Posted in Pennsylvania, Trib, tagged Burrell, Carlynton, elementary, Greenburg-Salem, men, teachers on June 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Sixteen kindergarteners sat cross-legged on a rag rug, singing songs about the days of the week and the months of the year.
In addition to lists of class rules and words the students had learned to read, Penguins, Steelers and Pirates posters decorated the walls.
The sports motif was all that suggested anything unusual about the teacher, who sat in a white wooden rocking chair at the front of the room.
Read more about male teachers defying stereotypes.
Posted in Curriculum, Trib, tagged Alliance for Childhood, elementary, Greater Latrobe, Greenburg-Salem, kindergarten, Latrobe Elementary, Level Green Elementary, Metzgar Elementary, NAEYC, Penn-Trafford, Pennsylvania, play, Trib on September 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Latrobe Elementary kindergarteners work on a math project. Photo by Sean Stipp.
Previous generations of kindergarteners came to school to learn their ABCs and the numbers one through 10. But according to standards set in 2006 by the state Department of Education, today’s kindergarteners should learn to read and write complete sentences and count to 100 by ones and tens.
Read the story here.
(It’s always fun to visit kindergarten, not only because the kids are cute but because everyone is so enthusiastic.)
Posted in Trib, tagged elementary, Geoffrey Canada, Harlem Children's Zone, parents, Pennsylvania, reading, Trib, Whatever It Takes on March 2, 2009| Leave a Comment »
One the most exciting accomplishments of the Harlem Children’s Zone was its practical application of decades of research that shows the early years are and the home environment are critical factors in children’s development. Geoffrey Canada put this knowledge to use with his Baby College, but he is not the only one. Elementary school teachers in less desperate environments are trying to bring parents into schools and get them reading with their kids as well.
“Tonight is about writing,” kindergarten teacher Katie Firment told the dozen moms and dads gathered in the library of Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School.
“What’s the most important thing you’ve ever written?” she asked them.
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