The starting K in 2011 thread - Page 2

[aslyn]

As some food for thought:

Yesterday was DS1's k class reunion, and I spoke with the K teacher about my son along with another mom. Her recomendation was to get the screening done but she said that because of our districts half day schedule alot of kids are having a rough time at 5. When they are at school its all academic and no free/play time since the kids are pushed hard to learn. I wont be holding my son back but I can say that I am not worried nonetheless about how it will play out for him at first.

[rabrog]

On the speech front, don't use that as a reason to hold her back.  She can get services once in school (her issues and birthday will determine what is offered when, though).  As for being pulled out, that interrupts nothing in kinder.  And if she's ready academically, it won't hinder anything anyway.  My DD gets pulled twice a week for speech - she misses music one day and handwriting the other day.  It's not a big deal as the teacher sends home the handwriting sheet and there are other music opportunities.  It's only a couple times a week and the help she'd be getting is worth missing a few things, honestly. 

Jenn

[singin_angel]

So interesting to read the differences about kindy! 

We are sending DD to a French language school (both DH and I were educated in French before English). They have always run a full day kindy...but kindy is a two year process beginning at 4 yrs. What I remember is a lot of play time, some time to sing...I remember playing house, playing on the computer, having chicken eggs in the classroom and watching them hatch, water tables, painting, an indoor play structure...and I remember some circle time. 

DD is in preschool now (3 days a week and loves it) but she is the classical "first child" who prefers to socialize with adults rather than children her age. She loves preschool though! Especially the cars and dinosaurs :) The other children like her too. She has some speech issues but getting much better. Where I am concerned but will speak with the school is her gross motor skills - she has low muscle tone and needs ankle braces but has trouble with things like balancing to put on pants. We had physio but she was discharged from that. 

At home, she loves to read and be involved in whatever I am doing. I know she follows directions well so I figure why not give her the opportunity! I also hear it is a great school, but registration is in February for next September so I will check it out then.

My philosophy is, take it one day at a time, and if it really doesn't work for her, I will take her out. 

[Stugroupie]

Thought I would chime in since this is not an option I saw anyone else share...

Here in IL, mandatory school age is 7yrs.  Not sure what it is there.  It is possible to skip kindy and just start at 1st grade.

My ds was not ready (emotionally) for preschool, kindy or even 1st grade.  I homeschooled him during that time, keepinghim at grade level until he was ready.  He enrolled in 2nd grade at the local public school this year and is doing very well.

I do agree that the schedule isn't very good.  I am not a fan of full day kindy for any child, esp one that has not had the experience of preschool.  It is a very long day.

It is good that you are thinking ahead.  I'm sure that no matter what decision you make, it will be right for your family.

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by Stugroupie 

Thought I would chime in since this is not an option I saw anyone else share...

Here in IL, mandatory school age is 7yrs.  Not sure what it is there.  It is possible to skip kindy and just start at 1st grade.

Only do this with great care.  In districts like mine, if you home school kindergarten, they will refuse to place the child in first grade and instead place into kindergarten.

 

Originally Posted by aslyn 

She said that because of our districts half day schedule alot of kids are having a rough time at 5.

This might be a red herring.  Many kids have a hard time making an adjustment to full day academics regardless of age, but the every other day routine is something that most preschoolers do.  At 3, my son struggled with the unpredictability of the week, and we just made him a week's calendar with the school days (and other activities marked), and included a flag to know which day was tomorrow.  He very quickly adapted with the increased predictability. 

While the studies show that the differences between an on-time start and delayed start evaporate by the end of third grade, from helping in DD's classroom, the differences were gone by the end of kindergarten.

[Stugroupie]

Originally Posted by Geofizz 

Originally Posted by Stugroupie 

Thought I would chime in since this is not an option I saw anyone else share...

Here in IL, mandatory school age is 7yrs.  Not sure what it is there.  It is possible to skip kindy and just start at 1st grade.

Only do this with great care.  In districts like mine, if you home school kindergarten, they will refuse to place the child in first grade and instead place into kindergarten.

 That's something to look into, then.  Here in IL HS'ing is really easy.  I put my son into 2nd grade a few months after school started w/ no testing questions or anything.  Definitely find out about your state's laws/ requirements if this is something you are thinking about doing.  Wouldn't want to get burned...

[singin_angel]

Our kindy is quite different. It is a half-day of learning and the other half is like preschool with free play and self-discovery. I guess it all depends on the school board.