Illiterate Finnish Kindergartners

10/12/2015

Illiterate Finnish Kindergartners

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

"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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Ensure Kindergarten Readiness by Building a Foundation for Success.

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