentences that I make up, using his sight words. (His behavior is another thing, but I have to keep reminding myself that he is only 5). I am just amazed by the things pre-K has taught him. I know I have complained about the cost, but it was really worth it.

I give kindergarten teachers so much credit. The achievement gap varies more at that grade level more than any other level because the kids entering kindergarten vary so much when they come in. You may have one kid with an 800-word voacabulary and another with a 10,000-word vocabulary.

[virgo]

(P/S: If you want to see a picture of my cutie, click here (http://montgomeryadvertiser.4wmt.com/content/albums/8a689e19-8fd3-48c9-867b-47283b7c36b6/WebImage/f44d1f76-d2e1-41c1-b6db-89d57200172f.jpg). He is the one on the left)

I am so proud of him!

[virgo]

My son graduated from PCS kindergarten where a ceremony was held complete with caps and gowns. I believe most parents liked it. Finishing kindergarten is a big deal to parents and children because it means the next phase of life is beginning - from preschool to 'big school.'

I agree the next graduation shouldn't be until highschool.

QM, we posted at the same time. Funny how they all call it "big school." I think it is so cute. And it really does mean a lot to the kids. My son was SO excited about it.

[redheadedchick]

And while we are on the subject, let me just tell you that preschool is nothing like it used to be. I was in half-day preschool and I remember nothing but playtime. Sure there is playtime, but he knows how to count to 100, knows all his colors, shapes and understands the concept of adding and subtracting objects. He also knows the alphabet (in both English and Spanish) and has the social skills he is going to need in kindergarten. He can even read sentences that I make up, using his sight words. (His behavior is another thing, but I have to keep reminding myself that he is only 5). I am just amazed by the things pre-K has taught him. I know I have complained about the cost, but it was really worth it. The achievement gap varies more at that grade level more than any other level because the kids entering kindergarten vary so much when they come in. You may have one kid with an 800-word voacabulary and another with a 10,000-word vocabulary.


Thank you virgo! Kindergarten has changed so much. When I tell people I teach Kindergarten, they think it's so easy...that I just sit there and watch them play, eat lunch, and take naps. That's far from the truth. They are expected to do so much by that age. It is a difficult grade to teach because the ability levels differ greatly. I appreciate people realizing this. Congrats to your son for knowing all of that. Can he be in my class next year???? :clap:

[virgo]

Thank you virgo! Kindergarten has changed so much. When I tell people I teach Kindergarten, they think it's so easy...that I just sit there and watch them play, eat lunch, and take naps. That's far from the truth. They are expected to do so much by that age. It is a difficult grade to teach because the ability levels differ greatly. I appreciate people realizing this. Congrats to your son for knowing all of that. Can he be in my class next year???? :clap:

You're welcome! And I may be asking for some advice, now that I know you are a kindergarten teaching.

I'll tell you what, I never realized the changing face of kindergarten until I began to specialize in education reporting. Let me see if I can find an article I wrote about it. It was written in 2004 when I was still in Alabama, but it really gave me a wakeup call as to all the testing that was going on. Does the district you work for use DIBELS?

[redheadedchick]

Does the district you work for use DIBELS?

Yes, they do. The ladies who used to be assistants are now the tutors, and they are in charge of DIBELS.

[fuzzis]

One of my really good friends--an excellent first grade teacher for 22 years--just left the classroom because her school went to DIBELS. She refused to use it.

[ComputerDude]

Yeah I don't understand the graduation from kindergarten thing either. My son actually just finished kindergarten in Petal and I don't remember any ceremony. Hopefully there wasn't and wife just forgot to mention that to me. I think there was a lunch or something less grand.

[virgo]

Yes, they do. The ladies who used to be assistants are now the tutors, and they are in charge of DIBELS.

One of my really good friends--an excellent first grade teacher for 22 years--just left the classroom because her school went to DIBELS. She refused to use it.

It is quite a process. Especially at the kindergarten level. Most districts do it every six weeks, but teachers are having to progress-monitor weekly. It takes up a lot of time.

[redheadedchick]

It is quite a process. Especially at the kindergarten level. Most districts do it every six weeks, but teachers are having to progress-monitor weekly. It takes up a lot of time.

Yes, it does. For about half of my students, the scores didn't reflect what they show in the classroom. We didn't do a lot of extra paper work for it, but they didn't seem to be very dependable. Also at the beginning of the year on the Kindergarten DIBELS, they test them on things that they haven't even learned yet. So, obviously the scores will be low at the beginning.

[Kitty]

Now days, you get a class ring and have a prom/dance upon leaving jr. high and entering the high school days of youth. Absolutely 100% ridiculous, I say!

