Proactive minds vs. Reactive minds
As a kindergarten teacher I feel compelled to share these numbers:
Average kindergarten class size in America = 22 students. Some states have an assistant teacher with the certified teacher but not all states. So let’s run the numbers.
• 180 days on average (Thirty states have 180-day school years, two have school years longer than 180 days, and 11 have school years shorter than 180 days. Minnesota is the only state that doesn’t require a set number of days or instructional hours for schools.)
• Times 7 hours a day (many states only require 6 or 6.5 but we will figure on the high side here) = 1,260 hours of instructional time per year• Minus 2 hours per day for breakfast, lunch, recess and special area classes (these classes are instructional and very important but don’t teach the core content that is on standardized tests each year) = 900 hours of instructional time per year (assuming your child isn’t absent a single day)• Divided by 22 students who must share the ONE teacher’s time and attention = 41 hours per year or 13.7 minutes per day for one-on-one instruction per childThese numbers will not bother anyone who consistently works with their children at home to prepare them for success in school. However, parents who don’t know what to do and wait for kindergarten to “get started” are ensuring their child a seat at a tutoring table in a few short years. The tutoring industry is one of the fastest growing industries in part due to the No Child Left Behind act of 2002. Just look up tutoring in your phone book.
Will 13. 7 minutes of individual attention from a teacher be enough for your child to soar or better yet, simply keep up with the basic standards? Proactive minds begin early and reactive minds pay later. Which mind are you?
