Teachers: why aren’t you weighing in on the redshirt debates?

[Anonymous]

For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

Since I am not basing my decision on delays or “academics”, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

There is no single test that will tell you whether to redshirt your child or not. A lot of parents (me included) who redshirt or consider it have kids who have been evaluated by professionals for various reasons. The redshirting conversation happens with those professionals, preschool teachers, and others. It's a very individual thing.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and the anti-teacher sentiment on DCUM is so strong that I’ve basically stopped chiming in. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure in the early years, teachers would prefer it because it makes their jobs easier. I don't know the stats, but here's one teacher's opinion:

https://www.moultrienews.com/opinion/teacher-to-parent---redshirting/article_716bfc5a-bc8b-11e6-9752-aff2a64700ff.html

[Anonymous]

The only people in the country who seem to be having this debate are on DCUM. As I was scrolling along I happened upon this post, so I thought that I would toss my two cents into the mix.
My Two Cents: You people worry too much.

[Anonymous]

We did not redshirt. All of the teachers we talked to said our kid was ready and there was no "all teachers say do it" or "all teachers say don't". It was an individual decision based on our individual kids. FWIW, I have a girl and boy, both born in August, both went to the same preschool. (And I hate the whole size bit so I'm not saying their size b/c that did not, and should not, factor.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

Since I am not basing my decision on delays or “academics”, no.

If it is social/emotional, then you think its best to ignore it and wait a year vs. getting an evaluation and services/help for your child to catch up. Sounds like lazy parenting. My child could do the academics with delays and we sent him. Far better to send them and let them get the support then ignore the problem hoping it will go away in a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

Since I am not basing my decision on delays or “academics”, no.

If it is social/emotional, then you think its best to ignore it and wait a year vs. getting an evaluation and services/help for your child to catch up. Sounds like lazy parenting. My child could do the academics with delays and we sent him. Far better to send them and let them get the support then ignore the problem hoping it will go away in a year.

But sometimes the problem does go away with another year of growing and maturity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My teacher spouse believes it creates fake "gifted" kids. They are accelerated in the early years in school because they start ahead of the other kids having gone through preschool twice (and often in a Preschool 1 then Preschool 2 program). They get easily bored in class and are then pushed into the gifted programs or at the very least given different work.

She says it all catches up with them in HS where she's a teacher (9th grade honors science course). Gifted in ES means they get in the advanced classes in MS and usually do okay, however, they flounder when funneled into the advanced/honors and AP tracks in HS.

Says she gets lots of parents who are very "my kid has NEVER had an issue until now so it is clearly not HIM that is the cause" and refuse to see that their kid isn't actually gifted like they thought.

That’s a very interesting point. I’ve been uncomfortable with the whole evaluation for aap in second grade thing, and this articulates why it can be an issue.

[Anonymous]

Because most of the people on DCUM who hate redshirting also hate teachers.

[Anonymous]

Fine. I'll bite.
I'm a teacher, I think redshirting is ridiculous. The notion that your kid should be the oldest is absurd. A good teacher is flexible and designs a curriculum that meets the child where he is at. A strong curriculum molds itself to the needs of the children, not the other way around. As a disclaimer, I should add that I teach at a well regarded private school, so I do have the flexibility to do this, but, I feel that private schools are where you see a lot of the redshirting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and the anti-teacher sentiment on DCUM is so strong that I’ve basically stopped chiming in. Not worth it.

I don’t blame you, and I’m sorry we’ve lost your insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who redshirt, did you have your child tested by someone (i.e., someone not involved with the current preschool, no self-interest)?

Since I am not basing my decision on delays or “academics”, no.

If it is social/emotional, then you think its best to ignore it and wait a year vs. getting an evaluation and services/help for your child to catch up. Sounds like lazy parenting. My child could do the academics with delays and we sent him. Far better to send them and let them get the support then ignore the problem hoping it will go away in a year.

But sometimes the problem does go away with another year of growing and maturity.

Thank you! I don’t need a professional to tell me tht my DD does better with kids her own age or younger. I have seen it and witnessed it a million times. I wish I could have kept her in my belly 2 more weeks (not even) and we would not be even having this conversation since she was born at 38 weeks and 8 days before the cutoff! Given all of this and the fact that her teachers think she will do better being older, why would EVER not hold her back?!?!? She is smart, but not a genius so I really don’t see the harm in holding her back and only issues with not doing it