Is kindergarten half day or full day for your children?

[Sara]

Here kindergarten is half a day. I registered Zachary for a program called Kindergarten Complement. It's a new program in our school district that permits children to have enrichment opportunities. It's like an extension of kindergarten, so it's longer hours. I am hopeful that he benefits from this program and enjoys it. I'm happy that it's at his current school, so he just has lunch and switches rooms and teachers. I think the program initially started as a childcare option, but because the program is so good it's now viewed as an option for parents that want full time kindergarten.

At any rate, this was a big decision for us because I am concerned that Zachary will be tired. It's also costly. I am hoping he'll love it and it will be an easier transition next yr for first grade and full time school. I guess we'll know come fall. :)

[debbiepittman]

Here in Oklahoma, kindergarten is all day long. 4 year old program is also all day long (8-2:30 or so). Kindergarten and up is 7:30 (breakfast) to 3 PM.

Headstart (for 3 year olds who have some developemental delay) is only half day or 2-2 1/2 hours.

Debbie

[homemaker carol]

K is 1/2 days here in our province except in some school districts where it is a full day every other day due to bus transportation.

I think Zachary will do fine. Kids surprise us at times.

[baxjul]

Here, and where we are moving to in Fl. kindergarten is full days.

[dhmunoz]

I live in SW Nebraska, and kindergarten is full day here. Personally, I think that is the way it should be--half day would be a waste of time IMO. There is so much for the kids to learn in preparation for first grade--including how to function in a classroom setting for an entire school day.

The school systems and general government attitudes re: kids are one of my biggest pet peeves :mad: I don't want to go off on a total tangent here...but the schools have already "dumbed down" our kids so far that they NEED full day school just to attempt to catch up. I work with my kids at home, so when they go to school they are mostly ahead of the class...which isn't hard, because most of the time the teachers move at the pace of the slowest-learning student. Flame me if you want, but that slows the entire class down to an unacceptable pace. The rest of the class doesn't learn what they should be learning because GOD FORBID someone "damage the fragile self esteem" of the slower student. Now, I ask you....when you were in school, did your class come to a standstill to accommodate a slow learning student? Mine sure as heck did NOT. Class moved right on ahead, that student failed, and repeated the class the following year, where they then mastered the work and were successful in the class. The schools don't hold kids back anymore because they are so worried about "self esteem". They are not doing these kids any favors in the long run. The real world is a tough place and you might as well be prepared while you're still young. I had friends in school that had been held back somewhere along the way, and not one of them has been on Oprah complaining about their shattered self esteem.

JMHO only...and sorry for the rant.

[pita1213]

here it depends on which school you are at. when we lived on the otehr side of town, it was half day. on this side of town it's full day. same school district. they are slowly converting all of the schools to full day, but because of space and budget issues, they started with the schools that had the weakest test scores and made those schools go to full day.

[heartathome]

Our Kindergarten is full day here.

[mom2knk]

All of our public schools have 1/2 day kindergarten.....most of the private schools do full day kindgergarten.

[Mamawolf]

This past school year, headstart was 3.5 hours, kindergarden half day, and partway through the year they changed preschool to full-day. This next school year, all programs are going full day. It's a shock for me! Now all my kids will be gone full-day.

[homemaker carol]

I have deleted my post. I in no way meant to offend anyone. My apologies to Amy or anyone else I may have offended.

[AmyBoz]

[QUOTE=homemaker cj] Its with many teachers who don't make school exciting and who don't teach kids the love of learning. QUOTE]

I've got many issues with this entire thread, but I choose to only reply to this one quote.

Not to be political, but in the US, the reason we aren't teaching children to love learning is because of George W. Bush and "No Child Left Behind". We are required to standardize test our students in the US out the wazoo, and because of the penalties for low scores, we aren't able to teach students anything of value anymore. We have to teach them how to pass the test, and only the information that is on the test. I can't even tell you how much I would love to be able to do real historical teaching with my students. But I can't. I'm limited to what they'll be tested on. Not my decision. Not my school's decision. Not even the school board's decision. It's the state's decision who gets their directives from the federal government.

In NJ, next year, the students will be tested in grades K, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12. Hard to facilitate a love of learning in kids when, every year, they are terrified that they are going to be tested.

[momof42003]

Right now in Oregon it is only half day.. Legislation is trying to pass full day kindergarten, which I think is a great idea.. I think that kids need that stability at the get go... I also believe that it is really hard to have children "love schooling" because of always being drilled by the teachers on the subjects that they are tested on... Let kids learn and make it fun if it is possible.. Just my opinion....

[Michelle]

It depends on the school in our town. The school that Kathryn & Lauren go to have 1 K class, and it's full time. All the other schools have PT kindergarten :)

[familyscrapbooker]

We have 1/2 day kindergarten in Jefferson City, Missouri. However, we use the YMCA's Prime Time program for the other half of the day, and we love it.

Our first child took swimming lessons 2 days per week, for 8 months, in conjunction with Prime Time. She started in a full life jacket and ended up on the Barracuda Swim team, and will compete in her second Mo State ShowMe games next week. Our second child will enter the program this year, and will do the same.

Whether the program is full day or half a day, there are all kinds of enrichments in the community. Learning takes place far beyond the class room. At this age, I appreciate the opportunities my children have to be morally and socially responsible and treat other children with respect.

We also supplement our childrens classroom education with Abeka Christian School curriculum. I usually buy it on E-Bay. I want them to fear God, and have a firm foundation in the basics of reading, grammar, math, and history from a Christian World View; so I make sure they are learning as they should.