A couple of years ago I
attended a tri-county cluster meeting of Head Start teachers and Kindergarten
teachers who shared results of a collaborative study concerning inappropriate
behaviors of current children who had attended Head Start to determine possible
link between the two. The study was conducted in a number of kindergarten
classrooms. Parents, head start mental health and education specialist,
teachers, and children who distributed behaviors were participants in the study.
Children were talked with in informal
setting with question, “why do you feel sad or angry while at school.” Data was
collected and analyzed with results overwhelmingly stating, “I can’t play in
centers, or I can’t play with toys” or responses that were similar. In the study parents addressed frustration of being called by the teachers repeatedly. The
approach expanded to include additional kindergarten classrooms within the
three counties and similar behaviors and results were found that there was a
link. I'm not sure what if any changes occurred as a result of the study. I thought about the story when reading blog assignment.
It must be difficult for some children to transition from play environments to
very structural direct instruction.
Audrey,
ReplyDeleteI can see that this research was beneficial because it was intended to identify possible answers for a problem. I believe that that is what research should always be aabout, finding answers and bringing new knowledge to the field, without forgetting our big commitment with children.
Hi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interesting post. Transition is hard for children. We sometimes forget that they are still little and learning. We are pressured to make sure they achieve things so quickly. They need time to adjust. This research also shows that children need play and work.
Thanks! Cindy