Blog 5- Kate Grossman's article

My reactions to Kate Grossman’s article are kind of mixed. I can see how the guidelines could do good in the classroom but there are parts I don’t agree with. Kate’s article mentioned how teachers needed the guidelines because they did not know what was expected between preschool and first grade. I think this helps teachers be on the same level as to what kids should be learning in their classrooms. Ideally, it would not matter who taught you in kindergarten because you would be ready for first grade. It would also help teachers become better organized. That is something all teachers strive to maintain in their individual classrooms. The article mentions that there are 172 benchmarks that range from writing the alphabet to understanding that hurting others is wrong. I kind of have mixed reactions about making teachers responsible for things such as social/emotional development. I know as teachers we have a responsibility to help children with these things but back when I was little it really was all about my parents teaching me the social/emotional rights and wrongs. I just don’t know if I agree with putting things like as benchmarks but I guess it shows a sign of the times. Overall, I do agree with the need for benchmarks but they just have to be handled right.