Entering Kindergarten at 6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone would just send their kid to school when they are supposed to, we wouldn't have these large age gaps is the classroom. My kid entered kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 two weeks later. If you hold yours back it creates unfair age gaps for those of us who follow the rules.

I don't understand how the age gaps disadvantage your child.

We redshirted our early summer birthday kid because it was obvious she wasn't ready for K when she had just turned 5. No diagnosis, so we couldn't have gotten a letter from the doctor or "proved" that red shirting was correct, it was just obvious to us and her preschool teachers. Fast forward several years, she has an IEP for a learning disability and is academically one of the weakest kids and is absolutely in the right grade. I don't understand how her presence is hurting your kid.

Are you people not reading? People have said not to red shirt unless you have a reason given by teachers or doctors. You just started your preschool teachers thought she shouldn't start on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone would just send their kid to school when they are supposed to, we wouldn't have these large age gaps is the classroom. My kid entered kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 two weeks later. If you hold yours back it creates unfair age gaps for those of us who follow the rules.

I don't understand how the age gaps disadvantage your child.

We redshirted our early summer birthday kid because it was obvious she wasn't ready for K when she had just turned 5. No diagnosis, so we couldn't have gotten a letter from the doctor or "proved" that red shirting was correct, it was just obvious to us and her preschool teachers. Fast forward several years, she has an IEP for a learning disability and is academically one of the weakest kids and is absolutely in the right grade. I don't understand how her presence is hurting your kid.

Are you people not reading? People have said not to red shirt unless you have a reason given by teachers or doctors. You just started your preschool teachers thought she shouldn't start on time.

I don't know a single person who decided to red shirt without first talking to their preschool teacher. With an exception that big, you guys are beating a straw horse.

[Anonymous]

Every. Single. Child. that I know that has been red shirted was because mom and dad (not the preschool teacher or doctor) felt the child wasn't ready. And I know a bunch because I'm in a few mommy groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every. Single. Child. that I know that has been red shirted was because mom and dad (not the preschool teacher or doctor) felt the child wasn't ready. And I know a bunch because I'm in a few mommy groups.

So you quiz every mom in your mommy groups about all the private conversations they have about their child with teachers and doctors? No, you don't. There's a lot that goes on that you don't know about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If everyone would just send their kid to school when they are supposed to, we wouldn't have these large age gaps is the classroom. My kid entered kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 two weeks later. If you hold yours back it creates unfair age gaps for those of us who follow the rules.

+1. Some of the boys in my son's class were obviously held back by their parents seeking that elusive advantage. I feel sorry for them. They may be some of the biggest kids in the class, but it didn't help them be the brightest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not a question regarding the costs or benefits of red-shirting generally. For a variety of reasons my daughter will complete one more year of Pre-K in 2018-19 and therefore turn 6 the summer before we expect to send her to Kindergarten. Is there any rule or restriction in DCPS that would require her to move directly to 1st grade? I know that is an issue in certain other jurisdictions but have not known that to be the case here. We are new to the area and appreciate any insight.

Your kid will be fine if you hold her back this year. I've had to retain students who are young for their age in first (i.e. starting first at 5) and most never notice (I'm not joking - I had a mom who just told the student "you're in Ms. XYZ's class again!"). The parents who are on you are just being jerks. You know your kid and what will be best for her. As a teacher, I'd rather have a kid who is 6 for all of K than one who turns five on September 30th.

Yikes. I started K at 4 and turned 5 in September if that year. I’m so glad you were not around/teaching when I was in school! Making general/blanket statements about children you do not know only shows your lack of maturity/experience.

OP, no one knows your child. No one knows how your child will perform, or whether starting at 4 versus 5 versus 6 will affect your child. However, if you’re looking for generally inapplicable generalizations, you have come to the correct place!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every. Single. Child. that I know that has been red shirted was because mom and dad (not the preschool teacher or doctor) felt the child wasn't ready. And I know a bunch because I'm in a few mommy groups.

So you quiz every mom in your mommy groups about all the private conversations they have about their child with teachers and doctors? No, you don't. There's a lot that goes on that you don't know about.

Mommies in mommy groups love to talk about themselves and share every detail about their parenting. They were honest and just flat out said they wanted them to be older than the class, or have an advantage in sports, or have an advantage in academics (even though that hasn't been proven as a benefit).

[Anonymous]

and look at OP. If there was a medical reason they would have shot back with it. But they are ignoring the question as to why they are red shirting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone would just send their kid to school when they are supposed to, we wouldn't have these large age gaps is the classroom. My kid entered kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 two weeks later. If you hold yours back it creates unfair age gaps for those of us who follow the rules.

I don't understand how the age gaps disadvantage your child.

We redshirted our early summer birthday kid because it was obvious she wasn't ready for K when she had just turned 5. No diagnosis, so we couldn't have gotten a letter from the doctor or "proved" that red shirting was correct, it was just obvious to us and her preschool teachers. Fast forward several years, she has an IEP for a learning disability and is academically one of the weakest kids and is absolutely in the right grade. I don't understand how her presence is hurting your kid.

Are you people not reading? People have said not to red shirt unless you have a reason given by teachers or doctors. You just started your preschool teachers thought she shouldn't start on time.

Preschool teachers don't have any special type of degree and just personal experience. OP should have gotten her child tested when she/teachers started to be concerned. If anything child would have been better off starting so they could have been tested by the school and in services vs. waiting a year. Most of us who have concerns for our kids get private testing if the school isn't willing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone would just send their kid to school when they are supposed to, we wouldn't have these large age gaps is the classroom. My kid entered kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 two weeks later. If you hold yours back it creates unfair age gaps for those of us who follow the rules.

