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By Delaney Ketchum, Summer Intern at Promise the Children & Girl’s Inc.   Promise the Children’s goal for 2016 is to get our advocates (you!) to ask the presidential candidates about important issues that affect pre-K children. This is your chance to bring awareness to issues you care about and to let the candidates know that the health, well-being, and success of young children is important!  Throughout the campaign, we will be announcing various questions for you to ask the read more…

By Melissa Orlowski This year I’m working as a para-professional teacher (until I take all my exams). And I am leading a kindergarten class which allows me to assess the preparedness of the children who had pre-k against those that didn’t. It’s not mandatory; pre-k that is. When I was starting primary school in Massachusetts twenty years ago, even kindergarten wasn’t mandatory. I went right into first grade. I don’t remember it much, but my mum says I struggled to read more…

Age-appropriate comics, or graphic books, can appeal to children of many ethnic groups. They can broaden children’s reading skills making a bridge to a wider variety of books.

ESSA – Every Student Succeeds Act – was signed into law by President Obama in December 2015. For the first time this act includes provisions for Pre-K education. Also the ESSA reduces the role of the federal government and gives the states the responsibility of being accountable for test results.

Mistrust can occur between students and teachers who differ in their cultural backgrounds. This mistrust can be caused by misunderstandings between them. Under these circumstances, the students may find it difficult to learn. All teachers need training to understand grade school students from various cultures. Many schools have a majority of African American, Hispanic or Asian students and others have a majority of a variety of minority students. Sadly, 82% of our teachers are Caucasian. We need more teachers from a variety of cultures and races in our grade schools so as to avoid relationships of mistrust.

Pre-K brain development is an active process that requires the careful attention of a parent, skilled caretaker, or Pre-k teacher.  The Pre-K brain develops continuously starting in utero and continuing into adulthood. An appropriate and healthy start can lead to the development of a contributing citizen in society. But a traumatic Pre-K experience can increase mental health and other problems that prevent a child from adapting to school and later on to community life.   The brain development includes learning words, of course, read more…

The minimum wage hurts children because it is so low compared to the cost of living. Families on the minimum wage cannot to pay rent, purchase enough food or provide safe pre-k education, or childcare.

Essential programs that help our Pre-K children may be cut by Federal Legislators in mid-December. Let’s help Pre-K children by raising our voices in unison to make a difference. Promise the Children supports funding for programs that help Pre-K children living in poverty. Families living on minimum wages cannot afford to pay for adequate health care, food, quality pre-K and, too often, even housing for their children. Both father and mother must work multiple jobs, and are not paid a living wage.   Contact read more…

When we use harsh discipline to punish children’s bad behavior, we encourage feelings of failure and start children on  a pipeline to prison from pre-K. Harsh punishments include in-school and out-of-school suspensions and hurtful corporal punishment, that  is still allowable in 18 states. Adults, including parents, caretakers and teachers of Pre-K children should view discipline in terms of positive reinforcement of “good” behavior.  The atmosphere at home and in Pre-K classrooms should be upbeat and child friendly. As adults, we read more…

Pre-K may not improve performance in our public  grade schools. However, quality Pre-K can stimulate the huge early learning potential  from birth to age five. Without quality control being a part of Pre-K programs, children can fall behind in kindergarten and never catch up. This may lead to failure, dropping out of high school and entering the juvenile justice system. A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that Pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the read more…