Second week of kindergarten and I think DS is going to be bored

[Anonymous]

Kindergarten is full of things to do and the children have a lot of time for "choice centers" and that kind of thing. They can read, build, draw, etc. When they are asked to write in class, maybe some other kids will just sound out a few words and your kid will write several sentences. When it's time to read maybe some other kids will struggle to read short amounts and your kid will enjoy more independent reading. My son was in K last year and I found there were many open-ended assignments and lessons that kids of all abilities could do.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat right now, also. My DD is a Sept birthday, tested and was accepted for early entrance into Kindergarten, is reading at a 3rd grade level, we opted to put her in a private Kindergarten when she just turned five, and now she is turning six this month and started Kindergarten in public schools. So she is repeating Kindergarten.

Yes, I do think she will be "bored" this year. But I think she is right where she should be socially. Plus, all of her new friends are all Sept and Oct birthdays, ironically! So, if we had "pushed" her she would have been almost one year younger than all of her new friends. While we think that might be fine for now, we thought it might catch up with her in the teen years. The entire reason why we decided to place her where the County says she should be is because of the teen years. We didn't want our DD to be the youngest and most impressionable when the pressures get tougher as they get older and face real issues.

We're already seeing the benefits though. On the second day of class, she was the only student who wrote and read her own introduction of herself in front of the class. Consequently, she was the only one who received applause. She was just beaming! She was so proud of herself. And I was extremely proud of the confidence she showed! She would NEVER have done that a year ago. Never. So we're hoping that this confidence just builds as the years go on.

I, myself, am a September birthday. And I would never have gone up in front of the class to introduce myself especially when not one other single student did. I also felt very young when I entered college at 17 years old. I was also the last one to get my drivers license. All things that made me feel younger and less mature than anyone in my high school class.

Its also not all about academics. I was a straight A student, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and excelled in every academic facet. Yet, socially, I was awkward. We're hoping that this extra year gives our DD more social confidence. She doesn't need the year for academics. She probably doesn't even need the year for social development. But we think it will help her overall confidence as the years go on.

Time will tell! In the end, we're all just trying to do the best for our kids. No one has the right answers.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all the responses. I don't know what county you are in. But I can tell you this, my kids attended 3 years of pre-school before entering into full day K at a FCPS. For the first two months it was assessing where the kids are so the teacher can get a feel of how to teach the kids. YES, some things are repetitive, but it's only the 2nd week, you can't possibly judge how the whole year is going to go.

Give it about 4 more weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC had a child in kindergarten held back with a birthday in April!! He is now in 2nd grade this year. I don't know what they were thinking.

That's right you have no idea. You should not judge. Sometimes holding back is for a darn good reason (not sports oriented or anything like that). Some kids actually NEED it. It does do some children some good. You don't have any right to judge. Worry about your own child. And no, I do not have a dog in this fight.

I don't have a dog in the fight, but we held back our spring birthday son and it was the best decision for him. We consulted with his preschool teachers, etc. Academics were fine-social maturity and attention not so much.

[Anonymous]

My DC was not taught on level for K, but is more so in 1st. To reiterate, kindergarten is not all about academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat right now, also. My DD is a Sept birthday, tested and was accepted for early entrance into Kindergarten, is reading at a 3rd grade level, we opted to put her in a private Kindergarten when she just turned five, and now she is turning six this month and started Kindergarten in public schools. So she is repeating Kindergarten.

Yes, I do think she will be "bored" this year. But I think she is right where she should be socially. Plus, all of her new friends are all Sept and Oct birthdays, ironically! So, if we had "pushed" her she would have been almost one year younger than all of her new friends. While we think that might be fine for now, we thought it might catch up with her in the teen years. The entire reason why we decided to place her where the County says she should be is because of the teen years. We didn't want our DD to be the youngest and most impressionable when the pressures get tougher as they get older and face real issues.

We're already seeing the benefits though. On the second day of class, she was the only student who wrote and read her own introduction of herself in front of the class. Consequently, she was the only one who received applause. She was just beaming! She was so proud of herself. And I was extremely proud of the confidence she showed! She would NEVER have done that a year ago. Never. So we're hoping that this confidence just builds as the years go on.

