What would you do? The opposite of redshirting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, everyone, for such great contributions. Lots of food for thought.

I don't want to make an impression that I am convinced he should go to first grade ahead of schedule. I will absolutely put him in kindergarten again if that's where he belongs after he completes his private K program. I simply want to know that IF he matures enough during that year, that there IS an option for him to go to first grade based on evaluations of academics and social skills.

To the posters who were concerned about being the smallest kid in class: it just so happens that he is VERY tall for his age so that is not a concern.

To someone who asked why he was put in the pre-K class: his preschool has two tracks - preschool and pre-K. He completed the preschool year and was obviously ready to transition to pre-K (not to mention way bigger than most of the preschool kids). It would have made zero sense to keep him in preschool track for another year.

His preschool is very good and offers a good mix of academics and play. But I do not want him to repeat their pre-K year again; it has nothing to do with the school, I just think that he doesn't need another year of the same.

The private K program I am considering is more structured but offers lots of enrichment activities, play time, two recesses a day, music etc. in addition to academics. It is also an immersion language school, one of the few in this area, so would give us a great opportunity to cement his grasp of his heritage language.

I may be a little biased because I was the youngest kid in my class too (late August bday) and ended up as not only the top student but also the tallest in class.

For those of you who say it can be done: is it, then, to the discretion of the principal of his base school? Or can you demand that he be evaluated for 1st grade placement? Meaning, can the principal decline to even evaluate him out of, well, principle?

How strange. Most preschools I've toured have it grouped by age and in accordance with the FCPS calendar. So a twos class, a threes class, a fours class, and maybe a pre-K for kids being red shirted. I've never seen a preschool that only had two classes, "generic preschool" and "pre-K". Weird.

NP. Our school is like that. We have a pre-K program and a K program (catered to slightly older kids who miss the cutoff). The latter will repeat K when they start public, but I know a few who go directly into 1st.

[Anonymous]

I think it is *bizarre* that a preschool focused on teaching reading to a class of 3 year olds. Developmentally inappropriate to the extreme. And what were they missing out on all that time they were spent learning to "read"? Preschool is just a few hours a day...

[Anonymous]

Wow, I'm really curious about which preschool this is. Does anyone know? It must be in Fairfax somewhere (?) I have never seen a preschool with just two classes: one for 30 months-4 and one for 4-6.

And I have certainly never heard of a preschool that switches kids to another class on their birthday. All while somehow magically teaching three year olds to read.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about the private immersion Kindergarten. My cousin was looking for a second-language immersion private elementary a few years ago and couldn't find anything at all. Is it a new school?

[Anonymous]

I think op might be a troll. At least I hope so or poor kid. His parent doesn't realize that this area is full of other smart kids and is going to be "that mom" for the next decade or so.

[Anonymous]

Unless your son is a genius, just follow the age guidline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+100. I've known a few people who skipped a grade or more and not a single one had a normal social life. Most had tiger parents (speaking of parenting style, not ethnicity) who focused on academic achievement above all else. Please don't do this to your child.

And as for how it fits with redshirting, there is a reason Maryland schools only allow early admittance to kids born in September and then, only after they pass a readiness test. If you know redshirting is the norm in your school, why would you want to move your child a grade ahead?

Because I don't want him to STILL spend his time with the classroom full of kids just learning their ABCs more than a year from now when he's already a good reader TODAY.

Most of his kids will be reading too, your kid is not as unique as you think.

My kid is like other kid - unique in some ways, typical in others. If other kids are reading too, that's great. There will be some that aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think op might be a troll. At least I hope so or poor kid. His parent doesn't realize that this area is full of other smart kids and is going to be "that mom" for the next decade or so.

I agree. Too many illogical details.

[Anonymous]

Do you want your 15 year old hanging out with 17 year olds in his high school class? He will easily be 1.25 years younger than kids who are redshirted with July birthdays. It's a maturity thing, not an academic thing find a play based preschool for this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
DD was born at just over 34 weeks, and came home with me. No one ever suggested there was brain risk involved (they did try hard to keep from coming until lung maturity). I have certainly have never thought it a Miracle that she was developmentally normal and even (gasp!) became an extremely bright AAP student.

I am glad your daughter is OK. Tell me - do you think it makes sense that another woman's daughter, who was conceived on the same night as your daughter but born at full term, isn't fit to attend K but your DD is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you want your 15 year old hanging out with 17 year olds in his high school class? He will easily be 1.25 years younger than kids who are redshirted with July birthdays. It's a maturity thing, not an academic thing find a play based preschool for this year.

The parents of redshirted children did what they thought was best for their children, and I am going to do what's best for mine. None of us sets the tone the other has to follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you want your 15 year old hanging out with 17 year olds in his high school class? He will easily be 1.25 years younger than kids who are redshirted with July birthdays. It's a maturity thing, not an academic thing find a play based preschool for this year.

The parents of redshirted children did what they thought was best for their children, and I am going to do what's best for mine. None of us sets the tone the other has to follow.

Right, likely the school system is not inclined to allow families to do what you are suggesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DD was born at just over 34 weeks, and came home with me. No one ever suggested there was brain risk involved (they did try hard to keep from coming until lung maturity). I have certainly have never thought it a Miracle that she was developmentally normal and even (gasp!) became an extremely bright AAP student.

I am glad your daughter is OK. Tell me - do you think it makes sense that another woman's daughter, who was conceived on the same night as your daughter but born at full term, isn't fit to attend K but your DD is?[/quoting

Definitely a troll. No rational person would argue that school age guidelines should be based on date of conception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you want your 15 year old hanging out with 17 year olds in his high school class? He will easily be 1.25 years younger than kids who are redshirted with July birthdays. It's a maturity thing, not an academic thing find a play based preschool for this year.

The parents of redshirted children did what they thought was best for their children, and I am going to do what's best for mine. None of us sets the tone the other has to follow.

Right, likely the school system is not inclined to allow families to do what you are suggesting.

Luckily not likely.

[Anonymous]

LOL, OP, you are so silly. Two of my children were born 8 and 10 days late, respectively. They were both due at the end of September. Guess what! They went on time with their correct age group *even though they were overdue and SHOULD have gone with children conceived at the same time as them*. It is mind-blowing, I know.

I don't know why you are so desperate to send your kid to school early. Are you trying to save on a year of daycare cost?