What's the 4K way?
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What is 4K?
Is it daycare? Preschool? Kindergarten for preschoolers? The definition of 4-year-old kindergarten is not straightforward. While all public school 4K programs in Wisconsin must be staffed by state licensed teachers and structured under a state-mandated set of early learning standards, there's a broad spectrum of models school districts use.
One universal rule: 4K is optional. Not all parents use the programs, and at least one state legislator has questioned the validity and overall cost of the programs in light of the state's budget woes. Still, 85 percent of school districts statewide offer some type of 4K program. School districts see the programs in part as a way to ensure that all students have access to a pre-kindergarten education.
The Gazette recently sat in at three 4K classrooms—one each in Janesville, Edgerton and Delavan—to get an inside look at local 4K programs.
We got a taste of a full-day 4K model, with instruction mixed with free-play, recess and lunch.
We observed a half-day, play-based 4K program housed at a local church.
And we chatted with a parent who had come to observe his daughter learning at a 4K class housed at a Janesville charter school.
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Edgerton 4K teacher Angie Neuenschwander and 4-year-old student Jasmin work on creating a Valentine’s Day art project in class. The Edgerton School District uses a play-based learning model for 4K in a cooperative between the school district and local childcare centers.
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A group of Edgerton 4K students work on an art project by themselves while a teacher interacts with another group in the background. Edgerton uses a "play-based learning" model for it's 4K and while students are given time to work and play on their own, teachers are never far away.
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After a group of student had gone 'shopping' in the dramatic play area, Edgerton 4K teacher Lynette Wellnitz helps sort out their haul. Teachers in the program move about from different groups of students on a regular basis.
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During a free play period, an Edgerton 4K student practices her alphabet on her own.
EDGERTON — "Robin Hood is a stinky-pants."
It was a thought that slipped from a student's mouth during story time in Lynette Wellnitz's 4-year-old kindergarten class.
And while it wasn't exactly the concept Wellnitz had been shooting for, the student's comment was on the right track, sort of.
Students were learning about castles, kings, queens and knights as part of two-week unit in Wellnitz's 4K class at Central Lutheran Church in Edgerton—where play is learning, and learning is play.
A student named Caden had on a silver knight's helmet and a chest plate. He was bursting with knowledge about knighthood.
"Both boys and girls can be knights," he said.
It was a tidbit Caden had learned from a story Wellnitz read earlier in the day about a princess who dressed up as a knight to face down a fierce dragon.
Other students in Wellnitz's class were dressed as make-believe royalty. There was a princess, a king in a red cape and a court jester waving a picture of an alphabet-eating dragon that he'd colored bright red.
Elsewhere, students followed designs to build castles from large Lego blocks. A girl learned colors, shapes, counting and fine motor skills while using a tweezers to sort through a royal treasure chest of jewels.
It was "choices" learning—free play time—and the classroom was set up with a dozen activities. Each student was doing something, and Wellnitz was monitoring it all, corralling students and directing them through the basics of counting, letter identification and social interaction.
Wellnitz explained the secret behind her insidiously fun lesson:
"At this age, their minds are total sponges. You have to throw out as many ideas and concepts as you can and see what sticks. It's really amazing all that does," she said.
Learn and play—all day?
Wellnitz teaches one of several half-day 4K sections in Edgerton School District. The district uses a community-based 4K model—a cooperative between the school district and local childcare centers.
Other area districts, including Janesville, also have community-based 4K programs with half-day sections housed at local day cares, preschools and even charter schools. The Milton School District plans to start a half-day, community-based 4K in fall 2011.
The Darien-Delavan School District uses a twice-weekly, all-day 4K model.
At Wileman Elementary School in Delavan, teacher Angie Vioski started a recent day by having her 4K students jump up to vote for their favorite cookie.
The chocolate chip won by a 17-1 margin.
Vioski tallied the votes on the whiteboard and had her students count them out. She wasn't teaching a lesson in civics; Vioski was working her students through a rigorous morning lesson on the letters "C" and "K."
The counting, voting and the jumping were part of an answer to a challenge Vioski and her classroom aide Beth Nickels face daily: How to keep children just past their toddler years engaged and learning for an entire day.
"The statement, ‘Everything I learned I learned in kindergarten,' there's a lot of truth to it," Nickels said. "Only now, it's not kindergarten. It's 4K. This is where they're learning all of the basics."
The Delavan-Darien school district has offered some form of 4-year-old kindergarten for more than 20 years. The district three years ago switched to an all-day 4K model alongside a changeover to all-day kindergarten.
