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Kindergarten in the 21st century is much changed from what it was just twenty years ago. Today’s students’ experience in kindergarten is much more reminiscent of that of their parents’ first grade experiences. In today’s kindergarten, academic centers replace housekeeping and block centers. At my school, of the seven hour school day, students spend nearly five (4.9 to be exact) hours engaged in strictly academic, adult-led activities. With ever increasing pressure from state and federal governments to increase state test scores, teachers and administrators often rely on teacher directed activities to ensure standards are mastered. While the expectations placed on five year olds have changed, and five year olds themselves have certainly evolved - children are seemingly born now knowing how to navigate an iPad and DVR - have children really changed so much that they no longer benefit from child led play? Many educators do not believe so. As such, researchers have previously studied the effects of play on children’s social and emotional health. There is an abundance of information on how balancing play and academics can lead to a well rounded, successful, happy child. However, it is my goal to determine how play will specifically affect a student’s academic growth in kindergarten. With grant funds, I will prepare print-rich dramatic play centers which invite students to play and explore, as well as sensory and STEM centers. I want to give my students the opportunity I believe they deserve - to learn how they naturally learn best!

About my class

Kindergarten in the 21st century is much changed from what it was just twenty years ago. Today’s students’ experience in kindergarten is much more reminiscent of that of their parents’ first grade experiences. In today’s kindergarten, academic centers replace housekeeping and block centers. At my school, of the seven hour school day, students spend nearly five (4.9 to be exact) hours engaged in strictly academic, adult-led activities. With ever increasing pressure from state and federal governments to increase state test scores, teachers and administrators often rely on teacher directed activities to ensure standards are mastered. While the expectations placed on five year olds have changed, and five year olds themselves have certainly evolved - children are seemingly born now knowing how to navigate an iPad and DVR - have children really changed so much that they no longer benefit from child led play? Many educators do not believe so. As such, researchers have previously studied the effects of play on children’s social and emotional health. There is an abundance of information on how balancing play and academics can lead to a well rounded, successful, happy child. However, it is my goal to determine how play will specifically affect a student’s academic growth in kindergarten. With grant funds, I will prepare print-rich dramatic play centers which invite students to play and explore, as well as sensory and STEM centers. I want to give my students the opportunity I believe they deserve - to learn how they naturally learn best!

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About my class

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