"Redshirt" DS or not? Opinions please

[Anonymous]

DS will be 6 in April and is in a Montessori Kindergarten. We had planned on putting him in public 1st grade in September 2011.
1. He has partially overcome verbal, gross and fine motor delays (they are still there, but probably not enough to warrant an IEP).
2. Both at home and at school, he has significant trouble with lack of focus and is immature emotionally (his best friends are all a year younger than he is).
3. He will soon have an evaluation for suspected ADHD, inattentive type.
4. Even though his academic skills are fine, the head teacher says he has been able to attain such a level only with prolonged one-on-one attention from her (which he will not have in public school presumably) and that he might not feel happy with same-age, or more likely, older children.

His teacher says that if he were her son, she would put him next year in public school Kindergarten instead of 1st grade.

Would holding him back be allowed by the public school (Montgomery County) and if so, do you think it is a good idea?

Thank you for your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I don't have any insight for you, OP.

You will get a large variance of opinions on this here, but I implore you to really ignore most everybody on this forum. This is such a personal decision.

If it were me though, with the advice of his teacher, I'd hold him back. I think there probably aren't many negatives to holding him back as he would be going to a new school anyways and a LOT of possible negatives to putting him in 1st grade (which will be hard anyways due to many of the kids knowing each other from K). Yes, he will be likely the oldest kid in the class, but it really sounds like that may be the best decision for him.

[Anonymous]

OP, you could be talking about my son. We did an extra year of preschool and he has a late summer birthday so he entered kindergarten at 6 and first grade at 7. I can't imagine what it would have been like if he had entered kindergarten at 5. You have to do what is right for you and if his current teacher didn't care, she wouldn't be giving you this advice. If he needs one-on-one help to stay on track academically in kindergarten, first grade is going to be even harder. Been there. And he was in a Montessori kindergarten and didn't go through the same curriculum that his potential first grade classmates went through so he will be at another disadvantage. This is such a cliche but if you do k again you really will be giving your child time in Moco (I think you said you were in Moco) to see what he can handle. Also, it will give the school more time to observe him and potentially get him an IEP if he needs it. I can't see any disadvantages to holding back and only disadvantages to moving forward in first grade. good luck -- I know it's a tough decision but in the long-term of his life one year is such a short time compared to the potential benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS will be 6 in April and is in a Montessori Kindergarten. We had planned on putting him in public 1st grade in September 2011.
1. He has partially overcome verbal, gross and fine motor delays (they are still there, but probably not enough to warrant an IEP).
2. Both at home and at school, he has significant trouble with lack of focus and is immature emotionally (his best friends are all a year younger than he is).
3. He will soon have an evaluation for suspected ADHD, inattentive type.
4. Even though his academic skills are fine, the head teacher says he has been able to attain such a level only with prolonged one-on-one attention from her (which he will not have in public school presumably) and that he might not feel happy with same-age, or more likely, older children.

His teacher says that if he were her son, she would put him next year in public school Kindergarten instead of 1st grade.

Would holding him back be allowed by the public school (Montgomery County) and if so, do you think it is a good idea?

Thank you for your thoughts.

OP, this is my son. Only he has been diagnosed with ADHD combination type (hyper and innatentive). He is currently in a K light program and will go to private K next year. I have observed our neighborhood public 2x so far this year. No way will my child be ok there (others may, mine will not). He does not qualify for an IEP. What I saw were kids doing a lot on their own in K. Mine can't. He needs structure. We applied to 2 schools for K or 1st. We were told K by both (and it's what I figured anyway). I know a lot of people say don't red shirt, just put them in the appropriate grade and they will be given help. We struggled with this decision for a LONG time. We feel we are making the right decision for our DS.

What I was told by our public is to have DS come to K roundup and they would talk with him and decide if THEY thought K or 1st (most of the moco people I spoke with said go with age only though). If I were you, I would call your public and ask them if you can come and see the K class in action. You will be able to get an idea of where the K kids are now (socially and emotionally and educationally) and whether your son is where they are or not.

Just my 2 cents from everything that we have done so far for our DS.

[Anonymous]

I think you do have the option to hold back in MCPS..just no option to go early outise of a 6 week window. At my ES however, I have heard that they typically do not encourage kids to repeat kindergarten after doing in privately...it is all about $$. If they put a child in 1st grade they have saved the cost of 1 year of education. Cynical but true.

