What would you do? The opposite of redshirting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

You're being completely ridiculous. Your high-schoolgirl experience in daycares is completely irrelevant to our preschool, where every teacher has a 4-year degree. They do everything you mention and more, painting, playdoh, art project every day, playground, science, music, pretend play, field trips, travel stories, yoga, seasonal performances, what have you. I get that you think my son *ought not* be able to read and love it, and you're entitled to your opinion but not your own stories. I'll take a full waitlist and tons of happy parents and kids over your high-school memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you did your kid a disservice by placing him in such an academically rigorous program as a toddler. You say you want to do what is best but evidence shows play based learning is best for young kids. To answer you original question. The absolute only way you will find out is calling the principal and even if they say ok, you have to count on principals not changing before your kid actually starts at that school. You could always just private forever though.

I am not sure why you say that. The purpose of preschools isn't to carve children into whatever mold FCPS has issued; it's to provide an appropriately structured engagement that helps children learn and grow. The fact that he learned lots of things at preschool doesn't mean he learned it while chained to his desk. They do maybe an hour of "academics" a day - the rest of the day is all play during which they learn lots of things.

How many hours a day is your kid in preschool? Are you sure you don't mean daycare with an academic model? I'm very impressed that a school is teaching toddlers to read in multiple languages through play.

It's a full-time program, a preschool/daycare model - academics & play in the morning, more play/activities after lunch. Same as every other full-time facility with "preschool" in its name. A four-year old is hardly a toddler.

So they do zero academic work until the kids move up to the four year old group, then they teach them to read and write in two languages in a year?

You just keep making things up, don't you? Literacy is a continuum. I never said zero academic work happens before the pre-K class. The 3-year olds may learn ABCs, blocks, songs, cards, what have you. The 4-year olds learn to write, learn to read simple words, review word families. The goal is to promote literacy in age-appropriate ways, and kids move toward this goal in age-appropriate steps. Some arrive faster.

This all sounds age-inappropriate to me, but obviously there's a market for it. (Flashcards for 3 year olds? Teaching 4 year olds to read?). Sad.

Yeah none of that is really age appropriate. Not to say some kids don't learn to read at that point, but that level of teaching really isn't backed by research at that age.

Quite a few 4-year old read. It's not *that* uncommon. You think they arrive at it by divine inspiration? My son reads and loves it, no one makes him do it at home yet he has his nose in a book as often as not. I like it and I'll take that over your ideas of what is and is not age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

You're missing the point. Teaching reading like you are describing is not age appropriate. Doesn't mean it doesn't work but it is not what is best for the child. Many children learn to read - before K! - through age appropriate academics if they are ready. It doesn't matter if you like it or whatever, that doesn't make it age appropriate or a good daycare. Nothing to do with me thinking he shouldn't read, though if he was truly ready to read at 4 he would have picked it up without the flash cards and book work, but whatever. Keep on keeping on. The more you talk the happier I am my kid doesn't go to your daycare.

[Anonymous]

It is scientific research, not "my idea" of what is appropriate. Studies show play based learning is superior. HTH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

You're being completely ridiculous. Your high-schoolgirl experience in daycares is completely irrelevant to our preschool, where every teacher has a 4-year degree. They do everything you mention and more, painting, playdoh, art project every day, playground, science, music, pretend play, field trips, travel stories, yoga, seasonal performances, what have you. I get that you think my son *ought not* be able to read and love it, and you're entitled to your opinion but not your own stories. I'll take a full waitlist and tons of happy parents and kids over your high-school memories.

Which daycare is it?

[Anonymous]

My kids all figured out reading before K while attending lovely play based preschools. Reading before K is not a big deal. I'm not sure why OP thinks it is.

[Anonymous]

Gifted DC who entered kindergarten testing at a 3rd grade level though reading much higher loved the kindergarten year more than first grade. I'm not sure skipping to first grade would help anything. First grade is more of a grind and less engaging. It helps to be more mature socially and emotionally. i recommend a private school that will work with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're missing the point. Teaching reading like you are describing is not age appropriate. Doesn't mean it doesn't work but it is not what is best for the child. Many children learn to read - before K! - through age appropriate academics if they are ready. It doesn't matter if you like it or whatever, that doesn't make it age appropriate or a good daycare. Nothing to do with me thinking he shouldn't read, though if he was truly ready to read at 4 he would have picked it up without the flash cards and book work, but whatever. Keep on keeping on. The more you talk the happier I am my kid doesn't go to your daycare.

There is no one "best" way to teach reading, nor is there one "right" way to pick it up. It worked for him. You sort out your kid, and I'll sort out mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gifted DC who entered kindergarten testing at a 3rd grade level though reading much higher loved the kindergarten year more than first grade. I'm not sure skipping to first grade would help anything. First grade is more of a grind and less engaging. It helps to be more mature socially and emotionally. i recommend a private school that will work with you.

