Adding a year in elementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I know so many ppl who say this yet have no problem with a jr/Sr high combo. Personally I don't think 11 and 12 year old kids should be in a school with 16,17 and 18 yr olds. Plus, I really do think the kids themselves want the chance to be kids a little longer.

Then why are kids always eager to be older and more independent than they are?

It seems exciting to them, it happens to us all, doesn't mean we shouldn't let them be kids.

Or to let them grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I know so many ppl who say this yet have no problem with a jr/Sr high combo. Personally I don't think 11 and 12 year old kids should be in a school with 16,17 and 18 yr olds. Plus, I really do think the kids themselves want the chance to be kids a little longer.

Then why are kids always eager to be older and more independent than they are?

It seems exciting to them, it happens to us all, doesn't mean we shouldn't let them be kids.

Or to let them grow up.

I never said that they don't or shouldn't grow up. Of course they should and will, it just doesn't have to be so young. Not all kids are looking to grow up so fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

[Anonymous]

Never thought giving kids a chance to be kids a little longer was so controversial. I only saw it as a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

[Anonymous]

It's unfortunate that the school system doesn't make decisions regarding this based on what is best for the kids, which should be data driven. Instead it is based on constructs of what buildings can handle. If you are going to argue with the school system about it, call them out for making big decisions like this based on anything other than what is best for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I know so many ppl who say this yet have no problem with a jr/Sr high combo. Personally I don't think 11 and 12 year old kids should be in a school with 16,17 and 18 yr olds. Plus, I really do think the kids themselves want the chance to be kids a little longer.

Then why are kids always eager to be older and more independent than they are?

It seems exciting to them, it happens to us all, doesn't mean we shouldn't let them be kids.

Or to let them grow up.

At 11? Why does an 11 year old have to grow up already? I'm not understanding your reasoning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I know so many ppl who say this yet have no problem with a jr/Sr high combo. Personally I don't think 11 and 12 year old kids should be in a school with 16,17 and 18 yr olds. Plus, I really do think the kids themselves want the chance to be kids a little longer.

Then why are kids always eager to be older and more independent than they are?

It seems exciting to them, it happens to us all, doesn't mean we shouldn't let them be kids.

Or to let them grow up.

At 11? Why does an 11 year old have to grow up already? I'm not understanding your reasoning.

DP. I have 11 year old twins in 6th grade and they have much more in common with the 13 year old 8th graders than the 6 year old 1st graders, so I am just not understanding this insistence that 11 year olds are being forced to abandon being kids by being a part of middle school. It was by natural progression that my kids at age 11 had outgrown ES. Many 6th graders have started puberty and are outgrowing some of their more child like interests (dolls, pretend play, etc.), not merely because they are no longer in ES, but because that is developmentally appropriate for that age.

[Anonymous]

I do think we have to maybe not use the wording of developmentally appropriate. Even though I had started puberty at 11,12 and even 13 years olds I still felt like a kid, I still wanted to do kids stuff...play outside, run around with friends, could have still used recess. But, by saying developmentally appropriate it's kind of implying that there is something wrong with the kids that age that aren't there yet. There was nothing wrong with me, I was just being a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think we have to maybe not use the wording of developmentally appropriate. Even though I had started puberty at 11,12 and even 13 years olds I still felt like a kid, I still wanted to do kids stuff...play outside, run around with friends, could have still used recess. But, by saying developmentally appropriate it's kind of implying that there is something wrong with the kids that age that aren't there yet. There was nothing wrong with me, I was just being a kid.

Eh, this poster seems to be working from the notion that it is somehow not developmentally appropriate for 11 year olds to be ready for MS. No one is saying 6th graders aren’t still kids, as are 7th and 8th graders quite frankly, but I do think it’s ridiculous to suggest that 6th graders still have some kind of young child like wonder than needs to be protected. They are growing up, and it’s ok to acknowledge that and allow that process to continue instead of forcing them into another year in an environment that does not account for their growing maturity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think we have to maybe not use the wording of developmentally appropriate. Even though I had started puberty at 11,12 and even 13 years olds I still felt like a kid, I still wanted to do kids stuff...play outside, run around with friends, could have still used recess. But, by saying developmentally appropriate it's kind of implying that there is something wrong with the kids that age that aren't there yet. There was nothing wrong with me, I was just being a kid.

Eh, this poster seems to be working from the notion that it is somehow not developmentally appropriate for 11 year olds to be ready for MS. No one is saying 6th graders aren’t still kids, as are 7th and 8th graders quite frankly, but I do think it’s ridiculous to suggest that 6th graders still have some kind of young child like wonder than needs to be protected. They are growing up, and it’s ok to acknowledge that and allow that process to continue instead of forcing them into another year in an environment that does not account for their growing maturity.

Disagree. With a sixth grade girl, you never know if she is going to be playing with dolls or being a teen that day. It is a transition and you don't need to push it. Teen time will come soon enough.

[Anonymous]

Also, sixth grade boys definitely need to be in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think we have to maybe not use the wording of developmentally appropriate. Even though I had started puberty at 11,12 and even 13 years olds I still felt like a kid, I still wanted to do kids stuff...play outside, run around with friends, could have still used recess. But, by saying developmentally appropriate it's kind of implying that there is something wrong with the kids that age that aren't there yet. There was nothing wrong with me, I was just being a kid.

Eh, this poster seems to be working from the notion that it is somehow not developmentally appropriate for 11 year olds to be ready for MS. No one is saying 6th graders aren’t still kids, as are 7th and 8th graders quite frankly, but I do think it’s ridiculous to suggest that 6th graders still have some kind of young child like wonder than needs to be protected. They are growing up, and it’s ok to acknowledge that and allow that process to continue instead of forcing them into another year in an environment that does not account for their growing maturity.

Disagree. With a sixth grade girl, you never know if she is going to be playing with dolls or being a teen that day. It is a transition and you don't need to push it. Teen time will come soon enough.

I have 2 6th grade girls and this has not been my experience with either them or their friends, the whole dolls mixed with teen/tween behavior was more maybe the end of 4th grade and beginning of 5th. It has been beneficial to them to be in MS with new kids, the change of classes, more independence, etc. Another year in a school not geared toward kids their age and maturity level would not have been good for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, sixth grade boys definitely need to be in elementary school.

So to hell with what is best for the girls?