Early Learning Project
Dr. Katz
There is a scattered literature on related topics, but little agreement among the specialists! A lot depends on the individual child. I know of no good reason to rush into formal reading instruction.
My own suggestion is to choose the more "progressive" learning environment. I am not convinced that being subjected to direct instruction before first grade is either necessary or beneficial to most children. Informal and frequent experience of being read to, joining into the reading when appropriate, and other informal occasions when trying to read, e.g., stop signs, for-sale signs, open and exit signs, etc., can be a regular but informal experience from early on.
Resources
Here are some resources you might find useful:
- Curriculum Disputes in Early Childhood Education
http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/1999/katz99b.html - Another Look at What Young Children Should Be Learning
http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/1999/katzle99.html
Spanish: http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/2000/katz00s.html - Escalating Kindergarten Curriculum. ERIC Digest.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED308989 - An Evaluation of the Relative Efficacy of and Children's Preferences for Teaching Strategies that Differ in Amount of Teacher Directedness
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ832380 - Starting Out Right
http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=6014 - Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School
http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/sites/allianceforchildhood.org/files/file/kindergarten_report.pdf - All Work and No Play Makes for Troubling Trend in Early Education
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212125137.htm - Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8: A Position Statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.fc-tv.com/clients/naeyc/dap/video1/DAP_Position_Statement.pdf
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