How did the first morning of school go today?

[Anonymous]

My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?


drop them off quickly, say good bye and don't linger. they are usually fine within 5 min of you leaving. the longer you stick around the worse it is for everyone. You can try explaining that it is ok to be nervous and that everyone is nervous when they go to a new place. I do sympathize thought. It is so hard to leave them when they are like that. We went through this when my son entered pre-school and even at 5 he still gets this way when we leave him with a new sitter. He was fine at k drop off today, fingers crossed he has a good day.

That's what I try to do, I try to leave quickly but her dad doesn't have the heart to so he stays and tries to calm her down which I think makes it worse as she still cries when he leaves. I talked to her last night and this morning about it, but she still didn't want to stay once we got in school. I guess what I don't understand is if this is normal behavior for a child who used to go to preschool without any issues. Albeit, she didn't go to preschool this summer as she was traveling but still, it seems like she had a lot of anxiety about starting K and kept saying she didn't want to go or wanted me to stay in the classroom with her.

PERFECTLY normal. I taught K. Had one boy who cried every morning until Mom walked out the door. First day, he even threw up--but was great as soon as parents were gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

For the life of me, I can't understand why classroom desks are set up in these ridiculous "groupings". And the teachers then get mad when the kids are talking - yet there's another student right in their face and directly on either side! Why haven't they gone back to seating in orderly rows, everyone facing forward, with space between each desk? So much nonsense in today's classrooms.

The answer is SPACE!

Not in our elementary school. The classrooms are very spacious, and yet the desks are all clustered in the middle. Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Yay, first day of kindergarten was a success, according to my kid! She made a friend and they played, and she made another friend in her sitting group. She likes her teacher, she ate at least half of her lunch and her snack. She says she wants to go back tomorrow and the next day and the next. HURRAY!!! Such relief!

[Anonymous]

My would-be kindergartner was home sick today! Of all the days. And I have to work late tonight, so I'll be getting his lunch etc. together in the middle of the night tonight. I hope tomorrow goes smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Everything was almost fine. My new kindergartner could not get her backpack off in the bus and apparently no one would help her.

Then, contrary to what we were told at orientation, absolutely no one met the kindergartners at the bus. The principle was out watching and when I asked about it she said "oh well". Fortunately my dd kind of knew where to go and I was there. Her bus was parked all the way up the driveway so she had to walk. No one wold have even noticed a totally lost little kid potentially walking off school grounds.

[Muslima]

Anonymous wrote:

My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?


drop them off quickly, say good bye and don't linger. they are usually fine within 5 min of you leaving. the longer you stick around the worse it is for everyone. You can try explaining that it is ok to be nervous and that everyone is nervous when they go to a new place. I do sympathize thought. It is so hard to leave them when they are like that. We went through this when my son entered pre-school and even at 5 he still gets this way when we leave him with a new sitter. He was fine at k drop off today, fingers crossed he has a good day.

That's what I try to do, I try to leave quickly but her dad doesn't have the heart to so he stays and tries to calm her down which I think makes it worse as she still cries when he leaves. I talked to her last night and this morning about it, but she still didn't want to stay once we got in school. I guess what I don't understand is if this is normal behavior for a child who used to go to preschool without any issues. Albeit, she didn't go to preschool this summer as she was traveling but still, it seems like she had a lot of anxiety about starting K and kept saying she didn't want to go or wanted me to stay in the classroom with her.

PERFECTLY normal. I taught K. Had one boy who cried every morning until Mom walked out the door. First day, he even threw up--but was great as soon as parents were gone.

Thanks. Today was better, she was teary bit not balling and screaming like gateau. I'm hoping that things will settle down and be much better by the end of the week

[Anonymous]

So how many people had the dreaded "clip chart" or "stoplight" chart come home today? We did. So disappointed. Why do teachers use this thing? It doesn't work, and actually conflicts with some of fcps's official behavior management initiatives. I guess this is what happens when we put a bunch of 22 year old girls in charge of making important decisions that affect our children, and then make them more accountable to politicians than parents.

[Anonymous]

3rd grader boy. First time he has EVER looked forward to school. And happy to go back the next day. Yay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far, so good! I heard from another parent that my younger child's teacher is THE BEST! Unfortunately, my older child's desk is facing into the one kid in the entire grade that she dislikes! Their desks are literally touching. He's been a pain in the butt to her before (teasing her -- I think he may secretly like her). But, she tries to avoid him when she sees him... and now his face is like 3 feet away from hers! I'm sure there will be some complaints about that. The school is VERY hot right now -- apparently they were trying to save $ by turning off the A/C over the hot weekend. Very stuffy.

Our A/C was broken the first day - it was up to 80 in the classrooms. Kids had a good day even with that, but said they were hot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far, so good! I heard from another parent that my younger child's teacher is THE BEST! Unfortunately, my older child's desk is facing into the one kid in the entire grade that she dislikes! Their desks are literally touching. He's been a pain in the butt to her before (teasing her -- I think he may secretly like her). But, she tries to avoid him when she sees him... and now his face is like 3 feet away from hers! I'm sure there will be some complaints about that. The school is VERY hot right now -- apparently they were trying to save $ by turning off the A/C over the hot weekend. Very stuffy.

Our A/C was broken the first day - it was up to 80 in the classrooms. Kids had a good day even with that, but said they were hot!

rich people's problems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

For the life of me, I can't understand why classroom desks are set up in these ridiculous "groupings". And the teachers then get mad when the kids are talking - yet there's another student right in their face and directly on either side! Why haven't they gone back to seating in orderly rows, everyone facing forward, with space between each desk? So much nonsense in today's classrooms.

The answer is SPACE!

Not in our elementary school. The classrooms are very spacious, and yet the desks are all clustered in the middle. Makes no sense.

To promote collaborative learning and group activities. For the PP where there's a lot of extra space in the room, the teachers may use the space to set up centers or other interactive learning experiences.

[Anonymous]

What is the clip chart or stoplight chart? A paper showing the kid ignored warnings and had poor behavior? Do they do that in Arlington too? Mom to kindergartener here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the clip chart or stoplight chart? A paper showing the kid ignored warnings and had poor behavior? Do they do that in Arlington too? Mom to kindergartener here.

Yes, most K-2 classes do something like this. In K at our Arlington school it was fish that got moved, in 1st it was owls.

[Anonymous]

Okay, so in Arlington if my kid takes the bus, how do I know where he was on the clip or fish chart? Do I wait for a teacher to send a note home, or is there something I'm supposed to be checking online somewhere? I don't think it has been mentioned in any of the back-to-school materials we received.

Thank you!!!