All children have the right to an education, so why wouldn’t parents want their children to excel in school as to the best of their ability? When children attend full day kindergarten, they grow cognitively. The cognitive growth is important in the children’s life; the children are learning things at this age that will impact the rest of their school careers. For instance, kindergarten is a time to learn the ABCs and 123s; the whole basis of education is grown from the concepts learned in kindergarten. Many might say that success can come from the inside and not just from academic success. According to The Childs Trend Data Bank, children that attend full day kindergarten can learn to enjoy school more and have a better attitude towards work that needs to be completed. That is why the cognitive growth is so beneficial to children. Also according to the very same data bank on full day kindergarten, children who attend full day kindergarten excel in academics, when they reach the second grade their math and reading scores are much higher than those children who do not attend full day kindergarten (Childs Trend Databank). Educators never want to see children brought down by others, they want them to succeed in school in their highest potential.
Children’s highest potential can be met through their curriculum. The curriculum of full day kindergarten has been said to be too difficult for the children at that age. Educators understand that the curriculum of full day kindergarten is no different than that of half day kindergarten. The only difference is that in full day kindergarten teachers are able to spread out the work in order to focus on other aspects of the children, such as their personality (Martinez and Snider). Children are able to develop in this type of environment thus, through the curriculum their cognitive development flourishes. Instead of a teacher having to throw his/her students into only a cognitive environment, he/she is allowed to focus on their emotional development as well.
The mind is able to grow but, with out emotional development the mind can not be whole. The emotional development of children is defined by their social and behavioral development. If some children do not develop in the same way as the other children in the classroom both cognitively and emotionally, then there can be a chance that some will be put in to special education. This fact has been proven through the research of Sherrill Martinez and Lou Ann Snider on full day kindergarten. Children’s set backs can be caught in full day kindergarten due to the fact that the teacher is given more time with the children in order to diagnose the problem. If the problem is caught before first grade many times the problem can be solved and special education can be avoided. Children that are diagnosed in a half day classroom are recommended, by teachers, to attend two half day sessions in order to develop more fully (Martinez and Snider). Emotionally, full day kindergarten matures the children in their school career ahead. But how mature can a six or seven year old be? When speaking of maturity in children we are not speaking of a making your car payment on time maturity, we are talking about interaction. According to Clearing House on Early Education and Parenting, children that attend full day kindergarten have more of a social growth where they are able to learn to speak to teachers and their classmates with respect. This is due to the interaction that children receive in their full day of class.
A full day of class can be defined as incorporating cognitive and emotional aspects to the children’s school day. Full day kindergarten children receive academic breaks than children in half day kindergarten. Children in full day kindergarten receive a well rounded education by incorporating emotional aspects in to their lives. Teachers are allowed to have one-on-one time with the children, with this a higher student-teacher and parent-teacher relationship is created in the school environment (Martinez and Snider). This is beneficial for the child to develop in a caring and nurturing education environment.
Every caring and nurturing environment comes with a caring and nurturing figure, that figure in kindergarten is the teacher. Kindergarten teachers are miraculous in how they are able to shape children both cognitively and emotionally. When children walk into a classroom the teacher, in a sense, takes the part of mother and father. The teacher is responsible for the children from the moment they get to school to the second they get home. They want their students to succeed and flourish in all that life has to offer. But, what happens when the teacher is not able to finish what he or she needed to teach their students because time has run out? In order for children to be successful in first grade the curriculum of kindergarten must be completed. Full day kindergarten is the only way for a teacher to make sure that the children can get as much out of the school year as possible. With just a half day, teachers are not able to fully help their students developmentally; teachers only have enough time to cram the material of the curriculum. Although with a full day, teachers are able to complete the curriculum and develop relationships with their students. These relationships can help the children grow emotionally (Martinez and Snider). The help that the children acquire from their teachers allows them to complete a full curriculum and keep focus to learn what is expected of them in the years to come. The full day program allows the student to approach the teacher in another wise hard situation for the child, such as getting in trouble or needing help on the work being assigned (Miller). Kindergarten teachers work hard to see the growth in their students but, can they really handle the pressure?