[Anonymous]

OP I am generally against red shirting but in your case I would do it. Elementary schools should be equipped to deal with a range of students and learning styles but they are not. The class sizes at public schools are very large and a child with ADHD combined will have to deal with discipline issues and get lost in trying to complete things on his own. The school may make accomodations in not counting some of this against him but they can't give him the environment or one on one attention that he would need. K is more set up to deal with kids at different levels.

The public schools will also not hold a child back without significant problems. If you run into problems in 1st grade you are basically stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS will be 6 in April and is in a Montessori Kindergarten. We had planned on putting him in public 1st grade in September 2011.
1. He has partially overcome verbal, gross and fine motor delays (they are still there, but probably not enough to warrant an IEP).
2. Both at home and at school, he has significant trouble with lack of focus and is immature emotionally (his best friends are all a year younger than he is).
3. He will soon have an evaluation for suspected ADHD, inattentive type.
4. Even though his academic skills are fine, the head teacher says he has been able to attain such a level only with prolonged one-on-one attention from her (which he will not have in public school presumably) and that he might not feel happy with same-age, or more likely, older children.

His teacher says that if he were her son, she would put him next year in public school Kindergarten instead of 1st grade.

Would holding him back be allowed by the public school (Montgomery County) and if so, do you think it is a good idea?

Thank you for your thoughts.

OP, this is my son. Only he has been diagnosed with ADHD combination type (hyper and innatentive). He is currently in a K light program and will go to private K next year. I have observed our neighborhood public 2x so far this year. No way will my child be ok there (others may, mine will not). He does not qualify for an IEP. What I saw were kids doing a lot on their own in K. Mine can't. He needs structure. We applied to 2 schools for K or 1st. We were told K by both (and it's what I figured anyway). I know a lot of people say don't red shirt, just put them in the appropriate grade and they will be given help. We struggled with this decision for a LONG time. We feel we are making the right decision for our DS.

What I was told by our public is to have DS come to K roundup and they would talk with him and decide if THEY thought K or 1st (most of the moco people I spoke with said go with age only though). If I were you, I would call your public and ask them if you can come and see the K class in action. You will be able to get an idea of where the K kids are now (socially and emotionally and educationally) and whether your son is where they are or not.

Just my 2 cents from everything that we have done so far for our DS.

But please keep in mind that where the kindergarten kids are NOW is nothing like where they were in September. I have a child with a very late summer birthday. When I went to last year's open house in March, I thought there was no way my child could work as quietly and independently as the kids I observed. and in September, she couldn't. Neither could most of the kids. They have all made enormous strides this year. So be careful in comparing your child now with children who are more than half way through kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

pp hee, I had a technical hiccup.
I meant to say kids halfway through kindergarten or first grade, whichever you are considering.

[Anonymous]

OP, you can definitely hold your child back a year. There is a form you have to fill out and have signed by your local ES principal and you have to have your child in an approved program (which you do) or home school in accordance with the applicable home school rules.

As far as what to do, when I was in your shoes a few years back, I listened to my DS's preschool teachers who were saying to hold him back. His MoCo therapists were saying to push him on (which is consistent with what a PP said about school staff saying to keep kids on their grade level). Had I sent him to kindergarten on grade level, he would have entered into the special education program (LFI or learning for independence). By holding him back, we were able to improve his skills to the point where he is successful in a regular classroom in the degree track. Obviously, we are very happy that we decided to hold him back. FWIW, we felt the preschool teachers knew the expectations that would be placed on my son when he reached school and that they knew my son far better than the therapists who were seeing him once every week or two for a half hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can definitely hold your child back a year. There is a form you have to fill out and have signed by your local ES principal and you have to have your child in an approved program (which you do) or home school in accordance with the applicable home school rules.

As far as what to do, when I was in your shoes a few years back, I listened to my DS's preschool teachers who were saying to hold him back. His MoCo therapists were saying to push him on (which is consistent with what a PP said about school staff saying to keep kids on their grade level). Had I sent him to kindergarten on grade level, he would have entered into the special education program (LFI or learning for independence). By holding him back, we were able to improve his skills to the point where he is successful in a regular classroom in the degree track. Obviously, we are very happy that we decided to hold him back. FWIW, we felt the preschool teachers knew the expectations that would be placed on my son when he reached school and that they knew my son far better than the therapists who were seeing him once every week or two for a half hour.

