Loudoun Parents of kindergarteners

[Anonymous]

How do you feel about your child going half day? We have a rising kindergartener and am wondering for next year. I am a sahm so don't need the time for work but am thinking about the pros and cons for my child.

Tia.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

I didn't find it to be enough for my DC. Area private preschools prey on our collective insecurity surrounding this issue by offering full-day programs at extortionate prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't find it to be enough for my DC. Area private preschools prey on our collective insecurity surrounding this issue by offering full-day programs at extortionate prices.
[/quote

Tank you for your response. Did you not feel it was enough academically? Or just that full time kids were getting "more?"

[Anonymous]

Half day is best for the kids.

[Anonymous]

I have no issues with it, in fact at this point am feeling pretty good about it. I have a 3 year old who started preschool 2 days a week this year. Next year she'll go 3 days a week. Each day is only 3 hours. She takes ballet once a week too. I stay home, so don't need additional child care, and love having the extra time to spend with her and her younger sister at this stage. If we had full-day kindergarten I'd feel more pressure to have (and pay for) and more intensive preschool experience. I think half-day K will be a good transition for her from the preschool schedule to full-time elementary.

[Anonymous]

You end up with a mixed bag in 1st and 2nd especially because some kids are coming from full day K, homeschool K, or Montessori K. For the ones that just had the half day K, they are not as prepared generally speaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You end up with a mixed bag in 1st and 2nd especially because some kids are coming from full day K, homeschool K, or Montessori K. For the ones that just had the half day K, they are not as prepared generally speaking.

In 2nd grade, the kids who went to public half-day K are distinguishable, negatively or positively? We're in Fairfax, trying to decide between private half-day K or full-day public K. Can you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You end up with a mixed bag in 1st and 2nd especially because some kids are coming from full day K, homeschool K, or Montessori K. For the ones that just had the half day K, they are not as prepared generally speaking.

In 2nd grade, the kids who went to public half-day K are distinguishable, negatively or positively? We're in Fairfax, trying to decide between private half-day K or full-day public K. Can you elaborate?

In Loudoun, the public schools only offer half-day K unless you are special needs or an English Lanugage Learning(ELL) student. The half-day K is not sufficient for meeting standards defined for Virgnia. If you are the kind of parent that is willing to supplement at home or outsource, then that could be an option. By 1st and 2nd grade, the kids that went to private full-day K or Montessori K are definitely ahead of those that only received a half-day K experience...unless the parents were doing additional work with the child for K. In any event, it ends up being a catch-up game for those kids that are behind during 1st and 2nd grade. The kids that are on target or ahead just have to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You end up with a mixed bag in 1st and 2nd especially because some kids are coming from full day K, homeschool K, or Montessori K. For the ones that just had the half day K, they are not as prepared generally speaking.

In 2nd grade, the kids who went to public half-day K are distinguishable, negatively or positively? We're in Fairfax, trying to decide between private half-day K or full-day public K. Can you elaborate?

In Loudoun, the public schools only offer half-day K unless you are special needs or an English Lanugage Learning(ELL) student. The half-day K is not sufficient for meeting standards defined for Virgnia. If you are the kind of parent that is willing to supplement at home or outsource, then that could be an option. By 1st and 2nd grade, the kids that went to private full-day K or Montessori K are definitely ahead of those that only received a half-day K experience...unless the parents were doing additional work with the child for K. In any event, it ends up being a catch-up game for those kids that are behind during 1st and 2nd grade. The kids that are on target or ahead just have to wait.

Those kids are ahead for more than just that reason. Their parents value education and have the resources to back it up! Apples to apples, they'd still come out ahead.

[Anonymous]

We couldn't do the half-day schedule due to work so our kindergartener is at a montessori for full day K. My older son did full day K as well in another county. I used to teach full day k and I can't imagine trying to squeeze the curriculum requirements into half a day! Thus, my kids will go to a full day k, but hopefully my now 1 year old will get full day k from the county by 2019!

[Anonymous]

I am having an internal debate about this! We will likely be building a house in Loudoun county the latter part of this year. My son will be starting kindergarten at that time in 2016/17. We explored private kindergarten but it's costly and I stay at home so it's hard to justify. Plus then he would have two years of transition and he is slow to warm up and on the shy side. I've thought about just doing the half day and supplementing with him on my own or maybe adding an enrichment program later on after he starts, if available. We've also explored Loudoun Country Day school in general for the first few years of grade school to have smaller class sizes, but again the cost is a consideration. Our son is currently in a half day play based preschool program and meeting all of the developmental milestones but not advanced as far as reading or writing etc...any input from parents with children in Loudoun county is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I like the half day in theory, but in practice I hate the actual times. 7:50-10:50 doesn't even give me time to get to the store or anything.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I think if we did it we would choose afternoon but since he is already used to morning preschool and the would go back to mornings for first grade that's kind of wonky too

[Anonymous]

In leaning toward the private school but have a feeling we'll end up staying there for years which is $$$.