Kindergarten and Kindergarten Readiness

A Parent’s Testimony

“I have to admit, I was skeptical about all day kindergarten. None of my children attended preschool, and I wondered if this would be too big of a jump. I worried that my daughter would not be able to have time to just learn through typical child-play. The first week was tiring for her, but she was eager to get to school. She took great pride in her work, and I was pleased to see how quickly she began to read. When I visited the classroom, I was also pleased to see that there was such a range of activities for the students to enjoy. Not only are they working on the newest technology with Ipads or internet field trips to far away places right on their smart board, but there is also time for that very important imaginative play with a kitchen, restaurant or toy trucks. The all day program provides time to address the current curriculum recommended for kindergarteners without making children feel rushed or burnt out. The bottom line is that at Eastern we are fortunate enough to have plentiful child-centered materials and excellent teachers who observe each child carefully and tend not just to the child's academic success, but to the emotional well being of each child as well. “  

--A parent of a previous kindergarten student.