He wouldn't skip to first grade. He'd just attend K elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

You guys, I'm starting to think OP is an elaborately clever troll. Think of all the hot button issues she is posting about-redshirting, daycare vs. regular preschool, how her gifted child is so amazing, all the teachers at her daycare have bachelor's degrees... (truly, this seems very expensive! Think of how many teachers daycares need to hire to cover the whole day. Several per classroom and all making 30k+?). And she keeps coming back to argue with people. Yup, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

You're being completely ridiculous. Your high-schoolgirl experience in daycares is completely irrelevant to our preschool, where every teacher has a 4-year degree. They do everything you mention and more, painting, playdoh, art project every day, playground, science, music, pretend play, field trips, travel stories, yoga, seasonal performances, what have you. I get that you think my son *ought not* be able to read and love it, and you're entitled to your opinion but not your own stories. I'll take a full waitlist and tons of happy parents and kids over your high-school memories.

Well, based on this post I would say it is 100% not Communikids or Early Steps. Neither have all teachers with bachelors degrees for sure. Hmmm. Any other ideas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you did your kid a disservice by placing him in such an academically rigorous program as a toddler. You say you want to do what is best but evidence shows play based learning is best for young kids. To answer you original question. The absolute only way you will find out is calling the principal and even if they say ok, you have to count on principals not changing before your kid actually starts at that school. You could always just private forever though.

I am not sure why you say that. The purpose of preschools isn't to carve children into whatever mold FCPS has issued; it's to provide an appropriately structured engagement that helps children learn and grow. The fact that he learned lots of things at preschool doesn't mean he learned it while chained to his desk. They do maybe an hour of "academics" a day - the rest of the day is all play during which they learn lots of things.

How many hours a day is your kid in preschool? Are you sure you don't mean daycare with an academic model? I'm very impressed that a school is teaching toddlers to read in multiple languages through play.

It's a full-time program, a preschool/daycare model - academics & play in the morning, more play/activities after lunch. Same as every other full-time facility with "preschool" in its name. A four-year old is hardly a toddler.

So they do zero academic work until the kids move up to the four year old group, then they teach them to read and write in two languages in a year?

You just keep making things up, don't you? Literacy is a continuum. I never said zero academic work happens before the pre-K class. The 3-year olds may learn ABCs, blocks, songs, cards, what have you. The 4-year olds learn to write, learn to read simple words, review word families. The goal is to promote literacy in age-appropriate ways, and kids move toward this goal in age-appropriate steps. Some arrive faster.

This all sounds age-inappropriate to me, but obviously there's a market for it. (Flashcards for 3 year olds? Teaching 4 year olds to read?). Sad.

Yeah none of that is really age appropriate. Not to say some kids don't learn to read at that point, but that level of teaching really isn't backed by research at that age.

Quite a few 4-year old read. It's not *that* uncommon. You think they arrive at it by divine inspiration? My son reads and loves it, no one makes him do it at home yet he has his nose in a book as often as not. I like it and I'll take that over your ideas of what is and is not age appropriate.

Pretty much. Many early readers pick it up naturally, just by being exposed to great books. They aren't taught it with flashcards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys, I'm starting to think OP is an elaborately clever troll. Think of all the hot button issues she is posting about-redshirting, daycare vs. regular preschool, how her gifted child is so amazing, all the teachers at her daycare have bachelor's degrees... (truly, this seems very expensive! Think of how many teachers daycares need to hire to cover the whole day. Several per classroom and all making 30k+?). And she keeps coming back to argue with people. Yup, troll.

Have to agree. That, or her initial question was legit and she started making stuff up to try to make it sound better when she didn't get the answer she wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

You're being completely ridiculous. Your high-schoolgirl experience in daycares is completely irrelevant to our preschool, where every teacher has a 4-year degree. They do everything you mention and more, painting, playdoh, art project every day, playground, science, music, pretend play, field trips, travel stories, yoga, seasonal performances, what have you. I get that you think my son *ought not* be able to read and love it, and you're entitled to your opinion but not your own stories. I'll take a full waitlist and tons of happy parents and kids over your high-school memories.

So how would a junior kindergarten at another daycare or school be any better than what he has now? If it is all that you say it is, you aren't going to find something better. Just leave him at this wonderful Lake Wobegon NOTADAYCARE for another year, then start K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

You're being completely ridiculous. Your high-schoolgirl experience in daycares is completely irrelevant to our preschool, where every teacher has a 4-year degree. They do everything you mention and more, painting, playdoh, art project every day, playground, science, music, pretend play, field trips, travel stories, yoga, seasonal performances, what have you. I get that you think my son *ought not* be able to read and love it, and you're entitled to your opinion but not your own stories. I'll take a full waitlist and tons of happy parents and kids over your high-school memories.

Well, based on this post I would say it is 100% not Communikids or Early Steps. Neither have all teachers with bachelors degrees for sure. Hmmm. Any other ideas?

I'm at a loss. Even in this area I can't think of any daycare that requires everyone to have a BA. Maybe it is in Arlington or DC (if it exists.)