Pre-kindergarten

Pre-kindergarten

Pre-kindergarten (also called Pre-K or PK) refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins around the age of four or five in order to prepare for the more didactic and academically intensive kindergarten, the traditional "first" class that school children participate in. Pre-Kindergarten is not required. On the other hand, it acts as a way to prepare children (especially those of a disadvantaged population) to better succeed in a kindergarten (often compulsory in many U.S. states).

Differences

The term "Pre-kindergarten" is often used interchangeably with the concepts of "day care", and "child care"; however, these other early childhood settings focus their goal on subsitutionary care for children while their legal parents/guardians are absent as opposed to pre-K's focus on skill building. They could involve academic training, or they could involve solely socializing activities.

Pre-kindergartens, though, differentiate themselves by "equally" focusing on harvesting a child's (1) social development, (2) physical development, (3) emotional development, and (4) cognitive development. They commonly follow a set of organization-created teaching standards in shaping curriculum and instructional activities/goals. The term "preschool" more accurately approximates the name "pre-kindergarten", for both focus on harvesting the same four child development areas in subject directed fashion. The term "preschool" often refers to such schools that are owned and operated as private or parochial schools. Pre-kindergartens refer to such school classrooms that function within a public school under the supervision of a public school administrator and funded completely by state or federally allocated funds, and private donations.

K-4

"K-4" is often (and controversially) used interchangeably with "pre-kindergarten". Although early childhood education experts criticize the use of the term as a way to rationalize utilizing a kindergarten model and teaching kindergarten skills in pre-kindergarten classes, public school districts continue to incorporate the term as a way to integrate pre-kindergarten into the stable of accountability under the No Child Left Behind Act.

ee also

*Pre-school playgroup - a related type of establishment found in the United Kingdom.
*Wood kindergarten

External links

* [http://PreKindergartens.com PreKindergartens.com]
* [http://www.researchconnections.org Child Care & Early Education Research Connections]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • pre-kindergarten — nursery school, pre school …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Kindergarten (disambiguation) — Kindergarten may refer to: *Kindergarten, the first stages of a child s classroom education *Pre Kindergarten, the first formal academic classroom based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States * Kindergarten , a …   Wikipedia

  • pre — pre·abdomen; pre·acanthella; pre·adamitism; pre·adapt; pre·adaptation; pre·adaptive; pre·admission; pre·adolescence; pre·adult; pre·agonal; pre·am·bu·lar; pre·am·bu·late; pre·amp; pre·amplifier; pre·animism; pre·apprehension; pre·arrange;… …   English syllables

  • PRE-K — Pre Kindergarten (Community » Educational) …   Abbreviations dictionary

  • Kindergarten — For other uses, see Kindergarten (disambiguation). Caring for children At home Parents · Extended family …   Wikipedia

  • Pre-1A — is a grade in the Jewish day school structure of education, mainly in the United States of America. Jewish Day School Grade Structure The system in the US Jewish day school system is as follows:Early Childhood: Mommy and Me… …   Wikipedia

  • pre-school — pre schools (The spelling preschool is also used. Pronounced [[t]pri͟ː sku͟ːl[/t]] for meaning 1, and [[t]pri͟ː skuːl[/t]] for meaning 2.) 1) ADJ: ADJ n Pre school is used to describe things relating to the care and education of children before… …   English dictionary

  • pre|pri|ma|ry school — «pree PRY MEHR ee, muhr », a school for very young children; a combination of nursery school and kindergarten …   Useful english dictionary

  • Kindergarten — pre school …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • pre-elementary school — kindergarten, class for children between the ages of 4 and 6 years old …   English contemporary dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”