I think the issue is that OP's son is in a private kindergarten program, not preschool right now. It is unclear whether Moco will let a child repeat K when they have done it in a private program. But, if I were you OP, I would start talking to your local elementary principal and bring in your son's current private K teacher, if necessary, and go through every appeal if this is the avenue you decide is right for your child. Better to start now and get your ducks lined up rather than waiting until August when classes are even more full with new move-ins, etc. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

MoCo will allow repeating of kindergarten when a child is transferring from a private kindergarten. What MoCo will not do is allow repeating of a grade absent extenuating circumstances. If, as a parent, you request that your child will be held back, the best you can get is a committee convening to discuss it, but it's my understanding that usually they will turn you down. So, OP is right to try to make the best decision she can now about placement because she most likely won't get to revisit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS will be 6 in April and is in a Montessori Kindergarten. We had planned on putting him in public 1st grade in September 2011.
1. He has partially overcome verbal, gross and fine motor delays (they are still there, but probably not enough to warrant an IEP).
2. Both at home and at school, he has significant trouble with lack of focus and is immature emotionally (his best friends are all a year younger than he is).
3. He will soon have an evaluation for suspected ADHD, inattentive type.
4. Even though his academic skills are fine, the head teacher says he has been able to attain such a level only with prolonged one-on-one attention from her (which he will not have in public school presumably) and that he might not feel happy with same-age, or more likely, older children.

His teacher says that if he were her son, she would put him next year in public school Kindergarten instead of 1st grade.

Would holding him back be allowed by the public school (Montgomery County) and if so, do you think it is a good idea?

Thank you for your thoughts.

OP, this is my son. Only he has been diagnosed with ADHD combination type (hyper and innatentive). He is currently in a K light program and will go to private K next year. I have observed our neighborhood public 2x so far this year. No way will my child be ok there (others may, mine will not). He does not qualify for an IEP. What I saw were kids doing a lot on their own in K. Mine can't. He needs structure. We applied to 2 schools for K or 1st. We were told K by both (and it's what I figured anyway). I know a lot of people say don't red shirt, just put them in the appropriate grade and they will be given help. We struggled with this decision for a LONG time. We feel we are making the right decision for our DS.

What I was told by our public is to have DS come to K roundup and they would talk with him and decide if THEY thought K or 1st (most of the moco people I spoke with said go with age only though). If I were you, I would call your public and ask them if you can come and see the K class in action. You will be able to get an idea of where the K kids are now (socially and emotionally and educationally) and whether your son is where they are or not.

Just my 2 cents from everything that we have done so far for our DS.

But please keep in mind that where the kindergarten kids are NOW is nothing like where they were in September. I have a child with a very late summer birthday. When I went to last year's open house in March, I thought there was no way my child could work as quietly and independently as the kids I observed. and in September, she couldn't. Neither could most of the kids. They have all made enormous strides this year. So be careful in comparing your child now with children who are more than half way through kindergarten.

This is the OP who said to OP to compare her current K son to public K students now. If her son is currently in K then he should be at the same level (or thereabout) of a K student in public at this point in the year. My point really was that if her son isn't at the same level then she should very much consider holding him back. She may also want to compare her current K son to the pre-K kids (or kids 1 yr younger in his montessori program). If he is more on level with them then it would be aparent that red shirting would probably be the best thing. When I went to look I looked at K students and 1st grade students (knowing my son who would be a rising 1st grader would be no where near the level of those kids-I just wanted to see how far they had come), my goal was to figure out if my DS was at the same level of the K students (kids his age and doing similar work). My decision was that my DS was not where his K peers are now and he needs the extra year to get to the same place. Just wanted to clarify. I know this can become a heated topic.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP.
Thank you for all the comments!

As you know, the Montessori classroom is a mixed aged 3 to 5 year old class. This has allowed me to see that my son's work is at the 5-6 year old level, but that he gravitates towards the 3-4 year old kids for play. The teacher insisted that his attention problems would hinder his academic progress if she wasn't breathing down his shoulder ALL of the time. So even if we make him repeat Kindergarten in public school to pair him with younger children of similar maturity, he might still have problems due to his attention deficit.

Sigh. I have pondered this in my head all day and now have no idea what to do.

[Anonymous]

OP, I understand that you think you are confused. But from reading your posts, I think you really do know where you are. You seem to trust your teachers, which is leading you to think about holding your DS back. And you seem to be starting to recognize that there might be something more you need to do for him, like an ADHD eval and possibly medication eval or some other type of assessment.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you considered looking at a private school that caters to the issues you are dealing with (ie-small classes, individualized attention etc...)? Plus, I would look into an eval for your DS as well.