District officials said the change in part was an answer to transportation issues.
Vioski said that while all-day classes initially can overwhelm some young students, she's never taught 4K any other way. Her keys to success: short learning activities and lots of breaks.
In Vioski's class, one class group might grab paper, glue, string and pop sickle sticks to demonstrate the shapes of letters, while another group composed partly of students learning to speak English might work on fundamentals of letters and words. In 10 minutes or less, they'll switch.
Then comes a snack break featuring Cheez-Its and chocolate milk, and then another activity. And another. And another.
It's a day sprinkled with library time, naptime, lunch, recess and free play. Yet amid all the activity, there's a noticeable lack of roughhousing, crying and temper tantrums. It's easy to forget the students are mostly 4-year-olds.
"I never forget it," said Nickels. "They're young, and they can get frustrated at times. But they're a lot like older students. Most of them really want to please you."
'Work' as learning
Skills such as how to stay seated, how to line up and how to use scissors are hallmark parts of all 4K curriculums.
But some 4K programs add other layers of educational philosophy. At Janesville's Montessori Children's House, 4K students also learn self-discipline through solitary workmanlike tasks designed to create order.
The preschool, which relies on the Montessori method of work-based learning, is a private partner in the Janesville School District's 4K program, known as P4J. It's one of 15 4K centers in the district.
Parent Duwane Jorgenson was at the preschool recently to watch his daughter Angelina learn. He observed other students at work on classroom tasks.
One girl was building a tower from blocks. When she finished, center director Tara Yanchik directed her to put the blocks away and line up the pieces from largest to smallest. Part of the lesson.
Another boy sorted "living objects," such as turtle shells, from "nonliving objects," such as paper cups. When he was done, he returned the items to the proper storage cubby. Part of the lesson.
A girl and a boy poured themselves cups of juice during snack time and then washed their drinking cups after they'd finished. Again, part of the lesson.
Jorgenson, a construction engineer, said he plans to send his daughter to public school. He said he chose to enroll her in 4K under the Montessori method because the learning style intrigued him.
"Everywhere you look, it's hands on applications, constructing and organizing things. It really makes sense," he said.
Like some other area school districts, Janesville schools allow parents to choose their child's 4K site. While all the centers have programming based on state standards, some sites use special learning models or have optional religious programming and wraparound day care.
"There are many different ways to teach skills. You can come at this more than one way," said Janesville 4K coordinator Kristen Moisson.
Moisson said it's exciting for her to see 4K students move on to kindergarten with skills they didn't have before—whether it's knowing how to use glue, hold a crayon or count to 10.
"It's like watching little adults. They're so proud of themselves," she said.
Feb 15, 2011 at 4:32 p.m.
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Dtb, Sorry I'm with E-ville house wife, that's exactly where 4K will lead. Oh and also, we the tax payer have the right to voice our opinion about public schools, if you haven't got the notice, we pay the bills. So please don't say "if you don't like it don't send your kids there". That’s what this country was founded on, giving the common tax payer a say (no taxation without representation), that’s why we hold elections for school board members, that’s why they have open meeting. To say that make you sound like a little uneducated on this subject.
Feb 14, 2011 at 4:29 p.m.
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You're safe for now - we won't have a liberal governor for at least a year.
I too am current on my taxes thankyouverymuch.
Feb 14, 2011 at 4:12 p.m.
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dtb, my whole point is that prior to this year, education was compulsory (ie, MANDATED) after age SIX. Now, it is age FIVE. I don't have kids to educate- and I am glad of it, looking at the state of things. I just pay taxes, that I am current on, thankyouverymuch,
What Doyle did was make it mandatory to enroll your child at age 5. Yes, you can homeschool. Yes, you can private school. Yes, you can unschool. However, the POINT is that you must REPORT your 5 year old's education to the government. With 4K it will not be long before a liberal guvnor proclaims you must register your educational efforts of your 4 year old.Then the 3 year olds. Then we'll move on to the maternity wards to make sure mothers are bonding properly...
Feb 14, 2011 at 1:29 p.m.
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e-ville housewife, kindergarten is not required of all students. Only if you want to send your child to first grade in a public school. Would you keep your child home and send your child to second grade without going to first grade? That is the effect since academics are being pushed down to kindergarten.
If you don't like the public schools, you have options. Home school, private school (religious or not) virtual school, etc.
Feb 14, 2011 at 12:49 p.m.
