Kindergarden classes

[Anonymous]

My son is in pre-k now, at his Montessori school. Decided to let him stay there this year instead of pre-K at the DC public school near me. His school also offers a kindergarden year if we want. Curious what kindergarden classes are like at the public school. My son is reading already and is learning some math fundamentals...adding, subtracting, place value, counting by 10s. What is covered in kindergarden and how are the classes organized to accommodate the different kids? I assume alot of kids come to kindergarden in DC reading, etc.

[Anonymous]

Public schools offer tours and open houses--since they vary widely, I highly recommend visiting your particular school (or at least posting a question about that school by name).

[Anonymous]

Go check an open hosue at your local school. They are starting to schedule them beginning in November. This will give you a much better sense of what it would feel like.

[Anonymous]

Some schools (public, private, and charter) are easier to get into at the Pre-K or K level. I would suggest you research and visit the ones which you might be applying to. You may want to do some applications this year and see if you get lucky. If you don't, you could always stay at your current school but if you do you may not want to let an opportunity slip away due to failure to plan.

[Anonymous]

Some schools (public, private, and charter) are easier to get into at the Pre-K or K level. I would suggest you research and visit the ones which you might be applying to. You may want to do some applications this year and see if you get lucky. If you don't, you could always stay at your current school but if you do you may not want to let an opportunity slip away due to failure to plan.

correction: OP is in the District of Columbia and so her child may attend, as a matter of right, the public school for which she is zoned. Her child may enter in K, 3rd, 5th or whenever she likes. It's not easier to get in in K, it's identical to any other year (unlike private or charter).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Some schools (public, private, and charter) are easier to get into at the Pre-K or K level. I would suggest you research and visit the ones which you might be applying to. You may want to do some applications this year and see if you get lucky. If you don't, you could always stay at your current school but if you do you may not want to let an opportunity slip away due to failure to plan.

correction: OP is in the District of Columbia and so her child may attend, as a matter of right, the public school for which she is zoned. Her child may enter in K, 3rd, 5th or whenever she likes. It's not easier to get in in K, it's identical to any other year (unlike private or charter).

However, if OP is interest in any school other than her in-bounds school (describes a sizeable number of DCPS parents) she may want to have more than year to fill out applications to more than one school. Thus the specific wording of my original answer.

[Anonymous]

Should have read "if OP HAS interest in any school other than her in-bounds school (WHICH describes a sizeable number of DCPS parents)..."

If she's looking at OOB schools, it's probably worth it to research them now and try to get lucky in the OOB lottery this year.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a K student at a NW public school. She was also a fluent reader when she entered. They have an amazing curriculum -- they do writing workshops and readers workshops 00 both geared towards different levels. THey have math on a daily basis, spanish and art and music once a week and social studies. I have been WOWED by the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a K student at a NW public school. She was also a fluent reader when she entered. They have an amazing curriculum -- they do writing workshops and readers workshops 00 both geared towards different levels. THey have math on a daily basis, spanish and art and music once a week and social studies. I have been WOWED by the program.

Which school? (It would help other parents to know where differentiated instruction is actually done well, and it can't possibly "out" you.) Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Janney

[Anonymous]

We have been really pleased by differentiated instruction at Murch. A mom on another thread has been having some trouble with her daughter's teacher at Murch re: differentiated reading. I think her teacher may be fairly new to teaching, not sure how they are working it through. My DC's teacher does reader's and writer's workshop, and DC, a fluent reader, is thriving. Murch also has an hour of recess time and a gorgeous new playground, plus a LOT of room for the kids to run and play, and no construction plans. I don't think you can go "wrong" with J/M/L/K/HM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been really pleased by differentiated instruction at Murch. A mom on another thread has been having some trouble with her daughter's teacher at Murch re: differentiated reading. I think her teacher may be fairly new to teaching, not sure how they are working it through. My DC's teacher does reader's and writer's workshop, and DC, a fluent reader, is thriving. Murch also has an hour of recess time and a gorgeous new playground, plus a LOT of room for the kids to run and play, <b>and no construction plans. </b> I don't think you can go "wrong" with J/M/L/K/HM.

Not true on the construction plans--we're in-bounds for Murch and just attended an open house. They will be starting a three-year renovation in 2013, according to the assistant principal. But the kids won't be relocated off the Murch campus.