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What is the importance of computer education in school from Kindergarten level?

My son, who starts kindergarten in the fall, has 3 options: Which would you choose?

  • The regular kindergarten puts him in a class of equally balanced kids...racially, and socioeconomically. The Gifted/Talented Kindergarten puts him in a class full of children who have been identified as above level. It also uses a curriculum designed to encourage gifted children to think on a higher level. Dual Language Kindergarten is a program that spans K-12grade. And kindergarten is the ONLY time he can begin this program. You have to be tested and considered language sufficient to enter this program. The students leave high school reading/writing/speaking fluent Spanish. I teach in a regular education kindergarten classroom. My son is reading on a kindergarten level. His basic math skills are on a kindergarten level. He has been tested and identified as gifted and he has been tested and qualified as language proficient. To also be considered, we live in an area where there is a growing number of Spanish speaking immigrants. What would you do? Which is my BEST option?

  • Answer:

    Great question! First, what you as the parent decide works for your son is the BEST option. Now that you don't feel obligated to my answer or any other given here, I'll give you some of my background. As an educator I have worked with students from preschool to the undergraduate level. My college degree was in Foreign Languages, and I studied French and Spanish. I have taught both at the high school level. I personally would choose the dual language program. Is it because I'm partial to it because of my background? Here are other reasons: 1) there's a window of time which children are especially receptive towards language learning, roughly birth to age 6 (As adults we may gain native fluency, but it's almost always with an accent). 2) it's the ONLY time he can begin the program. 3) if possible, he could go back to the regular program later. Foreign language skills (Spanish!) will give your son an extra edge when he enters the job market, no matter what his chosen field(s). I was in the "gifted" program myself from age 4 through high school. My GPA (over 4.0) and class rank (#10 of 297) aren't what matter to potential employers/colleges, but that I developed higher "critical-thinking" and problem-solving skills. Your son will develop these through language classes, other challenging courses over the years, and by exploring his interests (if he shows interest in planes, for example, he can go to the library and read about planes, visit an aviation museum, etc.) As a final thought, YOU are best qualified to make this decision. You can also ask your son what he wants to do (for consideration only, to show him he has some input). I don't think you can go wrong here, they all sound like excellent programs. Just have FUN as, you, as a caring parent guide your son through his education wherever it leads him. Best wishes! Sincerely, Marla Shelton

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I agree with her. The gifted course is way better. But, I dont think the Dual Language thing would work out. It wo0uld put way to much pressure on him. Also he may not even want to be speaking fluent Spanish.

Kendall ^_^

I would definitely go for the language program. I went through a language program from K-5th grade with the teacher speaking only in Spanish every other day. It will help him be able to learn other languages in the future better if he develops the skills and mental capacity for it at a young age.

njagalamalaya

I would put him in the regular kindergarten class to start with, if he becomes bored, the school should suggest he be moved to the gifted classes. My son tested higher than average, however, socially he was not developed. We did best in regular kindergarten and 1st grade. He's now in the gifted program for 2nd grade.

Pink Pardon

spanish, the fact that u live in an area that is imagrant populated helps, and in the days when college comes into play, the more language courses u take, the better your chances of acceptance, and spanish is easy to learn at a young age, i took it in kindergarden and i am in advanced now speaking it fluently.

tones

Wow! what a great opportunity for your child. A second language is invaluable and would develop parts of your childs brain that would help him/her go on to many levels in any gifted program. have you asked him/her what they want to learn?

ro

Dual Language Course. To be honesty I really wished I was able to take that class. Think about it this way. It is predicted in a few decades that Spanish Speakers will be the Majority in the USA so I think it will be very smart to place him in a Dual Language course. Also I believe a dual language course is much more fun than the Gifted course so your children will be encouraged to learn. BTW I am asian and I will eventually learn/master the spanish langauge in my life.

Pursuer of Knowledge

I would probably opt for the GT program because it will provide a challenging curriculum and he can still choose to take Spanish in high school (and most likely middle school as well.) If he's performing well in his other classes, then this should be enough to make his Spanish strong enough to enable him to get by in school, work, etc. The higher order thinking skills that he develops in the GT class will help him be successful in all of his academic endeavors, including learning a language. The only way that I would opt for the dual language program is if you think the GT program will be too challenging, or if the kids in this program are socially awkward (thus resulting in your child's social development being stunted) or if the program stops after kindergarten leaving your child back in a normal environment. Also, does the dual language program still provide a more advanced curriculum (maybe pullouts for GT kids?) If so, then again, this might be beneficial. I'd suggest looking at the work the kids from all three programs are producing a few years down the road (2nd, 3rd grade.) This might help you see the long tern effects of the programs.

BD1982

I would choose the gifted and talented program. It will give him a more rounded education than the bilingual program. If you want him to learn Spanish, and that's probably not a bad idea if you have a high Spanish speaking population find a tutor and teach him outside of class. Do you know anyone who speaks Spanish? You could have that person over and your son will pick up the Spanish. I wouldn't have him go to a regular classroom. Once you opt out of the gifted program at least in my experience it is harder to get the child back in.

a_mom

I would choose the gifted course. That way he is more well rounded. What if he wants to become an engineer? Yes he will have good communication skills, but what about math and science? The gifted programs are more well rounded and would be better overall. He can still take language classes through the gifted program and will still be able to develop those skills.

Meg

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