Shownotes
Kindergarten has changed, and if you’ve ever wondered whether the expectations we’re placing on our youngest learners are actually developmentally appropriate, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, I’m joined by Kate, also known as @EvidenceBasedKate on TikTok, who has spent 20 years in education as a classroom teacher and curriculum writer and now helps bridge the gap between educational research and what’s happening in classrooms.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- What research tells us about how kindergarten has become increasingly academic and why developmental expectations for five-year-olds haven’t changed along with it
- How standardized testing, education policy, and academic standards have contributed to pushing higher expectations into the early grades
- Why play, recess, social-emotional development, and other foundational skills create important conditions for learning
- What the research says about kindergarten redshirting and why the answer isn’t as straightforward as it may seem
- How to look more critically at claims that a curriculum or teaching practice is “research-based,” including resources teachers can use to find trustworthy education research
- Practical ways to work within a required curriculum while still honoring child development, foundational skills, joyful reading experiences, and what you know about the students in front of you
One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that you don’t have to overhaul everything at once. If something in your classroom doesn’t feel right, start by getting curious, look at the evidence, and choose one manageable change you can make. Small, intentional shifts can help us create kindergarten classrooms that meet academic expectations while still honoring how young children actually learn.
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Connect with Kate:
What Works Clearinghouse
EducationWeek
Chalkbeat
The Hechinger Report
Edutopia
The 74
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Mentioned in this episode:
Kindergarten Essentials
Grab the year-long, mega-bundle kindergarten activities here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Teacher-Essentials-Year-Long-Mega-Bundle-Kindergarten-Activities-8356704