Administrators may feel that their kindergarten teachers are burned out after just a half day so, the teachers would never want to complete a full day in the kindergarten classroom. Teachers need administrators to understand that a full day program is better for the children. Amanda Miller, a researcher on full day kindergarten, determined that children are better prepared for first grade if they are able to experience school in a way where they can ease into the school environment. Instead of just being thrown into an environment that is nothing like that of kindergarten (Miller). Some may believe that first grade is not something that children need to be that prepared for but, research shows that the social interaction that children take with them from the full day experience helps them excel in their academic career as first graders. Children are better prepared for the work and the attitude that a first grader is used to accomplishing. Thus, children are able to enter first grade with the cognitive and emotional maturity needed.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Ethos and Pathos Project 3
Topic: Full day kindergarten is more beneficial than half day kindergarten.
Audience: Educators
Ethos and Pathos:
1) Warm colors
2) Left Alginment
3) No transitions
4) Less is more: pictures and text
5) Repititions
The audience is able to identify with the visuals and are relaxed by the display of the power point. Allowing them to be relaxed, better ables the audience to see the argument coming across and allow them to focus. If the colors were bright and there was a lot to comsume in the power point then the audience would be uncomfortable and unfocused.
Audience: Educators
Ethos and Pathos:
1) Warm colors
2) Left Alginment
3) No transitions
4) Less is more: pictures and text
5) Repititions
The audience is able to identify with the visuals and are relaxed by the display of the power point. Allowing them to be relaxed, better ables the audience to see the argument coming across and allow them to focus. If the colors were bright and there was a lot to comsume in the power point then the audience would be uncomfortable and unfocused.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Project 2: Defintiona Step #2
1. What is your claim?
Timeout is used as a disciplinary tactic and not a way to weed out a bad seed.
2. Who is your audience?
Teachers or Parents
3. What values are you basing your claim upon (In other words, what criteria are you using to make this definition)?
The criterion that is needed to make the definition of Timeout is…
1. How do you define a timeout
a. Punishment
b. Calm Down period
c. Restoring period
2. What actions make a child get a timeout
a. Not Listening
b. Not following rules
c. Throwing a Temper tantrum
3. How long is timeout
a. 5-10 minutes
4. Students reflection after timeout
a. Teacher and student conversation on what happened and how it can be
resolved.
4. Do you think you audience does/does not share your values? Is so, how might you approach your definition? If not, what will you have to do when you craft your argument?
I believe that my audience does share my values that timeout is given as a disciplinary tactic and not a way to weed out a bad seed. In order to approach the audience, I will use arguments and definitions that teachers or parents can relate to. Many teachers and parents believe that timeout is beneficial to child punishment and reinforcement. This is essential for my definition of timeout because many people are able to relate and understand the significance of the topic.
Timeout is used as a disciplinary tactic and not a way to weed out a bad seed.
2. Who is your audience?
Teachers or Parents
3. What values are you basing your claim upon (In other words, what criteria are you using to make this definition)?
The criterion that is needed to make the definition of Timeout is…
1. How do you define a timeout
a. Punishment
b. Calm Down period
c. Restoring period
2. What actions make a child get a timeout
a. Not Listening
b. Not following rules
c. Throwing a Temper tantrum
3. How long is timeout
a. 5-10 minutes
4. Students reflection after timeout
a. Teacher and student conversation on what happened and how it can be
resolved.
4. Do you think you audience does/does not share your values? Is so, how might you approach your definition? If not, what will you have to do when you craft your argument?
I believe that my audience does share my values that timeout is given as a disciplinary tactic and not a way to weed out a bad seed. In order to approach the audience, I will use arguments and definitions that teachers or parents can relate to. Many teachers and parents believe that timeout is beneficial to child punishment and reinforcement. This is essential for my definition of timeout because many people are able to relate and understand the significance of the topic.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Project 2: Topic and Audience
Topic: Is timeout a disciplinary tactic or is timeout a way to separate a bad seed?
Audience: Teachers and Parents
Audience: Teachers and Parents
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Project 1: Warrants and Backing
Claim: Despite popular demand, full day kindergarten is beneficial for children.
Reason one: Beneficial of cognitive growth in children.
Warrant: Being accelerated in school allows children to go far in life.
Backing: If my audience were administration then they could argue that not all success comes from smarts. I would have to back my warrant up with the reason that many students would enjoy school more if they were able to have better understanding of what is going on in the lessons.
Reason two: Beneficial for developmental growth in children.
Warrant: The social and emotional growth allows for child’s maturity in school.
