Kindergarten really is first grade

[MrsK]

In the mixed age classroom that K1 was in during residency, the oldest children (particularly the 5yo girls who just barely missed the kindergarten cut off) were writing entire paragraphs by the end of the school year. I don't think I did that until 3rd grade.

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[HouseofWool]

After a couple of years of part time day care, Sophie had pretty much met all of the mid to year end goals for 4k. By the end of 4K she had met many if not most of the 5K year end goals and was actively seeking out early reader books because she was bored. If she isn't reading independently by Christmas, I will be shocked.

But, having reading as a requirement for K is asinine.

[MrsK]

SuzySunshine, didn't you have a concern about A not reading when she started kindergarten? Am I remembering that right? Is this unique to our locale?

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[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I'm going to miss out on any free time with my daughter unless I stop working soon

I don't think we are going to do extensive preschool either. I miss her already.

Lord, I might end up homeschooling

These are the main reasons I may end up homeschooling. I am missing her babyhood/toddlerhood. She painted the letters "D", "A", and "L" at craft time today completely unprompted (we've been pointing them out because they're in her nickname, nanny sent a pic). Time needs to slow down at least while I'm still working!!!

The problem is that many working parents (and particular low income parents) cannot send kids to preschool because it's a) expensive or b) doesn't cover their working hours. This puts those kids behind before school even STARTS. I don't know how we expect teachers to get everyone to the same (rather advanced) level if the starting places are so different!!

[GrayMatterWife]

Yup. My kid is supposed to be reading before kindergarten. I thought kids were taught to read in kindergarten. He's behind now because he can't write his full name (8 letters)

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DH is a neurosurgeon. NEUROSURGEON. He learned to read at 6-1/2.

Who cares!? My son hated reading and my kindergarten school screamed at me and told me I was dropping the ball as a parent.

I am TOTALLY over crazy parents, crazy schools, and crazy commitments over-academic-ize kids.

Homeschooling is not for everyone and there are days when it tests my patience. But it really is a great solution for preserving childhood. My kids are mouthy, aren't stressed, and STOP DOING SCHOOLWORK at 3:00PM.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Frankly, I have bigger fish to fry. Like teaching emotional self regulation and following directions and staying on task and playing nicely with others. If he recognizes all the letters and numbers to 10, I'll consider that successful. If he knows his letter sounds and can count to 50, that's extra. Maybe he can't read but in the last week he's learned how hot air balloons work and how fish breathe under water.

I think that's awesome. He's very obviously an experiential learner. With the right teacher, he's going to be a rock star student. As you already know well though, the wrong teacher will.not.work. I just feel badly for lower income kids or kids who's parent will not advocate for them - if they come in behind, they'll likely stay behind. We're setting them up to fail.

[houseelf]

Well....this is only my third rodeo, but I can tell you this was a HUGE reason we held our May 29th birthday boy. I feel terrible for working parents, low income parents, foster parents...people who can't afford preschool or some sort of homeschooling preschool option. It's truly not fair.

One of my kids was reading proficiently at three. Still, she struggled mightily with social expectations until about...oh fourth grade. Another was reading at the end of kindergarten after a year due to the fact that he attended n a super expensive private montessori with only 5 other kids in his kindergarten class. My third one isn't super interested in reading and writing but chooses bead work, blocks, and spatial work all.day.long. Boys tend to be less linguistically proficient, less able to physically conform to classroom regulation, and boom are therefore start out less successful. It is ridic. It is like anything else, a kid is either developmentally ready for a stage or she's not. Rushing it will just bring frustration for all parties involved. I feel so sad for these little people with the weight of global competition on their shoulders. They have a loooong way to go. They really need to love kindergarten because they are in it for the long haul.

Such a shame.

(Bon Bon...two hours in first grade? OMG, I'm not sure I wouldn't have gone on CNN for that one. That's ridic.)

[MrsK]

I think that's awesome. He's very obviously an experiential learner. With the right teacher, he's going to be a rock star student. As you already know well though, the wrong teacher will.not.work. I just feel badly for lower income kids or kids who's parent will not advocate for them - if they come in behind, they'll likely stay behind. We're setting them up to fail.

I follow his lead. He'll just randomly ask me to explain things like why jumping beans jump and whether they are eatable. If I don't know, we look it up and sometimes find a movie about it on you tube or at the library. The jumping beans by the way, jump because a moth larve grows inside of it and the larve has convulsions when the bean is heated. After we read an encyclopedia entry about it, K1 concluded that jumping beans are more like eggs than beans or seeds which I thought was an interesting observation. Today's discussion about fish led to a question about why humans cannot breathe under water, whether there's oxygen under water, and then another about how mermaids breathe under water which totally stumped me.

Remember, this is the same kid who asked the librarian for books and movies about penguins and spent two weeks researching before deciding whether he liked penguins when he was 2yo.

Regardless of whether he knows all his sight words 12 months from now, he's going to be ok. It's really more a matter of teaching him how to interact in the classroom that will determine his longer term success in school.

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[scrub-jay]

Mermaids have gills, like fish.

[MrsK]

Mermaids have gills, like fish.

That's what *I* thought! He says that it's magic. I *knew* I should have made a bet.

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[Pollyanna]

Well....this is only my third rodeo, but I can tell you this was a HUGE reason we held our May 29th birthday boy. I feel terrible for working parents, low income parents, foster parents...people who can't afford preschool or some sort of homeschooling preschool option. It's truly not fair.

I'm glad you bring this up!! We red shirted our ds18 because of a late July birthday, but folks here redshirt just out of principle. So dd5 has many 6 year olds that will turn 7 in kindergarten. She has kids that are a full year older. I am all for red shirting, I truly support it and think it was positive for our son but it seems when you have kids turning 7 during January in kinder that is kind of nuts. And this is not red shirting for developmental issues, this is just to give their kids a leg up. I can't blame parents, I getting it but it seems that there has to be some sort of cut off.

Eh, on preschool. I know lots of parents that don't believe in preschool and their kids did great in kinder and beyond. The first few weeks were hard but once they got in the swing of things they did great. Dd5 did only one year of preschool and she is more advanced than some of our other kids that did three years.

[SuzySunshine]

I was worried about A not reading last year when she started K. After a year I've decided it doesn't matter. She's reading site word like books, if she doesn't one a word she usually guesses rather then sounding it out. I'm not worried. A is GREAT at anything related to math and I've heard they usually pick up one or the other first. R will most likely be reading when he goes to K next year, he's just wired that way. They'll all be fine. As for preschool, I send my kids for the socialization and for me time. In my opinion play based preschool is the only way to go and anything academic they learn along the way is a bonus.