First grade too structured? - Page 2

[2kids4now]

Originally Posted by LindaCl

Have children really changed that much that they need less rest and play? Or have reading or doing 2+2s become so much more complicated since those days that schools have forced them to focus so much longer much earlier?

Are the children really coping with this much school in first grade?

I don't think it's the children have changed. Compare what we learned in 1st grade to what is expected now. The push is now to get all kids into "preschool" (the "new" kindergarten). As it is, kindergarten is what 1st grade used to be.

Karry, I hope you are able to find a solution to help your daughter enjoy going to school - or at least find the cause so you may act upon it.

May

[jannan]

the schedule looks pretty standard for first grade. first grade is a very difficult grade for some children. it is long and alot is expected.
but that doesn't make it right.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by Karry

Viola, I see in your dds schedule that she has a morning recess. I remember having recess in the morning as a child, I don't understand why my dd doesn't have it. I'm sorry to hear your dd is also having a hard time adjusting.

Yeah, I think my daughter's schedule seems pretty reasonable. They have morning recess and snack before lunch, and then the lunch is 45 minutes long and the remainder of it can be used as recess. Then they have an afternoon recess. Your daughter's first recess is part of her lunch, and her day looks longer altogether.

So how have the last few days gone? On Tuesday I was out taking my walk and finished up in front of her playground right as the morning recess began. I stayed and watched her for a bit and she was kind of standing alone, then ran to play with one of her best friends. I got my stroller put away in the car and was driving home, and I didn't see her on the playground at first. Then I saw her sitting alone on one of the platforms of the play structure. When I picked her up, she said that school was fine. I mentioned her sitting alone at recess, and she said something embarrassing had happened, and wouldn't tell me what it was. I asked her did someone see up her dress while she was climbing, did she pass gas, did she fall, did her friend make fun of her? No, none of those, so I just let it go.

The last two days I've given up walking her to school and we've gone early and had breakfast at the school. She seems happier with that, but I want to start walking again once our schedule evens out a bit.

[Karry]

She was upset again on Tuesday morning, but has been better these last couple of days. This morning she walked right up to her teacher and the rest of her class without needing me to "drag" her to her teacher. She seems to be happier and wanted to buy her lunch today.

Kacey also usually won't talk much about her day especially if something has bothered her. She did finally tell me that one of the girls in her class teases some of the other kids including Kacey's best friend. It's pretty sad that they start teasing and name calling in the first grade.

[Flor]

It is sad. When I taught 1st grade, we had a group of incoming girls that we purposely split into separate 1st grade classes because they terrorized the other girls as kindergarterners. The whole "I'm-not-your-friend-if you-don't-whatever" thing. It was bad. They were all really cute, seemingly sweet girls, too. : Yuck.