Backing: If again my audience was administration then they could argue how a 6 or 7 year old must be mature. My backing for my warrant would be that a child can have some maturity in the way that they approach the teacher and peers in the class. This maturity will allow them to take on more in class responsibility, such as feeding the class fish. This will allow for the student a sense of pride.
Reason three: Kindergarten Teachers able to complete kindergarten objectives.
Warrant: A curriculum must be completed for a successful year.
Backing: If I use the administration as my audience I would highly doubt that they would disagree with this warrant but, just in case I will back my warrant. Since children are expected to complete so much before first grade a full day of kindergarten would allow them to finish everything instead of not finishing and getting the shorted. If a child was shorted they can be behind in school.
Reason four: Parents of children is Kindergarten believe it is beneficial for their child.
Warrant: The child grows into a person and is receiving a great experience.
Backing: The administration would say that a great experience doesn’t make any money for the program. I would back my warrant revealing that positive growth and experience is one of the most important things that a parent wants for their child. The child is benefitting from the development it receives in an environment other than school.
Reason five: Full day kindergarten readies a child for first grade
Warrant: The child could be placed in special education if aspects of the child’s ability did not fit into the standards of first grade.
Backing: The administration might not argue with this warrant. The backing for my warrant is that some learning disabilities can be caught before first grade but, if a child does not attend full day kindergarten then they are at a loss and may not be able to be labeled with an LD until first grade were here the problem will be taken to special education.
Reason one: Beneficial of cognitive growth in children.
Warrant: Being accelerated in school allows children to go far in life.
Backing: If my audience were administration then they could argue that not all success comes from smarts. I would have to back my warrant up with the reason that many students would enjoy school more if they were able to have better understanding of what is going on in the lessons.
Reason two: Beneficial for developmental growth in children.
Warrant: The social and emotional growth allows for child’s maturity in school.
Backing: If again my audience was administration then they could argue how a 6 or 7 year old must be mature. My backing for my warrant would be that a child can have some maturity in the way that they approach the teacher and peers in the class. This maturity will allow them to take on more in class responsibility, such as feeding the class fish. This will allow for the student a sense of pride.
Reason three: Kindergarten Teachers able to complete kindergarten objectives.
Warrant: A curriculum must be completed for a successful year.
Backing: If I use the administration as my audience I would highly doubt that they would disagree with this warrant but, just in case I will back my warrant. Since children are expected to complete so much before first grade a full day of kindergarten would allow them to finish everything instead of not finishing and getting the shorted. If a child was shorted they can be behind in school.
Reason four: Parents of children is Kindergarten believe it is beneficial for their child.
Warrant: The child grows into a person and is receiving a great experience.
Backing: The administration would say that a great experience doesn’t make any money for the program. I would back my warrant revealing that positive growth and experience is one of the most important things that a parent wants for their child. The child is benefitting from the development it receives in an environment other than school.
Reason five: Full day kindergarten readies a child for first grade
Warrant: The child could be placed in special education if aspects of the child’s ability did not fit into the standards of first grade.
Backing: The administration might not argue with this warrant. The backing for my warrant is that some learning disabilities can be caught before first grade but, if a child does not attend full day kindergarten then they are at a loss and may not be able to be labeled with an LD until first grade were here the problem will be taken to special education.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Project 1: Claim
Claim: Despite popular demand,
full day kindergarten is beneficial for children.
Qualifier: Full day Kindergarten is beneficial for (some but not all) children cognitively and developmentally.
Reason you are an authority: I am an authority on this topic because I have researched the topic and I am an elementary education major that has spent time learning how children learn.
Reason one: Beneficial of cognitive growth in children.
- What makes this reason relevant?
- This is a relevant reason because children that attend full day kindergarten excel in math and reading, than those children that attend half-day kindergarten.
- This is a relevant reason because children that attend full day kindergarten excel in math and reading, than those children that attend half-day kindergarten.
- What makes this reason effective?
- This is an effective reason because most parents want their children to excel in school and not be left behind because they can not operate to their full potential.
- This is an effective reason because most parents want their children to excel in school and not be left behind because they can not operate to their full potential.
- What evidence supports this reason?
- The evidence of this reason is from The Child's Trend Data Bank on Full Day Kindergarten, it announces that children that attend full day kindergarten exceed in math a reading in when tested in second grade than those who did not attend (Gullo, 2000).