I agree it's ridiculous.

My daughter got a class ring in middle school, and wore it probably twice.

When the time came to order high school class rings, she didn't want one.

Same thing when it came to school dances. She'd been to so many in middle school, high school dances were functions at which most kids just made an appearance for photos.

It's a shame that the things that were a big deal and a big part of my high school years have become so seemingly insignificant to my daughter's generation.

[virgo]

We did have a jr. high graduation. We didn't wear caps and gowns though. Girls wore dresses and boys wore black or navy slacks and white dress shirts.

Now days, you get a class ring and have a prom/dance upon leaving jr. high and entering the high school days of youth. Absolutely 100% ridiculous, I say!

I agree it's ridiculous.

My daughter got a class ring in middle school, and wore it probably twice.

When the time came to order high school class rings, she didn't want one.

Same thing when it came to school dances. She'd been to so many in middle school, high school dances were functions at which most kids just made an appearance for photos.

It's a shame that the things that were a big deal and a big part of my high school years have become so seemingly insignificant to my daughter's generation.

A class ring in junior high? Are you kidding me? My goodness. And the number of dances at the middle school level concerns me, too. I mean, my goodness, what is left for teens to really look forward to in high school?

[redheadedchick]

That's why they start "other things" they shouldn't be doing. :smt105

[Kitty]

. . .what is left for teens to really look forward to in high school?

That's why they start "other things" they shouldn't be doing. :smt105

Exactly.

And in many cases you have parents who are too focused on being their child's friend or on living vicariously through them (or both).

Often a recipe for trouble.

[Elle May]

My granddaughter graduated from Kindergarten this year and her response was "I don't know why we couldn't have graduated with the 8th graders, we went to school just like they did". She was very proud of herself.

[big john]

all at daintsin round likat leads to tha devils work.

[Fish-Bait]

Exactly.

And in many cases you have parents who are too focused on being their child's friend or on living vicariously through them (or both).

Often a recipe for trouble.

My kids are better than everybody elses at fishin'!:smt118:smt118:-D
j/k. When I read this I got to thinkin' bout watchin' Richton play North Forrest this past year in football. There were a couple of "Parents" standing at the fence practically screaming at the boys on the field when they screwed up. It was madness, complete madness. I will quote one.....
"Don't listen to him, he's nothin' but a screw up!"
This person was talkin' 'bout the coach. It was unfrikken-believable. I actually wanted to go over and kick the guy's a$$. Not too much makes me mad dealing with people, but this dude was a looooooser..The big "L":smt118

[iheartellisons]

i "graduated" from preschool, kindergarten, and eighth grade and then of course high school and college.

i find pre-school graduations pointless but our kindergarten graduation was called advancement....they made a big deal about the kids finally advancing to big-kid school....and it made us feel special. i "graduated" from eighth grade bc thats what grade the school ended with...it only made sense to have graduation at that time.

[citygirl]

A class ring in junior high? Are you kidding me? My goodness. And the number of dances at the middle school level concerns me, too. I mean, my goodness, what is left for teens to really look forward to in high school?

That's exactly my point...

[Southern_Belle]

i graduated from kindergarten, 8th grade, high school, and college.

i still have my middle school class ring and my high school class ring.

we had a big awards ceremony and dance afterwards in middle school for 8th grade graduation.

the kindergarten one was pretty pointless. however, i still remember the 8th grade ceremony and dance and i really enjoyed that b/c our 8th grade class split and some went to a different school. at that time it was important, but now that i look back it didn't matter b/c i didn't keep in touch with any of them.

[Michelle]

I got a middle school class ring, but I don't know if I still have it or not. I also have a high school ring and an "official" USM ring.

My daughter will graduate from preschool next year complete with a cap and gown. She has been in preschool there since she was 2 and it will be quite a change for her when she goes to "big school," so I can understand a graduation. I'm not sure where I stand on graduating kindergarten when you're just moving to a new class at the same school, but if she has a kindergarten graduation then I will be there.

[big john]

I remember when my son graduated kindergarten,he and my wife came in all exited,I was sitting in my easy chair eating a bowl of hot cheese nachos and my kid ran up to me screaming "look daddy,I graduated
" I threw my bowl of nachos at him so hard it knocked him off his feet and he started crying,and I said"YOU GRADUATED KINDERGARTEN,THAT DONT MEAN CRAP,and if you ever disturb me again while i am trying to watch touched by an angel,I'LL REALLY GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT.NOW GET OUT OF HERE,DUMBASS"!
ha ha ,good times.