If this is the way the public education system works, I am already in despair about my choices.

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01/18/2013 11:02

Subject: If this is the way the public education system works, I am already in despair about my choices.

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with many of the PP's regarding his evaluation.

And reading sight words by 3? That's developmentally inappropriate (Early Childhood Education/Special Education teacher here). There have been studies that show that forcing kids to read too early provides no advantage later and can actually harm later reading development.

Not to hijack the thread, but this might be something for your Charter to look at (and all schools). Finland is the top performing country in the world for education. There's a lot we could learn from their education model. There are no standardized tests, and they don't formally teach reading until 6/7. I think the biggest thing is they are teaching kids to love to learn, not just to take a test.
I found this article fascinating about Finland's approach to education, including those from different countries who move to Finland and need extra help: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Why-Are-Finlands-Schools-Successful.html?c=y&page=1

Thanks for your post. Per the title of my thread, I am at a loss about what is best for my child and how I should proceed based on the choices I have. I am trying for a second child and can't really afford two daycare tuitions or a private full-day preschool tuition, although at this point I am more concerned about my son than I am about some future baby. So tell me, what would do and what kind of educational situation would you seek out for your child if you were in my shoes? Because trust me, my biggest fear is that this experience is going to set my son up to hate school. I can tell he is already ambivalent about it, and I know I sure as hell am.

PP here. I know it's hard, and I'm sorry. It's possible that the 4s will be easier on him depending on the teachers.

I think part of it is finding a school that is a good fit. Some schools (and individual teachers) are great at fostering healthy social/emotional development and learning. Are there other charters that you can look into? Or an affordable more laid back preschool he can do for now that would be willing to take into his IEP but also have a more developmentally appropriate program? Play-based preschools can be great.

Also do some things at home. Read books together, go to DC to see some the museums (the American History museum has a cool exhibit on the first floor with old trains, cars, and the Air and Space museum in DC has a neat hands-on room). You can do this now and as he gets older too, have him find the letters in his name on cereal boxes while grocery shopping, count items and put them in your cart, etc. Just simple real-world things that will show him that things learned in school are everywhere.

Having a sensory table at home is fun too (and to minimize the mess if you have a yard you can put it outside). Not sure if he has one at school. You can put in oatmeal, cornstarch, cornstarch and water (makes a fun goop), rice etc. You can hide magnetic letters, numbers in the table or have sorting buckets labeled so he can find and sort objects.

Thanks again. We do all of the things you suggest in our own time. I agree with you that these are appropriate, play-based ways to teach basic concepts. He does a lot of cooking with me and loves learning how to measure, how to work through the steps in order, feel different food textures, etc. He loves to garden with me for the same reason. This is why I know, and have 0% concern, about his cognitive ability. I see for myself every day that he understands all kinds of early reading and early math concepts. I am not denying the school's observations and evaluations regarding his behavior and the sensory issues. We experience and deal with these challenges at home all the time.

But yeah, I just have major, major questions now about whether the curriculum the school is using is in fact developmentally appropriate. I don't want my child to feel pressured by learning or to pick up on the idea that he is somehow behind. Because intellectually, cognitively I know he is not. I want him to love learning and I want him to be at a school that makes learning fun and has reasonable expectations for him. After this process, I now feel like I have to question whether his experience there each day is right for him or not.