When children start school, their mastery of numeracy and literacy fundamentals is the most important factor in predicting subsequent academic achievement. By then, their academic destiny is largely set.
Kindergarten recently became the new first grade, but some parents (and some preschools) are already taking on this role. The best pupils don’t perform well because they are “gifted,” or “talented”, but simply because they are better “prepared”, more “advanced” than their classmates. Early home educated children gain a persistent head start.
Furthermore, to be labelled as a good student early on can be a strong motivator for a child to do more to keep such an enviable status. Research has revealed, in particular, that children benefiting from early home teaching achieve better results in school than children receiving only a good nursery school education.
Image: The Cat – Number 6 / ChildUp.com
