Graduate Research Papers

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Keywords

Readiness for school;

Abstract

"All children in America will start school ready to learn" (Willis, 1992). While this goal sounds !audible, it has evoked mixed feelings from the leaders in the field of early childhood education. Since the 16th century, parents, educators and school districts have been plagued with the question of how to determine a child's readiness for entrance into formal schooling (Friesen, 1984). If a child is delayed from formal schooling, the result is loss of valuable learning time to which the child is entitled according to the state's school entrance age law. On the other hand, if a child is enrolled prematurely, he/she may struggle behind the achievements of others throughout the school years. This is the child that might eventually be retained or might drop out of school (Friesen, 1984). The question of when to start a child's school experience is a dilemma that needs to be considered carefully because the child's chance for a good start is at · stake. The Brooklyn-Guernsey- 4 Malcom School District allows children to enter formal schooling if their chronological age is five, on or before September 15th. Informal and formal testing is administered by the kindergarten teachers prior to the start of the child's school career. The educators in the school district may· make recommendations based on test results to delay enrollment; this allows the child more time to mature. It is the parents' legal right to start their child at the age of five regardless of test results and the BrooklynGuernsey-Malcom School District's recommendations. There is, however, criteria established that can be used to guide parents, educators and school districts in determining if a child is ready for entrance into formal schooling (Ames, 1986).

Year of Submission

1994

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

First Advisor

Marvin Heller

Comments

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Date Original

1994

Object Description

1 PDF file (48 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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Education Commons

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