One thing to know about kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Unfortunately we can't. Will be giving public school a shot, and see how it goes. If it's a match made in heaven for him, then public it is. If not, private is in our future.

I don't think my child is a special snowflake. I don't think your's is either. I just find it unacceptable that it's become acceptable to say simply that some kids will be stuck in review-mode for the better part of a year. I find it unacceptable that I spend my tax dollars and send my child to school expecting him to learn and am told that I'm setting the bar too high and should homeschool. Academic learning. Readin', writin', 'rithmetic. It shouldn't be okay with any of us.

I'm not saying it's the fault of the teachers. They work hard, and work with what they're given. But our system is seriously flawed and broken, and I am truly and probably naively bothered that I'm being told that my child will just have to be patient while the teacher focuses on teaching a chunk of the class the alphabet and how to sit quietly for storytime.

Let me clarify. I didn't recommend that you homeschool because you're setting the academic bar too high. I recommended that you homeschool because you don't value the part of public education that involves learning to live with other people in a society.

+1 There are plenty of people in this area who are brilliant but lack basic social skills.

[Anonymous]

Agree with this. Not only is patience an important life skill, but boredom fosters creativity. We as a society have developed an expectation of being constantly occupied and constantly stimulated. All the while, it hinders our creative capacity. Article after article has been written about this. Developing and challenging a child's mind doesn't just happen because you quiz her and push worksheets in front of her. Maybe a K student can recite words at a second grade level, but how is her reading comprehension? Does she understand what she's reading, and can she draft her own stories using a well-exercised imagination?

Also, even kids who have been in group childcare settings benefit from the social dynamics of K. Kids haven't learned all there is to know about relationships and getting along with others by K, just because they went to daycare and preschool. It's important for them to learn to navigate new situations, including how to get along with children who have different backgrounds and temperaments.

+1 Agree on all points. Learning to navigate new situations is a huge part of K, as is learning empathy and learning that not everyone thinks/learns/understands the same way. My kids both went to daycare/preschool and had the basics before K at our neighborhood public school, but I still think they got a lot out of it. Sure, they repeated stuff they already knew (I like to think of it as reinforcement - solidifying that base knowledge) but they also learned new ways of doing things and met lots of new kids with different experiences. Often they would help teach their friends and just as often their friends would help teach them. They started the process of learning to communicate in different ways. I think that is a lifelong process and I think it is particularly important for bright/academically advanced kids to learn to communicate with others of all intellectual/academic levels. I fully admit that my kids are not super geniuses -- I actually think there are very few of those out there. But if your kid truly is that far advanced one of his/her challenges in life will be being able to successfully and effectively communicate with people of differing abilities - and to appreciate the contributions of those who think/learn/see things differently. Learning that in early elementary is so helpful as they grow.

[Anonymous]

Oh my.

I admit with all my various concerns about my child starting Kindergarten - lack of academic rigor as never entered my mind. Truthfully more of the opposite. I'm hoping that they still do get plenty of time to play and do lots of play based learning. I'm wishing they still did morning snack and recess and hoping they have quiet time after lunch/afternoon recess. I also wish they had daily P.E. and lots of specials - including age-appropriate foreign language classes.

In an odd way this thread is reassuring - I'm used to hearing about how academically focused Kindergarten is these days. Hopefully there will be a nice balance. I'm confident that my child will do well with reading, writing and math but really want it to be fun along the way and to continue to foster a love of school and learning and to develop good "learning skills" for a lack of a better word.

[Anonymous]

It shouldn't be reassuring. K is extremely academic in this area and your child will be forced to spend a huge part of every day doing worksheets. I didn't realize this until I took a day off and volunteered for a full day one day last winter.

The kids that are ahead still have to do the worksheets and unless you get a really amazing teacher there's no enrichment work. The kids that are behind struggle because the classes are too big for much remedial help. There are some kids who are at the "right" level for the teaching and learning every day, but I think in our class that was maybe a quarter of the students.
We are at a supposedly very good W feeder elementary. There is very little play based learning. They do have free time for centers in the afternoon but there's not enough staff to make that a learning experience academically. It does help with social skills of course.

