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AEP Online |
Early Learning Getting Increased AttentionDue in part to the Bush administration's focus on early education in this year's election, there has been a renewed interest in what we teach children in the preschool and kindergarten years, and how this material should be presented. What was once an institution focused on teaching social and emotional adjustment has now become a largely academic experience. "It's no longer playing and just socialization," said McNair Elementary School principal Susan Benezra in a recent Washington Post article. "Everything has an academic bent. The tooth chart isn't really to keep track of lost teeth—it's to help them count." But as the focus becomes more on how much we can teach children in these early years, some groups, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children, worry that the focus on academics could be detrimental to a child's social development. Teachers, then, must find a happy medium, incorporating activities and educational materials that promote interaction while teaching children the essential reading and math skills they will need in first grade. Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 302-295-8349. |
Click here for the full article in the Washington Post (free registration) |
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