Early entrance to 1st grade

[Anonymous]

Anyone ever done early entrance to first grade? What was your experience with it? We did not apply for early K entrance for a September birthday kid. But recently I’ve been regretting that as she seems so much older than her preK classmates.

[Anonymous]

She would be in K for 6 weeks and the teachers will gather data and submit a recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean applying mid year? Sounds like she is already in K?

[Anonymous]

I have a late October kid so did not have the option to try to get him in K early. While in K his teacher told us she felt he need to skip up to 1st grade because he really did not belong in K. He was frustrated with the pace of learning and he was much more stimulated at his former P-K. They had him take a lot of tests and then evaluation by principal. He did move into 1st mid year. While I am glad he is working more to his level of learning I will say I kind of regret doing it. They are kids for such a brief period of time and got lots of years where grades, learning and then making a living take over their lives. Really the main reason I let him skip is because his brother is 18 months older then him and they are very close. By letting him skip they are a year apart in school now and can be in the same schools together longer. Still I do feel like I rushed his childhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She would be in K for 6 weeks and the teachers will gather data and submit a recommendation.

This. Or you can send your child to private school for a year and start public at second grade where there are no tests for admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a late October kid so did not have the option to try to get him in K early. While in K his teacher told us she felt he need to skip up to 1st grade because he really did not belong in K. He was frustrated with the pace of learning and he was much more stimulated at his former P-K. They had him take a lot of tests and then evaluation by principal. He did move into 1st mid year. While I am glad he is working more to his level of learning I will say I kind of regret doing it. They are kids for such a brief period of time and got lots of years where grades, learning and then making a living take over their lives. Really the main reason I let him skip is because his brother is 18 months older then him and they are very close. By letting him skip they are a year apart in school now and can be in the same schools together longer. Still I do feel like I rushed his childhood.

I also have an October birthday kid, but within the early entrance window. We did not pursue EEK because of the reasons you’ve mentioned. Three years later, I’m still happy with our decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a late October kid so did not have the option to try to get him in K early. While in K his teacher told us she felt he need to skip up to 1st grade because he really did not belong in K. He was frustrated with the pace of learning and he was much more stimulated at his former P-K. They had him take a lot of tests and then evaluation by principal. He did move into 1st mid year. While I am glad he is working more to his level of learning I will say I kind of regret doing it. They are kids for such a brief period of time and got lots of years where grades, learning and then making a living take over their lives. Really the main reason I let him skip is because his brother is 18 months older then him and they are very close. By letting him skip they are a year apart in school now and can be in the same schools together longer. Still I do feel like I rushed his childhood.

I also have an October birthday kid, but within the early entrance window. We did not pursue EEK because of the reasons you’ve mentioned. Three years later, I’m still happy with our decision.

m

Same here. 8 years later. So much pressure now in HS and college. Think ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a late October kid so did not have the option to try to get him in K early. While in K his teacher told us she felt he need to skip up to 1st grade because he really did not belong in K. He was frustrated with the pace of learning and he was much more stimulated at his former P-K. They had him take a lot of tests and then evaluation by principal. He did move into 1st mid year. While I am glad he is working more to his level of learning I will say I kind of regret doing it. They are kids for such a brief period of time and got lots of years where grades, learning and then making a living take over their lives. Really the main reason I let him skip is because his brother is 18 months older then him and they are very close. By letting him skip they are a year apart in school now and can be in the same schools together longer. Still I do feel like I rushed his childhood.

I also have an October birthday kid, but within the early entrance window. We did not pursue EEK because of the reasons you’ve mentioned. Three years later, I’m still happy with our decision.

m

Same here. 8 years later. So much pressure now in HS and college. Think ahead.

They have pressure either way. Maybe this is why people say the current young generation cannot handle things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a late October kid so did not have the option to try to get him in K early. While in K his teacher told us she felt he need to skip up to 1st grade because he really did not belong in K. He was frustrated with the pace of learning and he was much more stimulated at his former P-K. They had him take a lot of tests and then evaluation by principal. He did move into 1st mid year. While I am glad he is working more to his level of learning I will say I kind of regret doing it. They are kids for such a brief period of time and got lots of years where grades, learning and then making a living take over their lives. Really the main reason I let him skip is because his brother is 18 months older then him and they are very close. By letting him skip they are a year apart in school now and can be in the same schools together longer. Still I do feel like I rushed his childhood.

Our two kids are in the same situation, 18 months apart and 1 year apart in school. The younger falls within the early entrance window for MCPS and was accepted and went. It's great for the sibling relationship to be in the same school for longer. They are both in middle school now.

The younger is doing great academically (CES in 4th/5th) and socially. I do not at all feel we rushed or pushed him.

Selfishly for us parents, it would be nice to keep him at home one additional year. They'll be in high school and beyond before we know it! It's really more about us. ?

On the other hand, we may be more inclined to encourage a gap year after the younger one finishes high school.

You know your kid. Do what's best for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a late October kid so did not have the option to try to get him in K early. While in K his teacher told us she felt he need to skip up to 1st grade because he really did not belong in K. He was frustrated with the pace of learning and he was much more stimulated at his former P-K. They had him take a lot of tests and then evaluation by principal. He did move into 1st mid year. While I am glad he is working more to his level of learning I will say I kind of regret doing it. They are kids for such a brief period of time and got lots of years where grades, learning and then making a living take over their lives. Really the main reason I let him skip is because his brother is 18 months older then him and they are very close. By letting him skip they are a year apart in school now and can be in the same schools together longer. Still I do feel like I rushed his childhood.

He will turn 18 eighteen years after the day of his birth, regardless of when he does first grade.

[Anonymous]

We did the Early Entrance to Kindergarten for my DS. He thrived in school and thankfully was tall enough that it was not an issue in sports etc. He is now a sophomore in HS and has excelled in all ways at school and socially. Know your kid. If he/she will thrive in the classroom by all means apply for the EEK.

He had to take a test and was observed by the school teachers before he was given admission. He knew counting, reading and writing before he took the test, but I do not think that is as important as the social maturity and EQ of the children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did the Early Entrance to Kindergarten for my DS. He thrived in school and thankfully was tall enough that it was not an issue in sports etc. He is now a sophomore in HS and has excelled in all ways at school and socially. Know your kid. If he/she will thrive in the classroom by all means apply for the EEK.

He had to take a test and was observed by the school teachers before he was given admission. He knew counting, reading and writing before he took the test, but I do not think that is as important as the social maturity and EQ of the children.

I am not trying to be snarky but what advantage or positive outcome does he have, in the long run, by going to kindergarten early?

[Anonymous]

It is not really early admission by the way. Many states including New York cut off is calendar year. So October, November or December is regular admission.

[Anonymous]

Maybe this is why people say the current young generation cannot handle things.

I think people say the current young generation cannot handle things because generations have always, ALWAYS, talked poorly about "kids today."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did the Early Entrance to Kindergarten for my DS. He thrived in school and thankfully was tall enough that it was not an issue in sports etc. He is now a sophomore in HS and has excelled in all ways at school and socially. Know your kid. If he/she will thrive in the classroom by all means apply for the EEK.

He had to take a test and was observed by the school teachers before he was given admission. He knew counting, reading and writing before he took the test, but I do not think that is as important as the social maturity and EQ of the children.

I am not trying to be snarky but what advantage or positive outcome does he have, in the long run, by going to kindergarten early?

Being with peers at the same social and academic level (being challenged appropriately, alleviating boredom).