For more information on the following story, Patricia Clark may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (765) 285-8571.
FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS BETTER FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS
MUNCIE, Ind. – Students learn more and their teachers are less stressed in full-day kindergartens as opposed to half-day programs, says a Ball State University educator.
Results of recent research suggest that a longer day can provide children the opportunity to spend more time engaged in active, child-initiated, small-group activities, said Patricia Clark, an early childhood professor.
In such classrooms, teachers seem less stressed by time constraints and can get to know the children better, she said.
These teachers report they are able to work on themes in greater depth and can allow children more opportunities to develop their own interests.
Clark points out that the average full-day program lasts about six hours as compared to the half-day option of 2-3 hours.
"In a half-day program, the teachers claim they are very, very rushed and don't have a great deal of time to spend with the children," she said. "Teachers like the full-day program because there is more time to do more complex, long-range projects, take field trips and provide individualized attention."
Research also found that children in full-day classrooms were asking more questions and receiving more one-on-one interaction from their teachers while spending less time in teacher-directed groups, Clark said.
"You want young students to do things they are interested in because it spurs learning," she said. "Also, when teachers have more time for one-on-one interaction, they feel like they are making a difference."
While most parents prefer full-day over half-day kindergarten, Clark notes it isn't the time spent in class but how the day is structured.
"Studies have shown that children do better academically and socially when they attend full-day programs as compared to half-day," she said. "However, you still have to make sure that the full-day program contains activities appropriate for a 5-year-old."
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, Clark may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (765) 285-8571. For more stories, visit the Ball State University News Center at www.bsu.edu/news on the World Wide Web.)
Marc Ransford10-24-00
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