Kindergarten
The first year of elementary school is called kindergarten. Although it would be more correct to call it kindergarten. The word itself translates as “kindergarten,” but it is more like pre-kindergarten. They are held at schools, and American children attend them regularly for a full day of school. It usually lasts four hours, from 8:30 to 1:30 p.m. Children spend only one year in these “kindergartens. The program here is already more serious than in preschools, and prepares them for entry into elementary school.
Unlike preschools, the kindergarten stage is considered mandatory in the U.S. education system. Therefore each state has an approved schedule and a required list of subjects. During kindergarten, children must learn reading, speaking, and writing skills: how to read, understand the meaning of a text, read aloud quickly, and so on. They also learn the basics of algebra and geometry, learning counting and shape shapes. In addition, “kindergartens” teach natural and social sciences, art, music, health, and safety.
Primary School
After kindergarten children finally go to primary / elementary school. It lasts from first to sixth grade. During this time all subjects are taught by the same teacher. The main subjects are: English, Mathematics, Geography, History and Science. Well-funded schools hire separate teachers for music, art, or foreign languages. On average children stay in school until 6 to 7 p.m. They study extracurricular activities or do their homework in after-school care.
The grading system in the first two years is very simple:
- E (excellent);
- S (satisfactory);
- N (needs improvement);
- U (unsatisfactory).
Then gradually the standard American school grades A, B, C, D, and F are introduced, where A is excellent and F is a failure. Already in elementary school children take their first standardized tests. They determine students’ progress and prepare them for the future entrance exam for universities – the SAT. There are no final exams from elementary school.