How does gender affect learning ability among Pre-K boys and girls?

Question

My 4 year-old grandson's Pre-K teacher says he has not learned to write his full name or his telephone number or home address and does not differentiate between consonants and vowels , though he can name all letters of the alphabet. Therefore, he may have to repeat Pre-K!
It has been my general understanding that girls develop learning skills more quickly that boys at that age, but the trend averages out as they get older.
My elementary school principal felt that children in the last year before first grade were better off staying home with their mothers (but that was nearly 60 years ago). My mother held me out of Kindergarten (which was optional then) with no apparent impairment in my learning.

Answer 1

I agree with the posters above. In Pre-K programs, it is developmentally inappropriate to expect a 4 year old to know how to write his full name, phone number and address. As far as consonants and vowels, that's a high level skill of phonics that Pre-K children shouldn't master yet. As far as repeating Pre-K, that's truly just a personal choice of the parent. Are there other factors as his maturity, social skills, and age? How are his fine motor skills? Is he old enough to attend Kindergarten next year? Truthfully, Kindergarten teachers are looking more for a foundation for learning, rather than can he tell you if an Ee is a vowel. They are looking for children who can follow directions, communicate and show an interest in learning. Many children who attend Kindergarten have very little experience with formal learning settings. There will be a wide range of abilities, however, they will all even out.

As far as girls developing more quickly than boys, I have noticed that there seems to be a difference but it is not necessarily so. Boys tend to be more interested in more gross motor actitivties and girls to more fine motor actitivites. However, it does even out in the end. Honestly, it just depends on the child. Children develop different skills at different times. It is like when an infant walks at 7 months vs. one who walks at 11 months. There isn't anything necessarily "wrong" with either. It's just their own personal development.

What teachers need to focus more on when evaluating a child's progress isn't the academics but the child's development overall. At my center, we test on academics (not my favorite, but that's another story) and a developmental skill. The academics will come and they aren't the sole determining factor for Kindergarten success.

Many schools now prescreen children before entering Kindergarten. Try checking out some websites with "Kindergarten Readiness" checklists. They will give you a good indication of whether or not your grandson is truly ready.

And, I'm not sure where you are at, but in California, Kindergarten isn't required. Three of my families chose to repeat Pre-K and go straight into First Grade. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

The preschool teacher's expectations are unrealistic. As a former first-grade teacher, I strongly recommend against retention before even entering kindergarten! Children learn at their own pace. It's not that girls develop learning skills faster than boys, it is that they are often conditioned to be interested in learning different things.

Sometimes it is just a question of not being able to sit still. In first grade, many children enter without the skills your grandson's pre-K teacher considers "essential." For kids who find it hard to sit still, I used to allow them to move around when they felt they had to, and to do written work standing up at a high desk. That worked wonders. They made rapid progress when not forced to be uncomfortable and when the teacher showed some understanding. Many of those restless kids are the smartest and most interesting ones of all.

There is nothing wrong with home schooling if the child's mother is willing and able to try it. But I am sure your grandson will do fine in kindergarten. They cannot force him to be held back; it could only happen with parent consent.

Once when I was teaching third grade, we had a boy enter the class who had never been to school at all before and was very restless. The school thought he would be a hopeless case. But by the end of that year, he had mastered all the skills of kindergarten, first, and second grades, and was only a year behind. The following year, he caught up completely and became a top student.

Children learn when they are ready. Don't worry!

Answer 3

He must be in an accelerated PreK class. Very few PreK children can write their full names, their telephone numbers, and home addresses by the end of PreK. He should be close to understanding the difference between vowels and consonants, but if not, that does not necessarily mean he is not ready for Kindergarten. Go to your state department of education's website and find out the skills that they are to learn in Kindergarten. Begin to work with him now and during the summer in preparation for learning those skills. If you need more confirmation, ask the school to test him to see if he is having some learning difficulties.
Remember that the key to children learning at that age is play. So find fun ways for him to build on the skills he already has. Then emphasize the importance of an education by giving many kudos when he makes an accomplishment. Sing with him and count everything you see. Play word games in the car and read to him every evening. Best to your grandson.

Answer 4

I have taught a pre-k through K program for 6 years now (having taught 3-4 year olds, 4-5 year olds and 5-6 year olds). Most 3-4 year olds can only recognise the alphabet and write the most simple letters and numbers freehandedly(C, O, L, I, H, Q, etc.) 4-5 year olds start recognising letter sounds and begin writing more clearly, though for many boys (mostly) it is a very slow process, especially letters like G and S and numbers like 4,5,8. 5-6 year olds can usually write freehandedly and begin reading. On the average, children who are better at language (music, listening, remembering words) and small motor skills (writing, coloring, cutting, drawing) tend to excel quicker at "kindergarten skills." This prize does usually go to a majority of girls than boys, but boys tend to excel at things like athletics, math and sciences as they get older. Put a group of 5 year old boys in a room with just a bucket of blocks and it is amazing what they will come up with!

