This is very disappointing. Though quite common practice. Many of these surveys rely on test scores for their data. There are many things to factor in when testing children. How was the test performed? How well did the child relate to the testing procedure? Was the child well, when the testing took place? How do learning disabilities factor into the results?

It is important to know if putting kindergarteners onto lap tops will prove to create children who can read in 1st grade. The greatest advantage I can see is with a computer? Children can advance their reading skills at a quicker pace. Than again, seeing some of the vocabulary I found on one child's computer? Some of those words had not relevance to a young child. To most middle school children as well.

What I did see though that a child who did have a short attention span, because he was barely three years old, he did respond well to an alphabet program online.

I am concerned because though it seemed kindergarteners were adapting to this change not all of them are doing this well.

We are gutting our program. Some of it seems reasonable. Children at this age do not need to perform so much artsy, crafty projects. However, I noticed at least a few students who could not focus on computer assignments. Teachers will have to have assistants. This however I fear will not help children who learn best from performing physical tasks to learn.

I haven't attended graduate school and have no plans at my age to complete a master's degree. What I have learned from my years of teaching is student respond best to learning that is child centered. When I find out what their interests are? I find they are better motivated to learning when I use these topics. Especially when it comes to reading skills. Though this logic can be applied to all areas of learning.

Helping children make a meaningful connection between the different areas of study for me has been the fastest way to lead a child to advancement.

Can we achieve this with computer laptops? Yes, but there has to be time to tutor those children who I could see were not as experienced with computers at home. I am not sure if the material they were offering was reaching most of the students.

I could see how some kindergarteners needed access to a computer lab with hands-on instruction that were not receiving this assistance. I have little doubt these same students will be falling behind. Unless they get the help that they need? Sitting them down at a desk will just become a source of torture they are struggling to endure.

I just realize for this program to succeed? It will require careful planning. I was able to read in Kindergarten. I can accredit this to having access to many interesting books and being ignored most of the time by our mother. I believe I also benefitted some from television programming that was classroom based.

This reassures me that yes, many children can learn to read by age five. However, this will be because they have easy access to the many electronic games, programs and hopefully some attention from their parents. I also know though that some children will not develop the memory capacity until well into six years old.

What wasn't mentioned here and some schools are implementing this is 3/4,4/5 and 5/6 year old classrooms. I feel this is the best answer for young children.

She is calling it, "play-based" while I would say interest based education hits closer to the mark.