Comments on: Georgia’s pre-K gets high marks http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:05:15 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Maureen Downey http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-74402 Maureen Downey Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:31:06 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-74402 @Ellen, Pre-k can be offered through the schools or through a private provider that has state approved slots. The state web site lists lots of Henry pre-k sites http://decal.ga.gov/ProviderSearch/SiteList.aspx?pn=&c=Henry&z=&st=P @Ellen, Pre-k can be offered through the schools or through a private provider that has state approved slots. The state web site lists lots of Henry pre-k sites

http://decal.ga.gov/ProviderSearch/SiteList.aspx?pn=&c=Henry&z=&st=P

]]> By: ellen http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-74401 ellen Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:26:53 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-74401 how do you find a pre-k? The board of education said henry county does not have a pre-k------c'mon is this right? how do you find a pre-k? The board of education said henry county does not have a pre-k——c’mon is this right?

]]> By: Liz http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-74306 Liz Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:05:34 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-74306 Im sorry, but I could not disagree more. My son, who is now in 10th grade attended Pre-school, my 6 yr old attended as well and I can't wait to put my 3 yr old in. They learn social skills, they have fun and they learn to express themselves. Both of my kids are great students now and they have wonderful memories of Pre-K. While there are some parents who's goal is to just "drop off" their children I don't believe that is the majority. All of us parents in my daughters class were very involved, there were field trips and dance programs, art shows, Halloween parades and so much more. I am so glad that a program like this exists to allow my kids to settle into the classroom experience from being at home. I don't know about other moms, but I never had a moment to go to the tennis court! Im sorry, but I could not disagree more. My son, who is now in 10th grade attended Pre-school, my 6 yr old attended as well and I can’t wait to put my 3 yr old in. They learn social skills, they have fun and they learn to express themselves. Both of my kids are great students now and they have wonderful memories of Pre-K. While there are some parents who’s goal is to just “drop off” their children I don’t believe that is the majority. All of us parents in my daughters class were very involved, there were field trips and dance programs, art shows, Halloween parades and so much more. I am so glad that a program like this exists to allow my kids to settle into the classroom experience from being at home.

I don’t know about other moms, but I never had a moment to go to the tennis court!

]]> By: Another Ga Pre-K Teacher http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-11843 Another Ga Pre-K Teacher Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:18:12 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-11843 Well, some of you are not seeing what I see. As one blogger has said above me that the children are in school from 7-2... I am here to say that there are children at school (I am in a private Center that offers Ga. Pre-K) as early as 6:30 am (I do not arrive til 7:00 am. and the kids are still at school when I leave at 3:30. They wind up staying until 6:00 pm. When do these parents ever see their children? If the parents' do go to work then their clothes look like pajamas to me. Pitiful. I agree with the blog that stated that Ga. Pre-K BFTS should not be paying consultants to sneak up on teachers to see if we have 250 unit blocks, the paint is open and that we have a second running theme somewhere in the classroom. Plus, I am doing 6 - 8 page lesson plans that are for who to see? Not my students' parents. They barely step foot into the room. It is to make the consultant seem important. She looks at my detailed lessom plan and tells me they are not detailed enough. I need to put the lyrics of the songs we sing on my LP. WHAT? My students do not read!!!!!! Why do I need this info on my LP? The consultants are power crazy and ridiculous. Keep the consultants out of my classroom. These are 4 and 5 year old little kids. Plus, I am not allowed to teach anything. I am to "introduce" everything to them. What?! I am a "TEACHER" not an "Introducer". The Training Seminars and other classes we drive long distances to attend are a joke. As an educated person I have to sit for 8 hours while someone tells me how to sing a goofy song and make slime. it gets more ridiculous than that. Believe me!! The whole Ga. Pre-K Program needs to be looked at by new eyes. Listen to the teachers not the consultants and others behind the desks. Well, some of you are not seeing what I see. As one blogger has said above me that the children are in school from 7-2…
I am here to say that there are children at school (I am in a private Center that offers Ga. Pre-K) as early as 6:30 am (I do not arrive til 7:00 am. and the kids are still at school when I leave at 3:30. They wind up staying until 6:00 pm. When do these parents ever see their children? If the parents’ do go to work then their clothes look like pajamas to me. Pitiful.
I agree with the blog that stated that Ga. Pre-K BFTS should not be paying consultants to sneak up on teachers to see if we have 250 unit blocks, the paint is open and that we have a second running theme somewhere in the classroom. Plus, I am doing 6 – 8 page lesson plans that are for who to see? Not my students’ parents. They barely step foot into the room. It is to make the consultant seem important. She looks at my detailed lessom plan and tells me they are not detailed enough. I need to put the lyrics of the songs we sing on my LP. WHAT? My students do not read!!!!!! Why do I need this info on my LP? The consultants are power crazy and ridiculous. Keep the consultants out of my classroom. These are 4 and 5 year old little kids.
Plus, I am not allowed to teach anything. I am to “introduce” everything to them.
What?! I am a “TEACHER” not an “Introducer”. The Training Seminars and other classes we drive long distances to attend are a joke. As an educated person I have to sit for 8 hours while someone tells me how to sing a goofy song and make slime. it gets more ridiculous than that. Believe me!!
The whole Ga. Pre-K Program needs to be looked at by new eyes. Listen to the teachers not the consultants and others behind the desks.

