Concerned about kindergarten

[Anonymous]

My niece can't read and can't do basic math. She has some learning problem and speech delay, and she has IEP since she was a few months old. She is told that she will be mainstream in K. She has concerns about her iliteracy for long time, but private daycare teachers/IEP have told her that that it is considered "normal" that she can't read any single word or do basic math like 1+2 at age 5.

What happens if she still can't read or do basic math at K next year? When will the school be concerned about her learning struggles and give her extra supports when standards are so low these days? Can a kid fail K? Most importantly, how could she do homework, reading or MAP test at K? SIL wants me to ask on this forum. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Relax, she'll be fine and hopefully her parents and SLP will work with her on reading.

[Anonymous]

Mainstream K in public school with IEP should give her access to reading specialist, speech pathologist, and other services like OT if part of her plan. Even if she makes no progress -- highly unlikely! -- between now and next August/September when the new school year begins, she will be fine and definitely not the only kid who can't read yet. Homework and standardized testing should NOT be concerns on K.

[Anonymous]

Of course it’s normal that she can’t read before kinder! Or do addition! They teach those things in kindergarten, so nothing you have said suggests that your niece is behind at all. I believe you about a speech delay, but most incoming kinder kids can’t read (no matter what the parents need to tell themselves).

[Anonymous]

K is when kids are supposed to start learning how to read and do basic math. If they already know basic math and reading before K, that’s liable to cause other problems.

This post reminds me of the worries my youngest daughter (now grown) had about math before starting K, even though she actually did have some basic math before K. When she started K and they were doing things like sorting shapes into patterns, she asked us why there wasn’t any math. We had to explain to her that the patterns were the math for K.

The main thing I’d be concerned about is making sure she gets phonics. While MCPS has always claimed to teach phonics, the old curriculum was not phonics based. They’ve since changed curriculums, and hopefully this one is better, but I don’t know the content. You want to make sure that as your niece is learning to read, she learns how to sound out words and uses that technique as her primary approach to reading unfamiliar words.

[Anonymous]

My kids knew their ABCs and basic phonics but I'm pretty sure couldn't read before K. They managed to be above grade level.

[Anonymous]

This is op. SIL sent niece to a full time private daycare that has accredicated program for daily illiteracy/math/phonics since she was age 2. When other kids attending at the same daycare knows how to read at least some basic board books or basic books, she is obviously falling behind compared to others. Private preschool teachers and IEP teachers are aware of that her progress is a lot a lot slower compared to other kids. She has been questioning if she wastefully spends $2300 a month for daycare & $300 a month for private speech therapy with just minimal progress. SIL has been reading her book daily since she was little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. SIL sent niece to a full time private daycare that has accredicated program for daily illiteracy/math/phonics since she was age 2. When other kids attending at the same daycare knows how to read at least some basic board books or basic books, she is obviously falling behind compared to others. Private preschool teachers and IEP teachers are aware of that her progress is a lot a lot slower compared to other kids. She has been questioning if she wastefully spends $2300 a month for daycare & $300 a month for private speech therapy with just minimal progress. SIL has been reading her book daily since she was little.

This is one of the more bizarre threads I've read on DCUM in a while, and that's saying something. This kid isn't even in kindergarten yet and you and the mom think they are behind because they can't read or do math? WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. SIL sent niece to a full time private daycare that has accredicated program for daily illiteracy/math/phonics since she was age 2. When other kids attending at the same daycare knows how to read at least some basic board books or basic books, she is obviously falling behind compared to others. Private preschool teachers and IEP teachers are aware of that her progress is a lot a lot slower compared to other kids. She has been questioning if she wastefully spends $2300 a month for daycare & $300 a month for private speech therapy with just minimal progress. SIL has been reading her book daily since she was little.

I guarantee you that most MCPS kindergartners were not learning to read at age 2. Frankly, that preschool sounds developmentally inappropriate.

I have no idea whether or not your niece may have learning disabilities. I think a lot of these skills are developmental, and kids naturally develop at different rates. She may have been falling behind her preschool classmates who were artificially accelerated, but that doesn’t mean she’s behind her kindergarten peers. While it sounds like she may have speech problems that require therapy, those don’t mean she won’t be able to keep up, or even excel academically.

Montgomery County offers free speech therapy for preschoolers through Child Find.
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/child-find

[Anonymous]

In case you’re interested, here’s a Kindergarten Readiness checklist from MCPS of the skills your niece should have next year when she starts Kindergarten.
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/elementary-schools/a-c/bannockburnes/uploadedfiles/kindergarten20readiness.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My niece can't read and can't do basic math. She has some learning problem and speech delay, and she has IEP since she was a few months old. She is told that she will be mainstream in K. She has concerns about her iliteracy for long time, but private daycare teachers/IEP have told her that that it is considered "normal" that she can't read any single word or do basic math like 1+2 at age 5.

What happens if she still can't read or do basic math at K next year? When will the school be concerned about her learning struggles and give her extra supports when standards are so low these days? Can a kid fail K? Most importantly, how could she do homework, reading or MAP test at K? SIL wants me to ask on this forum. Thank you.

Why are you repeatedly using the word "illiteracy" for a preschooler?

[Anonymous]

You are borrowing trouble. Most kids aren’t reading and doing arithmetic a year before they hit kindergarten. There is no reason to think she shouldn’t be mainstreamed.

Also, you might want to check out the non mainstream programs. They are not what you want.

[Anonymous]

I am a K teacher in mcps.
The professionals are correct that it is not a concern that a child can’t read or do basic math at the age of 4 or age 5 (entering k). In fact, entering k with those skills would be advanced.
The school will be concerned if the child fails to make progress academically and/or does not pick up basic routines and rules.
It is exceptionally rare for a child to repeat any grade, particularly k-2 and it is virtually impossible with an IEP in place.
Homework and standardized testing are by far not the “most important “ questions you listed.

The preschool program does not sound developmentally appropriate. The list of skills linked a few posts back is a good list. If a kid comes in with the skills listed there, I should be able to get them where they need to be at the end of k.
This child already has an IEP so there should be a transition into K meeting with their homeschool in the late spring. Be sure to ask the preschool about that. Until then, please tell your SIL to relax; she is borrowing needless worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are borrowing trouble. Most kids aren’t reading and doing arithmetic a year before they hit kindergarten. There is no reason to think she shouldn’t be mainstreamed.

Also, you might want to check out the non mainstream programs. They are not what you want.

I agree. My child didn’t talk until 3 and couldn’t read until 7. She’s graduating this year with a great GPA, 9 APs, and a really high SAT.

Don’t borrow trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My niece can't read and can't do basic math. She has some learning problem and speech delay, and she has IEP since she was a few months old. She is told that she will be mainstream in K. She has concerns about her iliteracy for long time, but private daycare teachers/IEP have told her that that it is considered "normal" that she can't read any single word or do basic math like 1+2 at age 5.

What happens if she still can't read or do basic math at K next year? When will the school be concerned about her learning struggles and give her extra supports when standards are so low these days? Can a kid fail K? Most importantly, how could she do homework, reading or MAP test at K? SIL wants me to ask on this forum. Thank you.

My daughter is in K and they are still
Working on letters . . . Some
Kids can read but it is not expected at all and most can’t. They are still
Counting and grouping for math.

It will be good for her to be mainstream. The end what you want.

I have one advances and and 1 special needs. She will be fine in K.