EE3: Kindergarten

Redshirting - A process where children are held back from kindergarten to help to build more social, emotional and, intellectual skills.
High-Stakes Testing in Kindergarten – A test build up on information children have learned to see what they know. Can have certain consequences if not passed or meet a certain level.
Kindergarten entrance age - The set age at which kids enter kindergarten. Normally five but, for redshirted kids it can be sometimes six.

Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on each issue?
2. What are the local policies and/or philosophy at your observation site/school?
3. Discuss this information with your HOSTS coordinator or other professional at your observations site. What are their thoughts on these issues?

My Answers:
1. Redshirting I feel is only needed in some cases. Like for example if the child is having difficultly in school or with making friends within the classroom. If the social skills of a child aren’t developing as it should I could understand why that would be necessary but for children that have fine socials I don’t think it is needed.
High-Stakes testing in Kindergarten seems a bit much for me to understand. I do think it is important to see and get a feel for how your students are progressing but I feel like a teacher can do that without a test in kindergarten. I feel it is their job as a teacher to know each child well enough to know where they stand. If children are to young to understand the consequences of the test their taking it shouldn’t be given. Children develop social skill at different paces through out the years I see nothing wrong with just letting them develop in kindergarten; save the testing for third grade when they actually understand why they are taking it.
Kindergarten entrance age is a topic talked about very currently in education. I believe this can be a good and a bad