+1. Some of the boys in my son's class were obviously held back by their parents seeking that elusive advantage. I feel sorry for them. They may be some of the biggest kids in the class, but it didn't help them be the brightest.

Bright kids will do fine in either grade but may be bored socially and academically if held back. It helps when you are a year older/testing for gifted programs but if a child is smart and capable they will get in regardless. Being the oldest and socially mature isn't always great as they don't have an equal peer group. Often those kids act younger as that is what is expected of them as they are going by grade not age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If everyone would just send their kid to school when they are supposed to, we wouldn't have these large age gaps is the classroom. My kid entered kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 two weeks later. If you hold yours back it creates unfair age gaps for those of us who follow the rules.

I don't understand how the age gaps disadvantage your child.

We redshirted our early summer birthday kid because it was obvious she wasn't ready for K when she had just turned 5. No diagnosis, so we couldn't have gotten a letter from the doctor or "proved" that red shirting was correct, it was just obvious to us and her preschool teachers. Fast forward several years, she has an IEP for a learning disability and is academically one of the weakest kids and is absolutely in the right grade. I don't understand how her presence is hurting your kid.

Are you people not reading? People have said not to red shirt unless you have a reason given by teachers or doctors. You just started your preschool teachers thought she shouldn't start on time.

Preschool teachers don't have any special type of degree and just personal experience. OP should have gotten her child tested when she/teachers started to be concerned. If anything child would have been better off starting so they could have been tested by the school and in services vs. waiting a year. Most of us who have concerns for our kids get private testing if the school isn't willing.

This is not true? Preschool teachers in DCPS have degrees. And a lot of preschool teachers I know outside of dcps have early childhood education degrees or at least are taking classes for degrees.

[Anonymous]

OP, Kindergarten is mandatory in DC, so if your child hasn’t done it they likely will not send him to first, but definitely check with principal.

For those complaining about redshirting, the admins and policy makers changed Kindergarten 10-15 years ago. That much seated time and explicit instruction is not developmentally appropriate for 4 and young 5 year olds. We have a late September child and when we toured for K I thought we were in a thrid grade classroom. I am an educator so i know what it should look like. If your child is advanced maybe... for those complaining about the age gap, it’s not the older kids, it’s the curriculum/approach.

www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/04/06/in-massachusetts-a-disturbing-trend-in-kindergarten/we

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I red-shirted and don't care if other parents are upset. Someone will always be able to do something that someone else can't do. Fun fact: Life is not fair nor equitable. I wish I was born a Hilton, but I'm not, so I carry on and work with the normal life granted to me.

Talk with your daughter about advocating/standing up for herself or alternatively speak with the child's parents. However, realistically she'll be fine.

LOL!

Life isn't fair so I don't care if I'm the cause of unfairness for other people.

Parents never fail to disappoint.

+1
"Talk with your daughter about advocating/standing up for herself" but not my son- we decided to re-engineer the class to suit his needs.

NP +1 and you forgot "realistically, your kid will be fine" while making sure that her kid got every advantage she could steal from the other parents... all while harping on about how she's leading her "normal life granted to her" but refusing to do normal things like send your kid to school on time. Because she knows her kid isn't that smart or talented and she just can't handle it, so she needs to switch up the playing field (aka cheat) a bit to improve the odds of doing well.

The saddest thing is that no matter how she cheats, her kid will still be at a disadvantage just for having a parent like that. Both dumb and arrogant - the worst possible combination. The kid doesn't have a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Kindergarten is mandatory in DC, so if your child hasn’t done it they likely will not send him to first, but definitely check with principal.

For those complaining about redshirting, the admins and policy makers changed Kindergarten 10-15 years ago. That much seated time and explicit instruction is not developmentally appropriate for 4 and young 5 year olds. We have a late September child and when we toured for K I thought we were in a thrid grade classroom. I am an educator so i know what it should look like. If your child is advanced maybe... for those complaining about the age gap, it’s not the older kids, it’s the curriculum/approach.

www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/04/06/in-massachusetts-a-disturbing-trend-in-kindergarten/we

Then homeschool if you don't like the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Kindergarten is mandatory in DC, so if your child hasn’t done it they likely will not send him to first, but definitely check with principal.

For those complaining about redshirting, the admins and policy makers changed Kindergarten 10-15 years ago. That much seated time and explicit instruction is not developmentally appropriate for 4 and young 5 year olds. We have a late September child and when we toured for K I thought we were in a thrid grade classroom. I am an educator so i know what it should look like. If your child is advanced maybe... for those complaining about the age gap, it’s not the older kids, it’s the curriculum/approach.

www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/04/06/in-massachusetts-a-disturbing-trend-in-kindergarten/we

Then homeschool if you don't like the rules.

The “rules” are arbitrary. Different in MD, different in privates. If a kid is a few days on one side of the cutoff or another it’s no big deal for the class a whole, but it can make a huge difference for that child. And if a kid goes too early it can be disruptive. I know of a child whose parents “followed the rules” even though they knew their kid wasn’t ready for that much seated time and teacher talk. The result is the kid is super disruptive, doesn’t focus and needs the resources of specialists, not because he likely has a disability, but because he developmentally is t ready for what Kindergarten is now. IMO changing kindergarten isn’t “following the rules”.