More Time for Marbles: Kindergarten gets a full school day in B.C.
Vancouver Observer
Kristina Campbell
Nov 2nd, 2009

Beside the Marbleworks bin, two boys are struggling with their lopsided tower. As Dan holds it upright, Vince adds a long red plastic piece to the top before picking up a marble to test out the structure. When he drops the marble, it rolls slowly down the red trough and free-falls onto the carpet. Undiscouraged, Vince rotates the red piece and re-inserts it onto the tower.

To someone peering in through the window of this kindergarten class at “centre time,” it looks like fourteen kids having a blast, playing with marbles, dolls, and plastic fruit. To a Kindergarten teacher, it looks like valuable learning: visual-perceptual exploration, problem-solving, and social communication.

Learning programs like this will be expanding in September 2010, as the BC Ministry of Education begins phasing in full day kindergarten across the province….

With recent data from The Early Development Instrument showing that 37.8% of Vancouver children are developmentally vulnerable upon entering the public school system, full day kindergarten is one way to level the developmental playing field before children reach Grade 1. A high-quality learning program for the majority of the day increases the chance that a vulnerable 5-year-old in BC will enter first grade with the numeracy, literacy, and social skills that set her up for success.

 Parents, too, feel the benefits. A 1997 study from Purdue University found that parents of children in full day kindergarten programs reported “less stress and frustration” around their children’s learning. As a side benefit, they may find their schedules simplified by having their children at a single site all day.

With the expanded kindergarten day, however, comes the temptation for teachers to push kids into more rigorous academic learning tasks. While some parents may vouch for more reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic  in the new program, research shows that a play-based kindergarten program is most valuable to kids down the road. As one district administrator put it, full day kindergarten is not intended to be “a watered-down version of Grade 1.” Instead, keeping structured play at the core of the program will be crucial to its success….