I, myself, am a September birthday. And I would never have gone up in front of the class to introduce myself especially when not one other single student did. I also felt very young when I entered college at 17 years old. I was also the last one to get my drivers license. All things that made me feel younger and less mature than anyone in my high school class.

Its also not all about academics. I was a straight A student, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and excelled in every academic facet. Yet, socially, I was awkward. We're hoping that this extra year gives our DD more social confidence. She doesn't need the year for academics. She probably doesn't even need the year for social development. But we think it will help her overall confidence as the years go on.

Time will tell! In the end, we're all just trying to do the best for our kids. No one has the right answers.

Barf! Time will tell you that you can't control everything, and it may just backfire on ya.

[Anonymous]

of course the other kids couldn't do all the introduction writing and reading - it's kindergarten and the kids are only 5. did you hold her back just so YOU will be feel like she's better than the other kids? hello - most 1st graders can do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat right now, also. My DD is a Sept birthday, tested and was accepted for early entrance into Kindergarten, is reading at a 3rd grade level, we opted to put her in a private Kindergarten when she just turned five, and now she is turning six this month and started Kindergarten in public schools. So she is repeating Kindergarten.

Yes, I do think she will be "bored" this year. But I think she is right where she should be socially. Plus, all of her new friends are all Sept and Oct birthdays, ironically! So, if we had "pushed" her she would have been almost one year younger than all of her new friends. While we think that might be fine for now, we thought it might catch up with her in the teen years. The entire reason why we decided to place her where the County says she should be is because of the teen years. We didn't want our DD to be the youngest and most impressionable when the pressures get tougher as they get older and face real issues.

We're already seeing the benefits though. On the second day of class, she was the only student who wrote and read her own introduction of herself in front of the class. Consequently, she was the only one who received applause. She was just beaming! She was so proud of herself. And I was extremely proud of the confidence she showed! She would NEVER have done that a year ago. Never. So we're hoping that this confidence just builds as the years go on.

I, myself, am a September birthday. And I would never have gone up in front of the class to introduce myself especially when not one other single student did. I also felt very young when I entered college at 17 years old. I was also the last one to get my drivers license. All things that made me feel younger and less mature than anyone in my high school class.

Its also not all about academics. I was a straight A student, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and excelled in every academic facet. Yet, socially, I was awkward. We're hoping that this extra year gives our DD more social confidence. She doesn't need the year for academics. She probably doesn't even need the year for social development. But we think it will help her overall confidence as the years go on.
Time will tell! In the end, we're all just trying to do the best for our kids. No one has the right answers.

Barf! Time will tell you that you can't control everything, and it may just backfire on ya.

If she doesn't need all these things why did you keep her back? wait back to you... tell me about your summa cum laude again???

[Anonymous]

OP, trust your instincts here. Contrary to what some PPs have stated, the research overwhelmingly indicates there are serious risks associated with a child, even as young as four or five, who is placed in a class having already mastered most of the material to be taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, trust your instincts here. Contrary to what some PPs have stated, the research overwhelmingly indicates there are serious risks associated with a child, even as young as four or five, who is placed in a class having already mastered most of the material to be taught.

Could you please provide more information on these serious risks? I admit I am skeptical. Especially because you included age 4 in your example -- an age at which, in my experience, children should still be in play-based preschool.

[Anonymous]

research such as? I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I think most of us didn't grow up in advanced classrooms and we turned out just fine. I'd prefer to look at it in the light that children should be taught to their level as much as possible rather than spreading fear that there are serious risks if they aren't.

[Anonymous]

The serious risks are boredom, indifference, negative attitude toward school. Not challenged enough in class? Children, especially boys, may act out and even be referred for ADD / ADHD diagnosis. Our pediatrician says it happens all too frequently. More commonly, a child not adequately challenged with new material will develop a "fixed mindset" (see Carol Dweck's research). Long story short, child begins to think: "I know everything, everyone thinks I'm the 'smart kid', I'd better get 100% on every test without showing too much effort." Consequences - child "coasts" through the year, stops taking risks, quits anything he can't ace immediately, fails to develop good study habits. Far better to keep a child intellectually stimulated in school from the get-go.