With smaller class sizes and more days of learning activities, Alden-Conger kindergarten teachers are pleased with the switch the district has made to all-day, everyday classes.

Monday, October 18, 1999

With smaller class sizes and more days of learning activities, Alden-Conger kindergarten teachers are pleased with the switch the district has made to all-day, everyday classes.

And the children seem to like it as well.

&uot;The kids are already set in their routine and ready to go each day,&uot; said Tonya Hemmingsen, a kindergarten teacher.

Both Hemmingsen and Diane Thompson, the second Alden-Conger kindergarten teacher, said the children really seem to enjoy school, and very few have missed any days.

The reason the children enjoy their kindergarten class so much is because it’s more relaxed, giving children a chance to work at their own pace, Thompson said. She added that working at their own pace encourages the children to have more confidence.

&uot;When we’ve had a new student come in, they have no problem adjusting. Because the other children are so confident, they’re able to help the new kid,&uot; she said.

Both Thompson and Hemmingsen think the added days together help children to better learn how to interact with each other. The children also learn to help each other.

Last year, kindergarten students attended class all day, every other day. So they never got a chance to get to know children in the other section. Now, students from the two classes also participate in activities together.

&uot;Before the kids never met the kids in the other section. Now, they know all their classmates,&uot; Hemmingsen said.

Currently, the children join each other every other day to play in the flower shop.

&uot;It teaches them cooperation, and we usually tie it into the season,&uot; Thompson said.

Right now, the children can arrange flowers and study sunflowers underneath a magnifying glass. It will gradually become a pumpkin patch by the end of the month. During the holidays, it will be gift wrapping.

The flower shop, similar activities and games help children learn fine motor skills. Incorporating the seasons and the alphabet reinforce some of the basic lessons they learn.

It’s an activity the teachers would not have been able to offer the children with the old schedule.

&uot;Now we can do so much more fun enrichment activities,&uot; Hemmingsen said.

The games and other enrichment activities are meant to help children learn the basic skills. So even though the teachers have twice as many days with the children, they are still teaching the same skills.

&uot;We’re able to have more time for enrichment and reinforcement activities. It just makes that foundation stronger,&uot; Thompson said. She’s excited to hear feedback when the children move on to the first-grade.

&uot;They are so much more relaxed. If they don’t get something right away, they don’t seem to worry about. They know they’re able to learn at their own pace,&uot; Hemmingsen said.

Because the sections are smaller – Hemmingsen has 12 students and Thompson 13 – both teachers get to devote more time to working with the children individually.

Last year, Thompson was the only kindergarten teacher. &uot;It’s nice to have a partner,&uot; she said.

Both are pleased with the situation now, and are confident the children benefit from the extra time.

&uot;Everyone, parents included, is really excited about this,&uot; Thompson said. &uot;I’m sure it will continue.&uot;