One of my DCs had miserable time as the teachers were strict about trying to make him do his work even though it was clear he was several years ahead in what they were doing. I thought he would learn discipline, but he was just resentful and began to hate everything school except for recess when he could play with his friends. I wish I had had the money to send him to a play-based school for K.

Anonymous wrote:Oh my.

I admit with all my various concerns about my child starting Kindergarten - lack of academic rigor as never entered my mind. Truthfully more of the opposite. I'm hoping that they still do get plenty of time to play and do lots of play based learning. I'm wishing they still did morning snack and recess and hoping they have quiet time after lunch/afternoon recess. I also wish they had daily P.E. and lots of specials - including age-appropriate foreign language classes.

In an odd way this thread is reassuring - I'm used to hearing about how academically focused Kindergarten is these days. Hopefully there will be a nice balance. I'm confident that my child will do well with reading, writing and math but really want it to be fun along the way and to continue to foster a love of school and learning and to develop good "learning skills" for a lack of a better word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think many of us know that, and we know that there are social benefits to K. That being said, yes it is frustrating to think that my kid who not only knew the alphabet by age 2, reads at a first grade level, and has been in childcare his whole life and therefore knows the basics of circle time, etc... has to essentially put up and shut up for large portions of his day for at least the first quarter of the school year. Yes I know it, but doesn't mean I have to like the fact that large parts of his time will be review rather than gaining knowledge.

For your child's sake I hope you are trolling here. What precisely is the detriment to your child having to "review" letters, numbers, basic math and reading, at the ripe old age of 5yo? Is this holding back his application to Harvard?

I'm not trolling, TBH. And I expect fully to get slammed as you and the next poster already have. Thing is, I don't think it's unreasonable to want my child to learn. Whether he ends up at Harvard or the local community college, my point is that one of the huge challenges of public school is that the teacher does need to bring all kids to the same baseline which means unfortunately that some kids have to simply tread water while they wait for classmates to catch up. In other words, some kids are learning while some are simply waiting.

Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and he'll be challenged, but other threads over the years have indicated that I shouldn't expect that. I'm not sure why it's unreasonable to hope that your child will be learning.

I feel the same way. My child will be 6 two weeks after starting K. He had a year of an academic preschool with most of what is being learned in K except they did a very stretched out pre-reading and writing program. My kid was reading and much more. We do supplement at home as the speed of the classes are dull. The homework was a joke and took 20 minutes where other kids struggled for an hour or two, if not more. I sent in workbooks more his level which went unused. We are doing 1st grade workbooks comfortably at home this summer. Yes, part of K. is social, but I send my kid to learn, not to play. He can play at home. My kid will be in a holding pattern for another year while his peers catch up. His teachers don't even fully realize how much he knows as he dumbs down as people get uncomfortable with it. He'll tell them I don't know when he clearly knows and they do not pick up on his cues.

+1. We basically did a year of K already, at a private school, but not for credit. We are trying to get into 1st grade early! Screw the waiting and boredness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year parents post about how kindergarten is too easy, their darling showflake is too advanced, it's a waste of time blah blah blah whinecakes.

Just remember in every Kindergarten class you have children with preschool experience and children with no preschool experience. You have a range of children, some who know their letters, some who don't. Some who are starting to read, some who are not.. Some who can count to 10, some who can count to 20, some who can do basic math.

It takes time for a Kindergarten teacher to sort out the different levels of knowledge so he or she can teach that child appropriately. In the mean time they are also getting everyone up to speed on how to "do" school like how to sit on a carpet, line up, raise your hand etc. It's a lot for a kid to learn.

Just because your kid is l reviewing things they already know does not mean that it's a waste of time.

Also, a 5 year old or 6 year old is rarely the most reliable narrators. It might be easiest for them to answer with things they're familiar with ("today we learned how to count!") and not cover all the new things they've learned too.

