Half Day Kindergarten vs. Full Day Kindergarten

It is always sad to see a student and their family move away even if the move is positive for the family. For me, it's hard to see a student and their family move because I have just spent the last five months building a relationship with them. For my students, it is also hard to see their classmates leave especially when they notice something that they can relate to their friend.

I recently had a student move out of state. I learned from the student's parent that their child has started a half-day kindergarten. I was surprised to hear that school districts still offered half-day kindergarten because I thought that it was non-existent. During the first week of school I always read Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus because the book is about her first days of kindergarten. The kindergarten that Junie attends is half day. I usually have one student ask why she begins her school day after lunch instead of after breakfast. I normally breeze over the question because I thought half day kindergarten no longer existed because I assumed all kindergarten classes were full day. I was wrong.

I wanted to use this blog as a discussion for Kindergarten teachers or Early Childhood Educators to discuss the set-up of their class. I am always curious to hear fellow teachers share what goes on in their class (the good and the bad).  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks!

Comments

[Amy]

Where I grew up, we had half day kindergarten, and it's still set up that way as far as I know. Where I live now, our school districts have full day kindergarten. I prefer the half day schedule for such little ones. I'm not a kindergarten teacher myself, but as an early childhood educator, I feel too much pressure is put on students too early.

Hey, I attended half day kindergarten and I turned out perfect. Ha! :)

[Amie]

In Michigan, school is not manditory until 1st grade (age 6), although everyone goes to kindergarten. Our local public schools are either 1/2 day, or full day one day on and day off - which to me is even worse. I teach at a private school and we have full day kindergarten.

My daughter is in my class (I team teach so it works). My other choice was for her to go to our local public school all day every Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday - they changed it from half days to cut out the 1/2 day bus runs - $$$. I think the disruption of "Is today a school day" is awful. I'd rather her be in my full day program. Our local school district charges $3000 a year for students to attend a daily full day program.

When kindergarten was about learning large and fine motor skills and socialization, the half day was fine. Now children are expected to read by the end of the year. Most if not all my children would be in daycare if they weren't in school and all of them have attended at least one year of preschool. They are ready, they are doing well, but I miss the days when kindergarten was supposed to be "children playing in a garten".

[Marlisha]

When I was in kindergarten 18 years ago, I was at school all day. I was never at school for a half-day. During that time, my teacher had plenty of activities for my classmates and I. I never knew half-day kindergarten existed. I was surprised by this information but I guess one learns something new everyday.

[Beth]

I think half-day kindergarten would be much better. The "No Child Left Behind" standards put too much pressure on young children - they are only five! My five-year-old son started kindergarten (full day, which seems to be our only option) in September. He was excited about school and enjoyed it at first. Now he is finding it difficult and tiring, and doesn't like it anymore. The only times he tells me he had a "good day" are when the school has "minimum days" (half days). I just think that 6-7 hours a day is too much for a five year old. My son loves science, but they don't even get to do science because they are too focused on the "standards". I think that in the early years, the most important thing is to foster a love of learning and help them to enjoy school - to think that school is a nice place to be. Thanks to "NCLB", my son isn't enjoying his kindergarten year.

[kim]

I am part of a group of parents who are fighting our district administration to keep a stand-alone 1/2 day kindergarten as a viable option for those children who are not quite ready for a full day of school. I would LOVE any input or research support to help us fight this battle. Please, feel free to email me with any thoughts or information!!

BTW: the 1/2 day bus schedule is one of their BIG reasons to cut the program...