Kindergarten son declares he doesn't like school "at all"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^no, it was not rare. Rare is not the opposite of normal. It happened every year with at least one of my students.

So 1 out of 25 is RARE, not normal. Normal is kids that read earlier tend to stay in the higher groups thru elementary school. It is RARE for kids to blow past a whole bunch of levels if they start reading two years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know statistically, but I think kids (people) are more likely to enjoy things they feel good about. My husband (very smart, advanced degrees) still complains that he reads very slowly and he doesn't like it. Luckily he's dedicated enough to just do what he needs to do, but it isn't enjoyable and never something he'd do for pleasure. I was an early reader and I've always just loved reading. The more you do it, the better you are it, and I think it is the reason that I've always been good at standardized testing. So far my son seems perfectly average but he thinks he's bad at it and resists it.

No. Doesn't work that way. And, a child who naturally learns to read early-and there are those who do--is far different from one who is trained to read early.

Yeah, I'm just not sure I'm buying that. Here, you will read: Oh, it doesn't matter where they start; they all catch up in time. Except...they don't. At least plenty of them don't.

I'm sorry to hear that. I think acceleration causes it.

I wasn't an early reader at all; thank god it wasn't an expectation of my parents or school. I never knew I was supposed to be already reading and that therefore I was a bad/slow reader. That year or two of early reading wasn't going to make me love it more or better at it. I picked it up in 1st grade when I was ready and quickly came to LOVE reading. Was in the jr. great books program in 3trd grade and winning poetry contests. Majored in English in college. DH could read at age three. He was pretty into reading till jr. high then didn't read a single book till his late twenties (bullshitted through highschool and joined the military). He likes to read now - but thinks of it mostly as information transfer, even fiction. Words don't touch him or move him. Early reading didn't make him love books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

why? what is the benefit of reading at 5 instead of 7 (from a life long reader, English major, who learned to read in 1st grade along with all my classmates).

I don't know statistically, but I think kids (people) are more likely to enjoy things they feel good about. My husband (very smart, advanced degrees) still complains that he reads very slowly and he doesn't like it. Luckily he's dedicated enough to just do what he needs to do, but it isn't enjoyable and never something he'd do for pleasure. I was an early reader and I've always just loved reading. The more you do it, the better you are it, and I think it is the reason that I've always been good at standardized testing. So far my son seems perfectly average but he thinks he's bad at it and resists it.

yep. and they won't feel good about it if they think they aren't good at it because they are being asked to do it before they are ready to do it. And then the label sticks so that when they are ready, they already think they suck at it.

[Anonymous]

yep. and they won't feel good about it if they think they aren't good at it because they are being asked to do it before they are ready to do it. And then the label sticks so that when they are ready, they already think they suck at it.

That is your opinion. Is it based on research? Is it based on classroom experience?

[Anonymous]

yep. and they won't feel good about it if they think they aren't good at it because they are being asked to do it before they are ready to do it. And then the label sticks so that when they are ready, they already think they suck at it.

Totally agree. If they get frustrated they will give up.

[Anonymous]

So 1 out of 25 is RARE, not normal. Normal is kids that read earlier tend to stay in the higher groups thru elementary school. It is RARE for kids to blow past a whole bunch of levels if they start reading two years later.

Depends on whether they were trained to read or learned on their own. Kids pushed too early miss out on other things--like comprehension. If they are only taught to decode, it is not fun.

[Anonymous]

Normal is kids that read earlier tend to stay in the higher groups thru elementary school.

Oh, bless your heart. You just keep thinking that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So 1 out of 25 is RARE, not normal. Normal is kids that read earlier tend to stay in the higher groups thru elementary school. It is RARE for kids to blow past a whole bunch of levels if they start reading two years later.

Depends on whether they were trained to read or learned on their own. Kids pushed too early miss out on other things--like comprehension. If they are only taught to decode, it is not fun.

yes, which is why a k curriculum oral and image narratives is so great - good books, all good books, even textbooks, tell rich stories. Hook them on story and narrative and you've got lifelong critical readers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

yep. and they won't feel good about it if they think they aren't good at it because they are being asked to do it before they are ready to do it. And then the label sticks so that when they are ready, they already think they suck at it.

Totally agree. If they get frustrated they will give up.

ha ha yep!

[Anonymous]

What a bunch of coddling mommies you are. Let's work down to the lowest level so little Jimmy won't get frustrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in K, and has not complained, but he loves to pretend play "school." He's the teacher and pretty much yells at me (the student) nonstop and tells me to move my clip down to red. DS has never gotten red himself, and generally gets green, and hasn't complained otherwise. But it is remarkable how angry the school game is.

This really made me laugh because it reminded me of my son. He is a first grader now, but during the first six months of Kindergarten, he often made us sit down in front of his IKEA drawing board while he 'taught class'. He was very strict and we were frequently put on notice about getting on 'yellow' or 'red' for misbehaving in class. He would imitate the teacher and I thought it was great because it really gave me an idea of what was going on in the classroom. He would also take away recess time or talk with us about how to be a better friend.

My son had a wonderful year in Kindergarten. He (and we) loved the teacher and assistant teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in K in MoCo. He says his favorite part of school day is "the bus home". I do get "I hate school" ocassionally, but its more of to get the reaction out of me than anything else. FYI I did tell him I dont want to go to work either, but both me and dad still do and school is his wor.

Last year when DD was in K, she said her favorite parts of the day were lunch and recess. I can't say she feels that much differently in first grade!

[Anonymous]

Last year when DD was in K, she said her favorite parts of the day were lunch and recess. I can't say she feels that much differently in first grade!

Be grateful. It probably means she has lots of friends. Even in college, my introverted DD's favorite thing was the classes. Glad she liked school--wish she liked people as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in K in MoCo. He says his favorite part of school day is "the bus home". I do get "I hate school" ocassionally, but its more of to get the reaction out of me than anything else. FYI I did tell him I dont want to go to work either, but both me and dad still do and school is his wor.

Last year when DD was in K, she said her favorite parts of the day were lunch and recess. I can't say she feels that much differently in first grade!

OP here. Thanks to last two posters for getting the thread back on track. I guess this is just one of those things some kids go through. Reading the posts I do now remember my nephew telling me that the bus home was his favorite part when he was in K.

My brother took DS to school this morning and got the same song and dance I have been getting. I was kind of hoping it was a show for mommy but it seems he is committed to not liking school...for now.

If the teacher has any great advice when I meet with her next week I will share it with DCUM since this seems to be a common problem.

[Anonymous]

Assuming that there really is not a real problem, I have some advice for the teacher:
Before you send the kids home, talk about all the things you did that day. Sometimes, the kids need to be reminded. Ask them if they liked this best--or this.