10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom

Kindergarten is a time for children to expand their love of learning,

their general knowledge, their ability to get along with others, and

their interest in reaching out to the world. While kindergarten marks

an important transition from preschool to the primary grades, it is

important that children still get to be children -- getting kindergarten

children ready for elementary school does not mean substituting

academics for play time, forcing children to master first grade

"skills," or relying on standardized tests to assess children's success.

 Kindergarten "curriculum" actually includes such events as snack

time, recess, and individual and group activities in addition to those

 activities we think of as traditionally educational. Developmentally

appropriate kindergarten classrooms encourage the growth of

children’s self-esteem, their cultural identities, their independence and

 their individual strengths. Kindergarten children will continue to

 develop control of their own behavior through the guidance and

support of warm, caring adults. At this stage, children are already

eager to learn and possess an innate curiosity. Teachers with a strong

 background in early childhood education and child development can

 best provide for children what they need to grow physically,

emotionally, and intellectually.


Here are 10 signs of a good kindergarten classroom:

   1. Children are playing and working with materials or other

children. They are not aimlessly wandering or forced to sit quietly for

long periods of time.

   2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day,

such as block building, pretend play, picture books, paints and other

art materials, and table toys such as Legos, pegboards, and puzzles.

Children are not all doing the same things at the same time.

   3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the

whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend time

only with the entire group.

   4. The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork, their

own writing with invented spelling, and dictated stories.

   5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their

everyday experiences. Exploring the natural world of plants and

animals, cooking, taking attendance, and serving snack are all

meaningful activities to children.

   6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least

one hour) to play and explore. Filling out worksheets should not be

their primary activity.

   7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day that

weather permits. This play is never sacrificed for more instructional

time.

   8. Teachers read books to children throughout the day, not just at

group story time.

   9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those

who need additional help. Because children differ in experiences and

background, they do not learn the same things at the same time in the

same way.

  10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel

safe sending their child to kindergarten. Children are happy; they are

not crying or regularly sick.

Individual kindergarten classrooms will vary, and curriculum will

vary according to the interests and backgrounds of the children. But

all developmentally appropriate kindergarten classrooms will have

one thing in common: the focus will be on the development of the child

as a whole. (NAEYC)