Hareem I think (although here I go making assumptions again) that the ![]()
was more directed at the tone and the bit about me making assumptions when (if you go back and re-read), its actually not me making the majority of the assumptions lol! And even though you appear in your tone and some of your words to completely disagree with me, I think that our parenting style is actually very similar. ![]()
Sorry to get a bit off-topic but… another of your assumptions that I didnt address is the comment about education in US…actually, kindergarten is very different from your picture of it. There is a general structure to their day but there is a really good amount of unstructured play and learning time. There is no testing at all (except for when a child is obviously behind and may need speech therapy, OT or PT) and that goes for 1st and 2nd grade as well. Havent been to later grades yet so not sure about there…
Anyway, in US the early grades structure their day in general…they begin with free time. Then they have a “morning meeting” to talk about what the day will be like (maybe its gym day or library day. What is the weather? What they will learn about in science, math etc.) Then they go off to “activity stations” where they split into small groups and have different activities (science experiment, learning letters, learning numbers etc etc) and they rotate so that everyone gets to each station. They have story time, lunch time, playground time each day. As far as not standing, sitting, speaking until told…of course there are limits…If the teacher is reading a story, interruptions and talking is discouraged. But the teachers absolutely make every attempt to foster free thinking and ideas. The kids are just taught to express themselves in turn and politely. If a child needs to use the bathroom, they go when they need to go.
I cant imagine that Britian’s early grades are so very different. If you have a completely unstructured day…well that would mean that the kids are sent into a room and allowed to do whatever they want…