4 year old kindergarten

Has anyone tried one of these programs? How do you like it? How many days do/did they go & what are the hours?

I'm looking at our preschool options for next fall. A local church offers this 4 year old kindergarten. The price & the curriculum are very impressive. My one concern is the hours. It is 5 days a week from 8 to 2:30. This just seems like alot. My boys would probably only go 4 days a week. I will probably be working 4 days a week so I'd like to keep them home on the 5th. However, we would still pay for 5 days. As I'm looking at the curriculum it seems like they have alot of recess/free time. Here it is:

8 - 8:30 Free Time
8:30 - 9 Jesus Time/Chapel once a week
9 - 9:30 Circle Time
9:30 - 10 Snack
10 - 10:30 Learning Centers/Math (alternating days)
10:30 - 10:50 Recess
10:50 - 11:20 Phy Ed/Music/Choir/Creative Art (alternating days)
11:25 - 12:15 Lunch/Recess
12:15 - 1 Rest Time
1 - 1:15 Journal/Worksheet (alternating days)
1:15 - 1:45 Soc Studies/Craft Time/Science/Spanish (alternating days)
1:45 - 2:10 Handwriting/Show & Tell/Scholastic News/Book Share (alternating days)
2:10 - 2:25 Recess
2:25 - 2:30 Pack Up

Busing is also included in the tuition. They would probably have to go to daycare for a couple hours after school. They will be 4.5 when they start. Do you think it's too much?

 

If you have to work anyway it would be nice to put them in a program where they will learn something throughout the day. The recess/free time looks to be in a good amount and they've got lots of fun activities planned. I'd try to do a visit and see how it looks in person.

 

My first went to a program like this, although it was only 4 hours. He had a great time and really loved it. However, a lot of what he did the next year in Kindergarten was a rerun for him.

 

Could someone link this to the 5-11 forum? Maybe I'll get more responses from experienced moms. Thanks!

 

MIcah is currently in a pre-k program. The actual program itself is for 4 hours per day but there isn't any free time or nap time built in there (they do a period of fun educational activities that the kids do not realize is learning) The balance of the day, which isn't officially pre-k still has education built in and play/recess time and nap time and lunch. I think it is a nice mix, remember 4 yr olds will get bored with learning if fun things aren't used to break up the day. Micah is in daycare from 8-8:30 until 4:30-5:30 (depending on my schedule)...btw, the babies go to the same daycare but their learning structure is more lax since they just turned 1.

Micah knows his numbers, alphabet, colors, shapes, wities his name, phone number, can write several words on his own, can site read several words and LOVES learning new things...I think it is a wonderful opportunity.

 

QUOTE(cwinslow7 @ Nov 10 2007, 03:36 AM) [snapback]489459[/snapback]
Micah knows his numbers, alphabet, colors, shapes, wities his name, phone number, can write several words on his own, can site read several words and LOVES learning new things...I think it is a wonderful opportunity.



That is great! Has he gained these skills since attending? Which skills did he already have when he started?