Adjusting to k- for parents

[Anonymous]

I think I may be having a harder time than my dd who just started public k. Have others gone through this? I think I just expected it to be so easy and it's causing me some anxiety that is throwing me for a loop. I know it's only day 3 but it's so different that pre school. Anyone else out there feel the same? Ok assuming it will get easier

[Anonymous]

I felt like you when my kid started. Once you see the positive developments in your kid, you will feel better! That first week is killer.

[Anonymous]

What is your anxiety about? If the school were "dangerous" then I'd be anxious. But most, if not all, of the ES here are pretty safe.

[Anonymous]

What are you having trouble adjusting to?

I experienced a lot of this last year because my child started pre-K in the same school where he started K this year. I remember that everything was so new but about a month into it we fell into a routine and it got a lot better. It will get better.

[Anonymous]

I'm not worried about her safety. More getting used to the rules and what is expected of them in class etc.

[Anonymous]

Me too, OP. It's so different from preschool where you have interaction with the teachers, see the class daily, etc. Our K, so far, won't allow parents in the hallways past the cafeteria or the classrooms. I made the embarassing mistake of trying to go to his classroom to retrieve something he'd left shortly after dismissal time. I had no idea that wasn't allowed (and I'm still not sure why it wasn't). After care protocol is confusing to me as well.

[Anonymous]

I was anxious last week...now that school has started, our daughter is coming home happy, eating her lunch, talks about making friends, so I'm happy. It's hard not knowing what's going on the way we did in preschool, but so far so good.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is a huge change. It does get easier.

Remember:

*Your child will be cranky and very tired for the first several weeks or months. This is normal.
*You won't hear much if anything about what they are doing in school.
*It will take awhile for the new normal to feel normal.

Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Me, too, OP. Outside of knowing what special he had, that he had fun at recess, and ate less than half the lunch I packed... I have no idea what he did all day, which is just a weird and sad feeling after being with him all day for so long.

[Anonymous]

I've actually be struck by how similar it feels to preschool and we were in a play-based preschool! At least it feels that way for me and my DS hasn't acted like it feels so different to him either. He still mostly talks about all the games they get to play with and tells me his favorite part of the day is recess.

I wonder if he's in for a shock once they get going on academics.

When does this usually start by the way? So far it's been all orientation to the school, facilities, specials teachers, etc. and... coloring. Yup. They sent some papers home and it's been about 10 pages of coloring so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is a huge change. It does get easier.

Remember:

*Your child will be cranky and very tired for the first several weeks or months. This is normal.
*You won't hear much if anything about what they are doing in school.
*It will take awhile for the new normal to feel normal.

Hang in there.

I agree about not hearing much. We were in a co-op for 2 years and it is tough to not know what is going on.

And my DD has been a roller coaster. Starts off happy, turns to a grump by 4:30pm and then is fine by dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've actually be struck by how similar it feels to preschool and we were in a play-based preschool! At least it feels that way for me and my DS hasn't acted like it feels so different to him either. He still mostly talks about all the games they get to play with and tells me his favorite part of the day is recess.

I wonder if he's in for a shock once they get going on academics.

When does this usually start by the way? So far it's been all orientation to the school, facilities, specials teachers, etc. and... coloring. Yup. They sent some papers home and it's been about 10 pages of coloring so far.

It's to get the students used to the routine. The teachers are gathering data to be able to form small groups for math and reading instruction. But mostly it's to get students acclimated to the classroom rules and routines. The first week can be a doozy, especially when students who have never been to school before are in your classroom.

Academics will start pretty soon, but the teachers need to give the KRA soon which is a 1:1 assessment. Expect more simple work to be done during that time because all students will work independently during that time. Some schools may have specialists give the test so that the teachers can give their attention to the whole class, or sub time may be provided so that the teacher can test in a quiet area outside the classroom while a sub is with the class.

[Anonymous]

Its very institutional, like a correctional facility.

I'm used to it now but since we moved from private I still find it off putting. At our private there was far more casual engagement with the staff and teachers. Parents didn't mill about the school but there was no issue about walking back to the classroom. Again no one made it a habit and everyone used car pool but if you had a lot to send in to the teacher, your child forgot something or whatever you were welcomed by the front desk not scolded for thinking that you could enter any time other than the 15 minute parent teacher conference or to volunteer to answer phones in the office. The open house and orientation was far more inviting and they really made an effort to show you what was happening in the class. Parents were encouraged to volunteer in the classes.

MCPS has a strong its none of your business attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its very institutional, like a correctional facility.

I'm used to it now but since we moved from private I still find it off putting. At our private there was far more casual engagement with the staff and teachers. Parents didn't mill about the school but there was no issue about walking back to the classroom. Again no one made it a habit and everyone used car pool but if you had a lot to send in to the teacher, your child forgot something or whatever you were welcomed by the front desk not scolded for thinking that you could enter any time other than the 15 minute parent teacher conference or to volunteer to answer phones in the office. The open house and orientation was far more inviting and they really made an effort to show you what was happening in the class. Parents were encouraged to volunteer in the classes.

MCPS has a strong its none of your business attitude.

OMG! Your snowflakes are fine! Thousands of K students before your snowflake have gone through the school and have come out alive, and some have probably gone to Ivy leagues.

[Anonymous]

"Parents didn't mill about the school but there was no issue about walking back to the classroom. Again no one made it a habit and everyone used car pool but if you had a lot to send in to the teacher, your child forgot something or whatever you were welcomed by the front desk not scolded for thinking that you could enter any time other than the 15 minute parent teacher conference or to volunteer to answer phones in the office. The open house and orientation was far more inviting and they really made an effort to show you what was happening in the class. Parents were encouraged to volunteer in the classes. "

That is not mcps. That is your school. My kid's school - a SS one - encourages classroom volunteers and parents are allowed in the school so long as they are signed up with the system so that the school knows who is running around inside.