If your Kindergarten student is a good reader....

[Anonymous]

My child is in a MoCo public school, in Kindergarten and is quite a good reader. I know that is common in this area, my child is not a genius, but definitely excels in this area.

After a month and a half of school, it is clear that they have done no differentiation at all. Is this normal?

[Anonymous]

I have four kids and am telling you: don't worry about the reading thing. Firstly, just because a kid can sound out big words doesn't mean the comprehension level matches that. Secondly, from like kinder through second grade their reading levels can change really, really fast.

I just took my kids to the library once or twice a week and helped them pick out books that were on their level. Didn't worry about school.

[Anonymous]

My child who could read in kindergarten had a reading group with the other children who could read. But I don't remember when this reading group started.

And, in fact, I think that the reading groups for my current second-grader are supposed to start next week.

Perhaps e-mail the kindergarten teacher and ask if there will be reading groups, and if so, when they will start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have four kids and am telling you: don't worry about the reading thing. Firstly, just because a kid can sound out big words doesn't mean the comprehension level matches that. Secondly, from like kinder through second grade their reading levels can change really, really fast.

I just took my kids to the library once or twice a week and helped them pick out books that were on their level. Didn't worry about school.

I'm not worried about advancement this year, I'm really not. My child does comprehend a lot and has for quite awhile now and reads incessantly at home. I know there's a lot more to school than just reading, but I'm simply curious if it's normal to not have differentiated reading groups at this point in the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is in a MoCo public school, in Kindergarten and is quite a good reader. I know that is common in this area, my child is not a genius, but definitely excels in this area.

After a month and a half of school, it is clear that they have done no differentiation at all. Is this normal?

How much free playtime does he have every day,
indoor and outdoor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in a MoCo public school, in Kindergarten and is quite a good reader. I know that is common in this area, my child is not a genius, but definitely excels in this area.

After a month and a half of school, it is clear that they have done no differentiation at all. Is this normal?

How much free playtime does he have every day,
indoor and outdoor?

OP here, they have 30 minutes of recess daily, PE once a week. Not sure how much free playtime during the day in the classroom, from the reports, it's pretty little

After school we try to spend as much time outside as possible.

Why do you ask?

[Anonymous]

In K it takes a long time before they start reading groups. This is when the differentiation will start. Put don't be expecting "challenging" books even then however. in K at some schools they don't let the kids go past level 16 to level J where you have to do written responses. They tie the reading to the writing so if you kid is a good reader it could be a long time before you see what seems like a challenging book. Just keep reading at home and like others have said in 2nd grade things start to pick up and even out. Don't worry, just be happy you have a good reader.

[Anonymous]

We heard that my DS's K will start breaking out the reading groups more over the next few weeks. We're in VA though.

[Anonymous]

Yea, from what I remember it is usually the first or second week in October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In K it takes a long time before they start reading groups. This is when the differentiation will start. Put don't be expecting "challenging" books even then however. in K at some schools they don't let the kids go past level 16 to level J where you have to do written responses. They tie the reading to the writing so if you kid is a good reader it could be a long time before you see what seems like a challenging book. Just keep reading at home and like others have said in 2nd grade things start to pick up and even out. Don't worry, just be happy you have a good reader.

OP here--thanks, this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in a MoCo public school, in Kindergarten and is quite a good reader. I know that is common in this area, my child is not a genius, but definitely excels in this area.

After a month and a half of school, it is clear that they have done no differentiation at all. Is this normal?

How much free playtime does he have every day,
indoor and outdoor?

OP here, they have 30 minutes of recess daily, PE once a week. Not sure how much free playtime during the day in the classroom, from the reports, it's pretty little

After school we try to spend as much time outside as possible.

Why do you ask?

I asked because that's the bigger problem facing children today. I'd be more worried about that. Google
"Alliance for Childhood".

[Anonymous]

My son is in Kindergarten at Ritchie Park and they just started reading groups this past week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in a MoCo public school, in Kindergarten and is quite a good reader. I know that is common in this area, my child is not a genius, but definitely excels in this area.

After a month and a half of school, it is clear that they have done no differentiation at all. Is this normal?

How much free playtime does he have every day,
indoor and outdoor?

OP here, they have 30 minutes of recess daily, PE once a week. Not sure how much free playtime during the day in the classroom, from the reports, it's pretty little

After school we try to spend as much time outside as possible.

Why do you ask?

I asked because that's the bigger problem facing children today. I'd be more worried about that. Google
"Alliance for Childhood".

Shorter PP to OP: don't worry about what you're worrying about, worry about what I think you should worry about.

[Anonymous]

We're in Montgomery County and our K teacher told us she'll start sending home books at the kids' reading levels starting next week or the week after.

It's a pretty big class and there seems to be kids at all different levels. I figure it takes some time to figure out each kid? When I spoke to the teacher last week (about something else), she did mention some things that my kid needs to work on, do I get the feeling she know what he is able/not able to do.

[Anonymous]

A month isn't a whole lot of time to get to know the ability level of each of 25 or so kids. They're adapting to school routines, finding their way around a new place, and figuring out what Kindergarten is about. Give them a minute. They've got 12 years of education in front of them.