trying to be a relaxed mom of a Kindergardener.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 2nd grade class still hasn't had their DRA and no reading groups yet but there are word study groups. Anyone else in that boat?

The DRA has a specific window when it can be given. Don't know when it is but quite possible that's the reason.

[Anonymous]

Our K and 1st are bored out of their mind. At least the 1st grade teacher will let a group of them get a book from the library and read. The K teacher insists all participate in alphabet learning.

The sad part is there are 3 K classes, they could easily split the kids up by ability and challange them all. Instead, every class has the entire range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sad part is there are 3 K classes, they could easily split the kids up by ability and challange them all. Instead, every class has the entire range.

And schools are supposed to group new kindergarteners into classes, before school starts, based on ability how??? It's not like this is known for everyone coming through the door. And let's just not get into the legality of "tracking" that this implies. If you are not happy with the level of work, ask the teacher about differentiation. Plus, remember, all you need to learn in life is learned in kindergarten and I know that quote is not referring to the academic rigor. Let's make sure these little ones have the work and life skills too. I'll get down from my soapbox now.

[Anonymous]

I've asked the teacher before and am told he'll get challenging work but it turns out they mean just once every two weeks or as homework. I would like to see challenging work done in the classroom on a very regular basis. This is really a math issue for us since they spend a lot less time on this subject and seem to fit in differentiation somewhere in the long language arts block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools are so busy teaching basic English to a diverse population that many kids who could do more are being forced to do worksheets of things that they learned in preschool. So many kids aren't being challenged at all. I just hope my kids don't fall in the gap of being not gifted enough for AAP, yet too bright for the regular curriculum.

Is this a joke? Busy teaching English to a "diverse population." What does that mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our K and 1st are bored out of their mind. At least the 1st grade teacher will let a group of them get a book from the library and read. The K teacher insists all participate in alphabet learning.

The sad part is there are 3 K classes, they could easily split the kids up by ability and challange them all. Instead, every class has the entire range.

So stop complaining and send you kids to Nysmith if K and 1st are sooooo boring. Seriously, if you have nice and engaging children they will learn and grow in just about any environment. Especially in the area that they need it most at that age, social skills! But you're probably filling their heads with how much smarter they are than the others and how bored they should be instead of teaching them how to make friends, accept others and how to learn something in any situation.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the "academics" in K are pretty minimal. Much of it is "review" of things already learned in preschool (and contrary to pp's view, the vast majority of public school kids in NoVA have been to preschool). I think K is much more about learning what school is all about - they go to art class, they have PE, music class, Spanish (in Arlington, at least). They learn to navigate the cafeteria, how to go see the school nurse when they get a bump on the playground. There's TONS of socialization; new experiences; new people.

I may be in the minority around here, but I trust the schools & teachers to know what they're doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child has been to preschool, FCPS Kindergarten will be very, very easy. Too easy. Now that my second child has started school in FCPS, I've realized that the entire Kindergarten - 2nd grade is just a matter of biding time until they are allowed to enter a more rigorous AAP program.

I'll be the first to say that my kids are smart, but not truly gifted. The schools are so busy teaching basic English to a diverse population that many kids who could do more are being forced to do worksheets of things that they learned in preschool. So many kids aren't being challenged at all. I just hope my kids don't fall in the gap of being not gifted enough for AAP, yet too bright for the regular curriculum.

SPOT ON!! K through 2nd Grade is basically about keeping your hands to yourself, raising your hand, and learning to eat fast or not at all in public school.

OP, you should, if you haven't already, volunteer at the school one day so that you can get up close and personal....even if it's for the lunch hour. If public school is your only option, then you can either supplement at home and just endure what public school has to offer. I have seen many threads like this on DCUM and fo rthe most part, a lot of the posts have that tone of, "Just shut up and color." or "Just go with the flow." If you are the kind of parent that takes even a slight interest in your child's education outside of just enrolling them in the school you are zoned for, then public school will frustrate you. Some parents do the work at home in the early years. Others do not. That is just reality. As for the public schools, they are catering to the lowest common denominator when it comes to behavior and academics. Welcome to the world of No Child Left Behind. As the PP said, K through 2nd Grade is like this. In 3rd Grade, it gets a bit better, but not that much. I would say 4th since that is when the enrichment programs are introduced. There are some really great Private Schools out there to include Montessori. However, it costs. If you have the means, then great. If not, then just do the best you can. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've asked the teacher before and am told he'll get challenging work but it turns out they mean just once every two weeks or as homework. I would like to see challenging work done in the classroom on a very regular basis. This is really a math issue for us since they spend a lot less time on this subject and seem to fit in differentiation somewhere in the long language arts block.

