As retired kindergarten teachers, we collectively have 151 years teaching kindergarten in Bowling Green.
Here is what we have learned during our careers.
Kindergarten is no longer just about learning to share, to count and to name the letters and sounds of
the alphabet. Today’s child needs to begin adding and subtracting. Today’s child needs to have a 30-word
reading vocabulary. Today’s child needs to create and print a complete sentence using phonetic spelling,
beginning capitalization and ending punctuation. This is just the beginning of the expectations mandated
by the Ohio Common Core Curriculum for kindergarten.
While developing learning skills, developmentally appropriate learning for 5- and 6-year-olds entails
time to be physically active and intellectually engaged in activities. It takes time to develop
comfortable, confident learners – ones who say "I will try" rather than "I can’t do
it." Observations that challenge young minds can’t be hurried.
The beautiful butterfly won’t emerge until it is ready. Time is needed to explore social studies and
science in depth, to work with small groups of beginning readers and writers coaching individuals to be
successful. In Bowling Green, 5-year-olds are expected to learn all this in a mere 21‚Ñ2 hours. Oh, by
the way – in cold and snowy weather – help is needed to unstick zippers, pull on boots, tie scarves and
put on mittens. This can consume 10-15 minutes.
It has been determined that children who have attended all-day kindergarten have a firmer foundation for
first grade. They score higher on the third grade reading mandate proficiency tests. They also are less
likely to repeat a grade. Retention, remediation and special help are expensive extra costs for the
district. This high-stakes mandate has put a premium on early childhood education in Ohio.
All-day kindergarten has become the norm. According to the Ohio Department of Education statistics, 87
percent of the 813 Ohio public and charter school districts offer an all-day kindergarten option. In
Lucas County, 97 percent of the districts (32 out of 33) offer an all-day option. In Wood County, 78
percent of the districts (7 out of 9) offer an all-day option. Put another way, Bowling Green is one of
three districts in Lucas and Wood counties that does not offer all-day kindergarten.
Holly Barker, Jean Daly, Myrl DenBesten, Terry Fetzek, Lois Main, Beth Smith and Helene Weinberger
Retired BG kindergarten teachers