Repeating Pre-K will not make any difference. He will learn when he learns, whether it be in Kindergarten or 1st grade.
For the time being, let him "copy" his own name, address and phone number for practice to develop is small motor skills.

Answer 5

Although gender does affect learning ability to some extent, I don't understand how a pre-K teacher can judge a child on such a limited area (writing his name, phone number and address). All children learn differently. My guess is that your grandson excels in other areas. For example right brained children excel in areas that are not even tested.

This trend of making pre-K ,which should be helping children develop many areas such as communication, social development and more, into structured learning in one area is sad.

What is the pre-K teachers background? How much experience does she have?

I would have your grandson evaluated by professionals before making this decision. The money will be well worth it. You will find out his learning style and even if they agree, they may help you find a school that addresses his unique way of learning.

Answer 6

The small motor development in boys develops slower than in girls. Their language skills also develop slower. I have read that on average, boys are not ready to learn to read until age 8!! Kindergarten used to be what preschool is now, so things are getting even harder. It is also possible that he simply doesnt want to do what the teacher is asking him (my son does this all the time and tells me he can't do it). I highly recommend holding him back a year until he's ready for the tasks awaiting him in school. Or, better yet, homeschool him so that he can learn at his own pace and not feel like he is "behind", because he will most likely catch up by third grade at the latest.

Answer 7

I don't know... I was in the bottom of the barrel math classes in High School and College and there were always more guys in those classes than otherwise. It could be that the other girls were still trying to struggle through the harder classes. And my other academic abilities were never hindered by math. After math class I would arrive at English, history, various science classes and (in college) philosophy and psychology with a sigh of relief at the prospect of something I was good at. I don't know about everyone else, but I rebounded quickly. In fact, the only math classes I was ever any good in were the statistics courses I took for my psych major. The fact I could connect the math to another subject that I understood helped a lot. I got an A in stats I and a B in stats II.

Answer 8

My mother taught preschool for about 15 years and her lesson plans never included anything as advanced as that. Kids knew how to write their names only because they memorized which letters go together. Even when they could write their name, it wasn't proper writing. There was never any need to write phone numbers or addresses though. Writing numbers and letters are generally skills learned in kindergarten. I don't even think preschool is mandatory so if you feel like your grandson is ready, I don't think the teacher can stop him from advancing.

If you are really worried, practice writing with him. Teach him how to write his name. Sit down with him and each of you write the letters over and over until he understands. Same with the rest of the things he is behind on, although I don't believe he needs to know them yet.

Answer 9

I think that what you are experiencing is normal. Children develp at different ages. My cousin who is a girl is 3 and can spell her name count to 18, say the alphabet, and spell her name. Her brother is four, and can't do half of that, when they try to encourage him, he gets equally frustrated and throws tantrums.

In relation to gender I think girls are always predetermined to be smart and good helpers. While boys are encouraged to be rowdy, and play with trucks. I know that notion sounds prehistoric, but it definately still has some truth to it.
It won't hurt him to repeat the class. You might want to look inbto getting him into some after school programs that encourage learning froma young age like Kumon, or Owl.
Also even though progrmas like Dora and stuff might seem educationa, don't park him infront the tv! Buy him, flash cards, and make little games, or take him out shopping or on walks where he has to count, how many trees you see, and things like that, so you can help him learn more.!!
good luck.

Answer 10

I find this kind of pressured learning to be developmentally inappropriate. At 4, most kids are drawing stick people, learning shapes and opposites. They may be able to recite their whole name, phone number, and address, but not WRITE them! They can't even color within the lines in a coloring book yet, which is one step in the progression in learning to write.
At 4, boys are still neurologically less developed than girls.
Girls are further along in fine motor skills, language complexity, and vocabulary. The can sit still for longer periods, and typically have a longer attention span.
Get that kid in a preschool with less emphasis on academics. He has 13 years ahead of him to sit still in school. At 4, kids' play is the most appropriate way to learn. They sit still for stories, music, and snack/lunchtime. There are activities that are developmentally appropriate for him.
My son went to a developmental preschool, and was an honor student his entire academic career. Kids can get burned-out, too, to say nothing of the frustration of trying very hard to keep up at something he is not developmentally ready for.