I think many of us know that, and we know that there are social benefits to K. That being said, yes it is frustrating to think that my kid who not only knew the alphabet by age 2, reads at a first grade level, and has been in childcare his whole life and therefore knows the basics of circle time, etc... has to essentially put up and shut up for large portions of his day for at least the first quarter of the school year. Yes I know it, but doesn't mean I have to like the fact that large parts of his time will be review rather than gaining knowledge.

According to our school the K teachers send home a weekly or bi-weekly update newsletter so I won't have to rely on him to tell me.

I think someone who feels as strongly as you do about the poor level of education that your child is receiving is the perfect person to home school. If possible, you should do it through college because your child will always be in a class with kids on varying levels of ability or interest. This will also happen in the workplace but maybe you can start a company and hire your child as well.

[Anonymous]

PP is not going to homeschool and those of you suggesting that she do so are being dismissive of her concerns.

My DD does well academically but can be socially immature, so it balances out for us. I'd suggest an immersion program for those of you with early readers. It's been a nice challenge for DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You underestimate one thing, and that is the diversity of the children in terms of abilities.

Some can barely hold a crayon or draw a circle, let alone identify which letter is A, while others are writing sentences and reading chapter books.

The gaps are huge and the challenge to the teachers, is huge.

Which is why there should be flexible ability tracking.

[Anonymous]

My friends 7 year old son just started his 3rd year of kindergarten. He can read, count and is at a 1-2 grade level but he has social and rage issues. He keeps getting held back because he can't get along with others. Kindergarten is not just academic.

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous wrote:
You underestimate one thing, and that is the diversity of the children in terms of abilities.

Some can barely hold a crayon or draw a circle, let alone identify which letter is A, while others are writing sentences and reading chapter books.

The gaps are huge and the challenge to the teachers, is huge.


Which is why there should be flexible ability tracking"

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends 7 year old son just started his 3rd year of kindergarten. He can read, count and is at a 1-2 grade level but he has social and rage issues. He keeps getting held back because he can't get along with others. Kindergarten is not just academic.

Wow that's really screwed up. So he will rage at kids 2 years younger than him!?

[Anonymous]

In Dd's school (not a W feeder; Focus school) they did various game type things for math. For instance one of 4 math groups would be with the teacher, one on the computers, one at a table doing things like grouping different ways and another on the ground maybe doing something hands on like playing with dice.

Not the same as "play play" but still not just worksheets. They had daily specials. Only 1 recess. Would have preferred either 2 recesses or a daily play center time as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friends 7 year old son just started his 3rd year of kindergarten. He can read, count and is at a 1-2 grade level but he has social and rage issues. He keeps getting held back because he can't get along with others. Kindergarten is not just academic.

Wow that's really screwed up. So he will rage at kids 2 years younger than him!?

It's mostly directed at the teachers. He also just shuts down. Won't do his work, won't speak or walk, goes limp like a toddler when he is upset. If he doesn't want to do it, he won't. His school uses carpal punishment so he gets sent to the principals office and he gets hit almost daily. I personally think he is autistic, but no one else does. I wonder if he will be a 15 year old kindergartener one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friends 7 year old son just started his 3rd year of kindergarten. He can read, count and is at a 1-2 grade level but he has social and rage issues. He keeps getting held back because he can't get along with others. Kindergarten is not just academic.

Wow that's really screwed up. So he will rage at kids 2 years younger than him!?

It's mostly directed at the teachers. He also just shuts down. Won't do his work, won't speak or walk, goes limp like a toddler when he is upset. If he doesn't want to do it, he won't. His school uses carpal punishment so he gets sent to the principals office and he gets hit almost daily. I personally think he is autistic, but no one else does. I wonder if he will be a 15 year old kindergartener one day.

Why does your friend have their son in a school that uses corporal punishment and thinks that the third round of kindergarten will succeed even though the first two rounds didn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It shouldn't be reassuring. K is extremely academic in this area and your child will be forced to spend a huge part of every day doing worksheets. I didn't realize this until I took a day off and volunteered for a full day one day last winter.

Some schools have kindergarteners spending a huge part of every day doing worksheets. But not all schools. My child's school in MCPS did not.