Hello and warm greetings!
Although we haven’t met yet, I am looking forward to our upcoming introduction. I must admit, I will likely be one of “those” parents—the ones who check in frequently and may come off as overly protective.
As someone who has experience teaching in the very community where I grew up, and now educating future teachers in a different city, I feel I have a bit of insight into the educational landscape today. I also teach courses on educational policy (not the most thrilling topic) and educational psychology (fascinating stuff!). It’s interesting to note that much of our current educational policy contradicts what we understand about educational psychology, particularly with recent findings in neuroscience. For instance, neuroscience shows that every brain is unique, which raises the question of why we strive to standardize all children.
The main reason I’m writing is to discuss my son’s progress in your class. I know there are state requirements for him to be able to “Write numbers from 0 to 20 and represent a number of objects with written numerals,” but honestly, he can only count to 10 when we count his favorite toys. Beyond that, he’s intrigued but a little lost.
I want to be clear: if he leaves your classroom at the end of the year without mastering numbers up to 20, I’m not overly concerned. He will learn what he needs as life unfolds. After all, he’s just 5 years old. We even considered delaying his start in kindergarten, especially since he has a summer birthday and kindergarten expectations seem to have shifted over the years.
I do have some reservations about the expectation for him to “explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing.” Quite frankly, he’s not quite at the writing stage yet. Did you know some countries don’t start teaching reading and writing until children turn 7? It appears that taking a more gradual approach may yield better developmental outcomes. Finland, for example, consistently excels in international assessments, and I suspect there’s more to their success than meets the eye.
I would prefer if we could bypass standardized testing altogether and allow him to engage in learning through play, perhaps spending time in your learning centers. I’m also investigating the possibility of opting him out of high-stakes tests entirely, as I believe that excessive testing can infringe upon our rights.
This summer, I received a list of sight words that we were encouraged to teach him before he entered your classroom. I must apologize for not getting to them. Instead, we focused on building a robot from a large box, creating a Lego kingdom in our living room, and enjoying time outdoors. While we were having fun, we didn’t quite touch on those sight words.
Research shows mixed results on the effectiveness of memorizing random bits of information without context. I lean toward the belief that children should engage in meaningful tasks that naturally lead to learning numbers and words. For example, my son loves building forts, and he often invents funny names for them, although they aren’t part of the sight word list.
You might be wondering what my expectations are for his time in your class. If you can help him become a little kinder, braver, and more compassionate by the end of the year, I will be incredibly grateful. I’m aware of the competitive environment he’s entering, and I want him to avoid feeling discouraged if he’s not reading as quickly as his peers.
Ideally, he would also develop perseverance, impulse control, resilience, and a knack for metacognition. These skills are likely to serve him well in life, no matter how proficient he becomes at advanced mathematics later on.
Above all, I want him to leave your classroom with a love of learning. If that’s the only takeaway, I will consider your efforts a resounding success. He is currently a curious learner, eager to understand how the world works and excited to learn to read. I worry that the pressures of school may challenge that enthusiasm, and I hope we can work together to keep it alive.
I’m here to lend a hand in any way I can. If you need resources for learning centers or materials for activities, please feel free to reach out. I have access to supplies that could benefit not just my son but his classmates as well because nurturing a love for learning in all children is vital for fostering creativity and imagination.
I believe we can make a positive impact by nurturing inquisitive minds right in your classroom. Please let me know how I can support you throughout the year. If I seem overly involved, it’s only because I want to ensure that my son and his classmates receive the enriching education they deserve—one that prioritizes a love for learning over rote memorization.
Oh, and just a small request: please, no worksheets!
Summary
This heartfelt letter from a parent to their child’s kindergarten teacher outlines their hopes and concerns for their child’s education. The parent emphasizes the importance of fostering a love of learning, kindness, and resilience over strict adherence to standardized testing and rote memorization. They offer support and resources to enhance the classroom experience, aiming to create a nurturing environment for all children.