Good Day Everyone! I don't know about you, but I am a bit tired of hearing play, play, play and ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO WORKSHEETS! Personally, I am in favor of a play based environment....but worksheets do serve a purpose. I don't understand why the push to eliminate them altogether. I've used them for years and my preschoolers loved them. They loved tracing then copying letters and were proud to show their parents their "work" at the end of the day. Why do so many "experts" say worksheets will harm children? Puh-lease. What a ridiculous statement. If they are not ready for them in preschool, then fine. But children will be exposed to worksheets sooner or later. If not in preschool, then in Kindergarten and first grade for sure. Why not give them a jump start?
I offer them but never require the kids to do them! I usually have a couple different ones available at a time - the letter we're focusing on then usually a matching, rhyming, opposites, etc one. Some of the kids in my class love them and will do one every day of the week and some kids haven't touched one so far this year! I do have a couple parents who want their children to do worksheets every day and have something to bring home to show what they "worked on." We spend as much time as possible playing in our room every day and we never focus on worksheets so I've had to explain that to some parents. Unless children are being forced to complete the worksheets I don't see any problem with them!
My daughter HATES tracing letter worksheets. She doesn't see the point in them. She does enjoy writing full words, but those sheets where you trace then write individual letters? She's not a fan. There are many other ways to practice letter writing without a worksheet. Leave the worksheets for older children. 3 and 4 year olds will have plenty of time to do worksheets when they are 5, 6, and older.
I'm a 'no' for worksheets. There are plenty of hands on ways for students to learn. And there are plenty of tactile ways for students to practice writing - with large writing tools.
As much as I was a "NO" for them, they seemed to be needed because of all the writing requirements for Kinder. :/
I left them out in a center for kids to choose. Some of them wanted to "play school" like their older siblings. I never made them do them.
I say an absolute no if they are a requirement, it's not developmentally appropriate. However, I have no problem with them being put out as a choice, some kids enjoy doing them and that's totally fine, as long as it's their choice.
I haven't used any worksheets in years. There are plenty of writing activities we can do without worksheets,and I feel they aren't developmentally appropriate. Imo they need hands-on manipulatives for math, not worksheets. They do so many in kinder some people argue they need practice in preschool. I don't agree. Not trying to insult anyone, but some of the laziest teachers I know are the ones who use the most worksheets.
Thanks so far for your opinions. I am not sure I agree that they (worksheets) are developmentally inappropriate. Kids treat them like a game. Drawing a line, tracing a circle, etc. I really don't get what the big deal is. I do not make it a requirement, but utilize worksheets as ONE TOOL for fine motor and pre-writing readiness practice. Kindergarten is so hard core nowadays that I feel parents are freaking out in preschool and like to SEE that their children are doing more.
I'm student teaching in an early childhood development classroom right now. Worksheets are an absolute no and go against the curriculum, which is based off NAEYC's DAP. My CT was on the curriculum committee, and since being in her room, I see how there are better ways for preschoolers to practice the pre-writing strokes needed for kindergarten. I like this article: http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=134
Worksheets don't require any thought or creativity on the part of the teacher. If I give my kids a worksheet, I feel like I haven't given them my best work. My best work is something that I've created based on my knowledge of where my kids are developmentally. I'm not concerned about what they are doing in Kindergarten and First Grade. Just because they are being inappropriate in the upper grades doesn't mean I should give my kids inappropriate work now. Scientific studies have revealed that worksheets are not the best way to teach preschool aged children. We've known this for many, many years now.
There are just so many ways to integrate fine motor and writing skills into a play-based preschool curriculum that aren't worksheets that I don't understand the need to even go there. I get that parents want them to being doing "work," but wouldn't it be better to explain how the children are developing writing skills in your classroom without the need for worksheets? It also wouldn't hurt to explain the importance of learning to be part of a classroom community, to self-regulate and communicate, to cooperate with others, to carefully observe and ask questions about the world around them, to devise creative solutions to problems, and so many other things that filling out worksheets isn't going to teach them. In my opinion, those are the skills that will help them succeed in school and in life, not being able to rote memorize and copy letters at age 3.
You have to remember Between the ages of 3 and 6 years, your child is growing faster that's why he/she need tools to help him. worksheets for preschool can helps. I prefer you get advice from professionals like preschool teachers with lots of experience of years