]]> By: Just A Citizen http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-1300 Just A Citizen Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:37:58 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-1300 Moms have to be careful though. There are a lot of day care centers that are not approved for the space, curriculum, teachers, and etc. and sadly this includes churches. I've sent my kids to several places but in the end had to find a center that had everything approved and had the GA pre-k program. I believe that those that have the GA pre-k program are those that have everything approved by the fire marshal, state, and local. It is not just for the program but for the safety of our children. Moms have to be careful though. There are a lot of day care centers that are not approved for the space, curriculum, teachers, and etc. and sadly this includes churches. I’ve sent my kids to several places but in the end had to find a center that had everything approved and had the GA pre-k program. I believe that those that have the GA pre-k program are those that have everything approved by the fire marshal, state, and local. It is not just for the program but for the safety of our children.

]]> By: Lori http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-1255 Lori Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:34:28 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-1255 "Lee" good comment! I spent over $12,000 putting my first son in a over the top Pre-K program in Washington DC taught by teachers who made over $50,000+ a year!!! Well my son was "ahead" of other Kindergartners for about 6 months then he averaged out. Now in 3rd grade he is well above his other classmates but that has nothing to do with his schooling, but with him and only him. I truly believe that his Pre-K did absolutely NOTHING for him. My second son will go to his regular 3 day 3 hour "mommies morning out" until he goes to Kindergarten and he will turn out just fine. IQ, maturity and a loving homelife are the number one factors in my opinion. But I do support getting low income children out of bad situations if that is what is happening. I also have no problems with spanish speaking children getting extra help. Hispanic families MOST of the time are hard workers, family oriented, and take school VERY seriously. If they want to succeed I see no reason to not help them do that. “Lee” good comment! I spent over $12,000 putting my first son in a over the top Pre-K program in Washington DC taught by teachers who made over $50,000+ a year!!! Well my son was “ahead” of other Kindergartners for about 6 months then he averaged out. Now in 3rd grade he is well above his other classmates but that has nothing to do with his schooling, but with him and only him. I truly believe that his Pre-K did absolutely NOTHING for him. My second son will go to his regular 3 day 3 hour “mommies morning out” until he goes to Kindergarten and he will turn out just fine. IQ, maturity and a loving homelife are the number one factors in my opinion.

But I do support getting low income children out of bad situations if that is what is happening. I also have no problems with spanish speaking children getting extra help. Hispanic families MOST of the time are hard workers, family oriented, and take school VERY seriously. If they want to succeed I see no reason to not help them do that.