- The evidence of this reason is from The Child's Trend Data Bank on Full Day Kindergarten, it announces that children that attend full day kindergarten exceed in math a reading in when tested in second grade than those who did not attend (Gullo, 2000).
- Is this evidence sufficient and credible?
- Yes, the evidence is credible because it came from a national survey.
- Yes, the evidence is credible because it came from a national survey.
Reason two: Beneficial for developmental growth in children.
- What makes this reason relevant?
- This is a relevant reason because children that do not attend full day kindergarten develop socially, behaviorally and emotionally slower than students who do attend.
- This is a relevant reason because children that do not attend full day kindergarten develop socially, behaviorally and emotionally slower than students who do attend.
- What makes this reason effective?
- Students that do not develop as others will sometimes be put into special programs, and parents never want their child to be singled out.
- Students that do not develop as others will sometimes be put into special programs, and parents never want their child to be singled out.
- What evidence supports this reason?
- The evidence that supports this reason is that in the essay, Summary of Research, Full Day Kindergarten, there are records of students that were developing slower are recommended to attend two half days of kindergarten (Martinez and Snider, Intro).
- The evidence that supports this reason is that in the essay, Summary of Research, Full Day Kindergarten, there are records of students that were developing slower are recommended to attend two half days of kindergarten (Martinez and Snider, Intro).
- Is this evidence sufficient and credible?
- Yes, the evidence is credible because it is a university study.
- Yes, the evidence is credible because it is a university study.
Reason three: Kindergarten Teachers able to complete kindergarten objectives.
- What makes this reason relevant?
- This reason is relevant since there is much more for students to grasp in kindergarten a half day does not allow the child to get a well rounded development of both cognitive and developmental growth. A full day allows teachers to focus on both.
- This reason is relevant since there is much more for students to grasp in kindergarten a half day does not allow the child to get a well rounded development of both cognitive and developmental growth. A full day allows teachers to focus on both.
- What makes this reason effective?
- The reason is effective because teachers are under a lot of pressure to complete so many objectives by the end of the year that sometimes they are only able to focus on the cognitive growth and not the developmental growth.
- The reason is effective because teachers are under a lot of pressure to complete so many objectives by the end of the year that sometimes they are only able to focus on the cognitive growth and not the developmental growth.
- What evidence supports this reason?
- The evidence that supports this reason is that the essay,
Summary of Research, Full Day Kindergarten, states that full day kindergarten teachers believe that they are able to have a more individual relationship with the student and his/her family. Also it is a way for the teacher to better prepare the student for first grade and also to detect learning problems, which may help avoid special education.
- The evidence that supports this reason is that the essay,
- Is this evidence sufficient and credible?
- This is a credible source because it is a research that is done by a university on full day kindergarten.
- This is a credible source because it is a research that is done by a university on full day kindergarten.
Reason four: Parents of children is Kindergarten believe it is beneficial for their child.
- What makes this reason relevant?
- Parents of children in full day kindergarten like how the child is getting a well rounded education and that the parents are able to have a more individualized relationship with their child's teacher. Also the parents do not have to worry about a day care for their child because they are being cared for while they are learning.
- Parents of children in full day kindergarten like how the child is getting a well rounded education and that the parents are able to have a more individualized relationship with their child's teacher. Also the parents do not have to worry about a day care for their child because they are being cared for while they are learning.
- What makes this reason effective?
- This is an effective reason because most parents feel that a child needs structure and to be a well rounded student. Most parents want their child to be social and they are allowed to achieve that in full day kindergarten.
- This is an effective reason because most parents feel that a child needs structure and to be a well rounded student. Most parents want their child to be social and they are allowed to achieve that in full day kindergarten.
- What evidence supports this reason?
- The evidence that supports this reason comes from the essay,
Summary of Research, Full Day Kindergarten, parents want their children to be educated in one place and want their students to socialize well with others. Another reason that parents want their children to attend is that the parents believe that it is a great step to prepare for first grade.
- The evidence that supports this reason comes from the essay,
- Is this evidence sufficient and credible?
- This is a credible source because it is a research that is done by a university on full day kindergarten.
- This is a credible source because it is a research that is done by a university on full day kindergarten.
Reason five: Full day kindergarten readies a child for first grade.
- What makes this reason relevant?
- If a child is under prepared for first grade the child is already behind before they start. Children that attend preschool and full day kindergarten are more like to exceed socially and cognitively in first grade than if they only attend half day kindergarten.
