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Illiterate Finnish Kindergartners
October 12, 2015
The secret to a good life is not about having a positive attitude, it’s about taking positive action.
-Paul S. Boynton author, Begin with Yes
-Paul S. Boynton author, Begin with Yes
"Forget the Common Core, Finland's youngsters are in charge of determining what happens in the classroom," boldly proclaims Tim Walker in his Atlantic article, "The Joyful, Illiterate Kindergartners of Finland."
While in the US, the Common Core dictates that children should be able to "read emergent-texts with purpose and understanding" by the end of kindergarten, in Finland children are not required to engage in formal literacy instruction until the age of six. Yet year after year Finland outperforms most nations in literacy and mathematical tests of its 15-year-olds in international tests like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
"Children learn so well through play," remarked teacher Anni-Kaisa Osei Ntiamoah to Walker. "They don't even realize that they are learning because they are so interested in what they are doing."
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Comments (9)
Displaying 5 of 9 Comments [ View all ]United States
I enjoy ExchangeEveryDay very much, and refer it to colleagues often. Because I have a high regard for the publication, I need to point out that your headline Illiterate Finish Kindergartners was, sadly, the height of irony. Especially as an education resource, it is really important for you to edit carefully for spelling errors. Thank you for all your work!
P.E.A.C.E.
Bethesda, MD, United States
It looks like EED's spell checker is also illiterate.
Kids World
Bellingham, Wa, United States
I hear from so many that a set of common standards is a good thing . I disagree. It is just another distraction that keeps the focus off how failed our system is .
The only Common Core should be " what is right for this child at this time" . .?
Kids World
Bellingham, Wa, United States
It's about the money. NAEYC is about money and power and controll. Long ago NAEYC stopped being about children.
Head Start
Pocatello, Idaho, United States
It is not the Common Core that is the problem. I set of common standards is a good idea - so children across the country are learning the same things at the same time. But expectations for young children in the US is not in alignment with early childhood research and until it is no structure or method will be appropriate.
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