]]> By: catlady http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-1249 catlady Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:31:34 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-1249 Scienceteacher671: sorta like the HOPE scholarship, which had a generous upper cutoff for receipt (as I recall $200,000 per year) but also a NEGATIVE income cap: students who got Pell (due to poverty) were not eligible for HOPE. Scienceteacher671: sorta like the HOPE scholarship, which had a generous upper cutoff for receipt (as I recall $200,000 per year) but also a NEGATIVE income cap: students who got Pell (due to poverty) were not eligible for HOPE.

]]> By: ScienceTeacher671 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 ScienceTeacher671 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:30:09 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-1248 If I remember correctly, Pre-K started out being for the high-poverty kids who, according to research, would benefit from such a program... Then the middle class parents got upset because poor kids were getting "free day care" so it was eventually opened up for everyone. Am I right or wrong? If I remember correctly, Pre-K started out being for the high-poverty kids who, according to research, would benefit from such a program…

Then the middle class parents got upset because poor kids were getting “free day care” so it was eventually opened up for everyone.

Am I right or wrong?

]]> By: catlady http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-1247 catlady Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:38:47 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-1247 I left out c)provide free day care for working parents. However, in my area, I would guess less than half the kids in prek have a working mother unable to care for them. Few of the Latino mothers work, and many of the white mothers have long bouts of unemployment. (We have no black mothers). What I see going on in pre k, the unwritten curriculum, is a replication of social class. It DOEs help the Latino kids learn English, and it helps many of the kids learn basic concepts of group membership. Lessons which, I think, could easily be postponed for a year (how to line up, how to take your turn, how to carry your tray, how to think you are not the only one in the room, etc.) I left out c)provide free day care for working parents. However, in my area, I would guess less than half the kids in prek have a working mother unable to care for them. Few of the Latino mothers work, and many of the white mothers have long bouts of unemployment. (We have no black mothers).

What I see going on in pre k, the unwritten curriculum, is a replication of social class. It DOEs help the Latino kids learn English, and it helps many of the kids learn basic concepts of group membership. Lessons which, I think, could easily be postponed for a year (how to line up, how to take your turn, how to carry your tray, how to think you are not the only one in the room, etc.)

]]> By: catlady http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/04/23/georgia%e2%80%99s-pre-k-gets-high-marks/comment-page-1/#comment-1246 catlady Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:32:00 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=249#comment-1246 I would bet the Athens kid was, thanks to RTI, an UNDIAGNOSED AND UNASSISTED sp ed kid. And will continue to be unleashed, when she is allowed back in school (I see she was released to her mother) on every kid and adult in her path. As a former K teacher for 20 years, I am still not convinced pre k does much good except a) give some adults more free time or b)get kids out of disfunctional homes for a while. Let's face it, adding pre k to the lottery was a way to get it passed. Pure and simple. In our area, 70% of the public school prek kids are Latino: American citizens themselves, of illegal immigrant parents. The middle class white kids usually go to First Baptist pre k. For its civilizing effects, I support pre k. I would be happier if the teachers were all ECE certified. I doubt my daughter, a teacher, will send my granddaughter to public school prek. I would bet the Athens kid was, thanks to RTI, an UNDIAGNOSED AND UNASSISTED sp ed kid. And will continue to be unleashed, when she is allowed back in school (I see she was released to her mother) on every kid and adult in her path.

As a former K teacher for 20 years, I am still not convinced pre k does much good except a) give some adults more free time or b)get kids out of disfunctional homes for a while. Let’s face it, adding pre k to the lottery was a way to get it passed. Pure and simple.

In our area, 70% of the public school prek kids are Latino: American citizens themselves, of illegal immigrant parents. The middle class white kids usually go to First Baptist pre k. For its civilizing effects, I support pre k. I would be happier if the teachers were all ECE certified.

I doubt my daughter, a teacher, will send my granddaughter to public school prek.

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