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Sandman and Marge, you hit it right on the head! I agree, there is no need for this program. What happened to "Headstart"? I remember people sent their 3 and 4 year olds to that. This program is a waste of money. If a parent cannot teach their child to count to 10, write their name and know the abc's by kindergarten, the parent needs school not the kid!
Feb 14, 2011 at 10:04 a.m.
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Reality check!!!!!! That $2.7 is money the state NEVER HAD to give in the first place, and if you haven’t been paying attention, Gov Walker is NO LONGER going to pay out what we don’t have. This is not responsible parenting, (leaving our kids a huge financial debt to deal with). The days of “go into more debt to get more state/ federal aid” are soon over because THERE IS NO MONEY to give. NEEDS AND WANTS PEOPLE, this is a want. When you win the loto, donate that money to the school districts so they can fund 4K
Feb 14, 2011 at 10 a.m.
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e4g - I was told by the teacher (who has been teaching 20+ years) that the 4K curriculum (in the district of my child) IS the exact same curriculum used in 5K from 15 years ago. I'm not saying I agree with the changes in education-I was just noting what it is. Personally I think that reading is forced on kids before many of them are ready for it. The fact that this and the other 4K articles of the Gazette repeat how kids are getting ready for academics at age 5 should be disturbing to everyone with a young child. We do force children to grow up too soon too fast (do 5th graders really need cell phones and internet access?) but society has changed and the schools do need to change with it.
Because of these changes, I don't put a lot of stock in the "when I was young" statements. Our kids live in a different world than we grew up in and we have to accept that fact and help them through it. I went to HS in the 80's and wrote research papers on an IBM typewriter after handwriting the rough drafts and researching from real books in the library-do you really expect kids today to do the same?
Feb 14, 2011 at 9:22 a.m.
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4K is not a daycare. I work with a 4k program and we hardly babysit your children. We do have daily lesson plans and various activities that are geared towards teaching in a fun manner, but is very much educational. There is actual material we are to use to teach your children the alphabet, what sounds the letters make, how to make those letters, how to spell their name. We also teach them how to use glue, scissors, how to hold a pencil, etc that are important tools for children to have. It's amazing how many children who are 4 have never even touched glue or scissors before. We also teach them manners, how to interact socially, responsibility, hygiene such as washing their hands after the bathroom or blowing their nose, how to get dressed in their winter gear to go outside independently, to pack their own backpack, how to speak up for themselves and say 'please stop' if they don't like how someone is treating them, routine, safety and love that we're predictably there for your child, nutritious meals where we discuss what is healthy/not healthy/good occasional treat. We also interact with parents, give advice, bring concerns to them about their children or share cute stories from the day before, get to know the families and care for them as well as be a sounding board when they're having a difficult day. I could STILL go on about the benefits of our program. Those believing it's glorifed daycare or it's a program to be looked down upon...please do not knock it until you've spent a day in a 4k classroom. Don't put our (ours and the child's) hard work down when you see a little child's face light up when they write their name independently for the first time ever in their short life. It's priceless.
Feb 14, 2011 at 8:59 a.m.
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"What is the 4K way?" It's a 4K-WASTE of taxpayer money that provides free daycare one year earlier for those "parent(s)" who had kids without wanting to spend much of time with them (or who have tired of their "responsibilities" far to early in the parenting game) before shipping them off to have the government raise them, and a boon for the daycare centers and their employees...that's what it is!
"Knowing how to use glue, hold a crayon or count to 10"! And these are special "skills" that child-parent interactions couldn't instill? It's just laziness on the part of "adults"! Why have kids if you don't want to raise them? We've already got school breakfasts and lunches for kids who are becoming a generation of obesity poster children for the world. What's next? Dinner? Evening "socialization"? Late night snacks? School sleep-overs? It's little wonder that India and China are leaping ahead of us educationally (and I bet the only "multi-culti" they indulge in is foreign language education)!
It's beyond me how the school districts are talking about laying off teachers and raising taxes when we continue to WASTE money and time on this substantially pointless 4K babysitting service so as not to inconvenience adults and exorbitant, needless, endless "special ed" programs to long with their little progeny! And I'll lay even odds that when many of these 4K-ids grow up we'll spend even more money to warehouse them at BTC in unnecessary and unfocused second- (third-, and fourth-) chance GED and "job training & re-training" programs as well.
Feb 14, 2011 at 8:42 a.m.
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I'm surprised the FFRF hasn't jumped on the 'optional religious programming' bit.