Usually, there is just one teacher managing a group of 20+ kids at varying skill levels. To ask her to do anything above and beyond what she normally does may be a lot to ask. She is doing the best she can without very much help, if any at all. I am not a teacher, but am empathetic to this, which is why I pulled my 1st Grader out of public school and enrolled her back into private. I do a lot with both my kids at home in the ways of teaching life and academic skills. I just wanted to know that my kids would be getting a better experience at school. They both already learned to keep their hands to themselves and be patient in their early years. Shouldn't those skills be learned early on??? At 5, shouldn't kids be given more responsibility instead of keeping your hands to yourself, standing in a single file line, not getting up from the lunch table to get utensils or a drink of water, and so forth. Are we trying to scare these kids??? I do not even cater to my children this way at home. If they want water, then they know where to find the cup and water along with ice. If they need a spoon, they know where to get it. I mean really....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our K and 1st are bored out of their mind. At least the 1st grade teacher will let a group of them get a book from the library and read. The K teacher insists all participate in alphabet learning.

The sad part is there are 3 K classes, they could easily split the kids up by ability and challange them all. Instead, every class has the entire range.

So stop complaining and send you kids to Nysmith if K and 1st are sooooo boring. Seriously, if you have nice and engaging children they will learn and grow in just about any environment. Especially in the area that they need it most at that age, social skills! But you're probably filling their heads with how much smarter they are than the others and how bored they should be instead of teaching them how to make friends, accept others and how to learn something in any situation.

I am going to speak in behalf of the poster. For the person that replied above, you sure are defensive. I know...I know....just shut up and color. Our Educational System is all good for our lower elementary kids, right? Everything is peachy king. Is that what you are saying??? Hmmmm...who are you voting for? Or do you even care???

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but "peachy king" just made me spit tea all over my iPad

[Anonymous]

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our K and 1st are bored out of their mind. At least the 1st grade teacher will let a group of them get a book from the library and read. The K teacher insists all participate in alphabet learning.

The sad part is there are 3 K classes, they could easily split the kids up by ability and challange them all. Instead, every class has the entire range.

So stop complaining and send you kids to Nysmith if K and 1st are sooooo boring. Seriously, if you have nice and engaging children they will learn and grow in just about any environment. Especially in the area that they need it most at that age, social skills! But you're probably filling their heads with how much smarter they are than the others and how bored they should be instead of teaching them how to make friends, accept others and how to learn something in any situation.

I am going to speak in behalf of the poster. For the person that replied above, you sure are defensive. I know...I know....just shut up and color. Our Educational System is all good for our lower elementary kids, right? Everything is peachy king. Is that what you are saying??? Hmmmm...who are you voting for? Or do you even care???

What difference does it make who I'm voting for? What a baseless and downright silly assumption. I have two children who went K-5 and K-8 in FCPS schools. Both are in AAP and both were on the highest end of achievers in their K and 1st grade classes. They did just fine. My response to the OP wasn't about apathy or low achievement it was about the fact that you can have a varying spectrum of learners in a class and still challenge and inspire ALL of them.

[Anonymous]

NP. I am a recovering "trying to be a relaxed parent of K." I felt the same as OP when my kids were in K because the curriculum seemed so slow. My ideal was a super small class size and an accelerated curriculum, but was not in a position to pay $25K a year per child.

While I was antsy, my kids, who performed above grade level across the board, were NOT. They were not bored or unhappy in any way. On the contrary, they were happy to breeze through the reading/math and LOVED art, science and history and also, just being around friends.

My concerns were that they were not working at their potential and that they were learning to "coast." I am still a bit concerned about the "coasting" part - I sought out activities that would challenge them outside of school to address this. Otherwise, I am coming to see things a different way - that my kids have years and years and years ahead of working hard and finding ways to max out their academic potential and that the first few years - as long as there is a soild foundation - really should be about getting the kids off to a happy, positive start to their "formal" education. I've become more sensitive to the "race to nowhere" culture common in this area, taken a deep breath and made big attempts just to let them be kids for now. I am still very invested and involved, but have taken a few steps back from worrying so much about how challenged my kids are at school right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I am a recovering "trying to be a relaxed parent of K." I felt the same as OP when my kids were in K because the curriculum seemed so slow. My ideal was a super small class size and an accelerated curriculum, but was not in a position to pay $25K a year per child.

While I was antsy, my kids, who performed above grade level across the board, were NOT. They were not bored or unhappy in any way. On the contrary, they were happy to breeze through the reading/math and LOVED art, science and history and also, just being around friends.

My concerns were that they were not working at their potential and that they were learning to "coast." I am still a bit concerned about the "coasting" part - I sought out activities that would challenge them outside of school to address this. Otherwise, I am coming to see things a different way - that my kids have years and years and years ahead of working hard and finding ways to max out their academic potential and that the first few years - as long as there is a soild foundation - really should be about getting the kids off to a happy, positive start to their "formal" education. I've become more sensitive to the "race to nowhere" culture common in this area, taken a deep breath and made big attempts just to let them be kids for now. I am still very invested and involved, but have taken a few steps back from worrying so much about how challenged my kids are at school right now.

+1