- If a child is under prepared for first grade the child is already behind before they start. Children that attend preschool and full day kindergarten are more like to exceed socially and cognitively in first grade than if they only attend half day kindergarten.
- What makes this reason effective?
- Children are better prepared for first grade and are more likely to have a smoother transition if they have already attended full day kindergarten.
- Children are better prepared for first grade and are more likely to have a smoother transition if they have already attended full day kindergarten.
- What evidence supports this reason?
- The Clearing House on Early Education and Parenting, says a students social skills will be at a higher level than students who only attend half day kindergarten. The social interactions that the child receives in a full day allow to be calmer and also to learn to approach the teacher in times of need.
- The Clearing House on Early Education and Parenting, says a students social skills will be at a higher level than students who only attend half day kindergarten. The social interactions that the child receives in a full day allow to be calmer and also to learn to approach the teacher in times of need.
- Is this evidence sufficient and credible?
- This is a credible source because it is a web site that is dedicated to helping students and parents.
- This is a credible source because it is a web site that is dedicated to helping students and parents.
1. Objection: The curriculum of full day kindergarten is too hard for the children.
Rebuttal: The curriculum of a full day is actually quite beneficial for students. They not only are able to develop cognitively but they are able to benefit socially. The extra time in the classroom allows students to learn how to interact in the environment that they will be a part of for the next twelve years of their life. The children are able to have more of a hands on environment rather than the teacher lecturing the material.
2. Objection: Full day kindergarten wears a child out.
Rebuttal: A full day of kindergarten actually allows the child breaks from learning in order to focus on other aspects of development such as behavioral and emotional. Children are not always drilled on facts and learning they are actually given one on one time to develop their social growth.
3. Objection: Kindergarten teachers do not want to work a full day.
Rebuttal: Kindergarten teachers are able to complete the criteria of the classroom more effectively with more time. The time that is allowed in a half day only allows for the cognitive growth of the child and not the developmental growth. Kindergarten teachers prefer a full day in order to better prepare their students for first grade.
4. Objection: Parents don't have a right and are being forced to send a child to full day Kindergarten.
Rebuttal: Although many states are making full day kindergarten mandatory because of the resent research that it allows the child to achieve more in later years, most states still allow the parents a choice on whether or not to send the child to a full day. Many believe that a full day will actually help their child be prepared for first grade and give them that social interaction with other children that they may not be getting at home.
5. Objection: Children don't need full day kindergarten to be ready for first grade.
Rebuttal: Kindergarten is the next step after preschool and has been shown that children who attend full day kindergarten after preschool have a better transition into first grade. Their social skills and cognitive skills are more developed than that of a child that attended half day kindergarten.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Summary of Project 1
This paper was written with the topics that seem to cover almost all of my criteria. The paper gives research as to why a full day of kindergarten is beneficial to the cognitive, emotional, behavioral and social development of students. So much so that it gives record of students that are developing slower than others are recommended to attend two half-days, the session in the morning and afternoon (Martinez and Snider, Intro). The paper presents the real reason that there is no full day kindergarten because of an economical issue. This may be so because there is not enough money to run the program so the development of the child takes a back seat. Also the paper introduces how the parents and the teachers feel about the issue at hand. They all seem to come to an agreement that it is a good thing, as long as the program and curriculum are fit for a child in kindergarten. This might mean a more slow pace environment so that they can learn the concepts better.
At the Child's Trend Data Bank research and surveys show that children who are in full day kindergarten benefit over all than students in half day kindergarten. This can mean that students who attend full day kindergarten benefit more in academics than children that attend half day kindergarten.The progress in the academics can be seen through the reading and mathmatics scores of the children are much higher when they are in second grade if they attended full day kindergarten (Gullo, Dominic F. (2000)). This may be, because students in full day are interactive at a young age in academics and are able to see the benefits of learning the material or even enjoying the material. The research also shows the difference in the children that go to full day kindergarten by race, region and family income. This may lead to finding a pattern of what type of child attends full day kindergarten.
Clearing House gives many examples of what the benefits of full day kindergarten are and also the effective activities of a full day. The effective activities of a full day would include involved learning, such as hands on activities. Also whole day kindergarten emphasizes language and reading, this may help the students in social skills in interacting with others around them. One thing that I liked about this source is the use of an anaotative bibliography which helps me to go through and see what many sources wrote about full day kindergarten and its benefits.
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