It's a precedent setting move. First half-day kindergarten became full day. Then Kindergarten, thanks to Doyle, became compulsory. Yet, test scores have fallen, kids have become less literate, etc. Those of us that were educated in the 60's did fine on half day kindergarten. Why not now?
Only a matter of time before the state requires you to hand your two year old over for "government' education. Because don;t be fooled... this does not educate. It simply teaches people to be a good cog in the wheel.
Feb 14, 2011 at 8:26 a.m.
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If it came down to it, I would pay to still send my kids to 4K. I would have no problem doing that at all. In all honesty, I'm surprised I don't have to pay something to send them since there are fees for all other grade levels. However, if there suddenly was a fee imposed to send kids to 4K, there would be a lot of people complaining about it. You can't please everyone.
Feb 14, 2011 at 7:35 a.m.
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4k is nothing but tax payer financed day care. It's plain wrong.
Feb 14, 2011 at 6:53 a.m.
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Has anyone had the idea of how much it would save WI if we didnt have P4J???
Feb 14, 2011 at 5:52 a.m.
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yes, some people do sound angry, BUT (dtb) we have to keep in mind, that the curriculum is NOT what used to be kindergarten, the curriculum is play-based and developmentally appropriate for 4 year olds. Our society changes and we as adults think schools should change,too. As a result the children are still getting left behind--kids developmental rate hasn't changed, we just want it to. If they aren't ready to learn it, they wont! Just let them be 4 years old and navigate their way through 4k with their friends at their own pace. Please don't say that every grade has changed to "teach" things earlier--maybe that is the trouble with the world--we don't get enough time to "play" with our friends while working on learning!
Feb 14, 2011 at 4:35 a.m.
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While it should be obvious that 4k has many benefits for the children, it is my understanding that like most government programs, it is over funded. School districts make money by having 4k programs.
Feb 13, 2011 at 11:36 p.m.
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Marge-you sound very angry and bitter. Please get some help-that's just not healthy.
As a stay at home parent with a child in 4K and (former and again to be) teacher, I can say that the 4K curriculum is what kindergarten used to be a generation ago. Thanks to the NCLB law, schools are under increasing presssure to raise test scores and get kids reading earlier than ever. Thus what used to be taught to 5 year olds is now taught in 4K, what used to be taught in 1st grade is now taught in kindergarten, etc. right on up the line to algebra being taught in middle school and HS seniors taking claculus and other college courses. I work on letters, numbers, etc. with my child and I still believe that a student who goes into kindergarten without going to 4K first is starting a step behind.
Feb 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.
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I PAID for my kids--everyone else should to--this is nursery school or pre-school at best---BS PAY LIKE I DID -IT IS YOUR KID
Feb 13, 2011 at 6:43 p.m.
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Hamster- you obviously have no clue! One of my kids is in 4K and another one will be in it come fall. It is far from being a daycare for parents to send their child(ren) to so they can get a break! Even though I have been home with my kids for the past few years and my days consist of entertaining them with teaching them to write their names, sound out letters, cut on a straight line, glue, and learn the other necessities to go off to 5K, letting them go to 4K gives them someone to learn from other than mom and dad. It also gives them a chance to be in a real educational setting on a part time basis before they head off to 5K for a full day. They need that time to get adjusted, and trust me, there are many days that I have to fight to get one of them off to school because he doesn't want to leave me yet, which is all the more reason for him to go.
Feb 13, 2011 at 6:12 p.m.
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I am a Kindergarten teacher in the public schools. I am a huge advocate for 4K programs. It's purpose is not to give kids a "head start" but to promote an "even start" for incoming kindergarten students. I hope Evansville jumps on board with surrounding districts as well! Anyone who thinks 4K programs are glorified day cares for parents who are looking for free child care is ignorant and uninformed (IMO).
Feb 13, 2011 at 6:08 p.m.
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Wow! Really!?? we need to move forward and 4K helps to level the field for kids-no matter why they are there. as far as daycare--not really--sometimes it is more of a hassle to get the kid there for 3 hours and go pick up. If people really did not want to deal with their kids, they wouldn't mess with 4k either. IT IS A GOOD THING! 4k ALL THE WAY!!
Feb 13, 2011 at 5:23 p.m.
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Many kids need all the help that they can get.
It may be too late for the parents, but that is all the more reason to help the kids.
Feb 13, 2011 at 4:38 p.m.
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Hamster~Obviously You do not have kids or you would not make such a rude comment. You dont understand how much 4k bennefits kids these days. I Love the 4K program and am very thankful that my children get the opportunity to go.
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