Feel pressure to keep up with someone else?

Teachers and parents frequently fall victim to "snob appeal" and push to expose students to high-level concepts and skills at younger and younger ages, with little concern about whether or not the children are really achieving mastery. A second grade teacher whose neighboring teacher is already introducing multiplication or nuclear physics will feel tremendous pressure to skip through the basics in order to "keep up." Parents can add to the pressure, more out of pride than for the best interests of the children. As an experienced intermediate teacher, I urge primary teachers to relax and take the time necessary to build strong foundations. Be sure all children master the basics. It is possible to do this while still challenging and stretching top students. Without strong foundations, all future learning is compromised.