Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 09:06     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:You folks are crazy. It is kindergarten. What’s the IEP for? You should post on special needs board.


And I’d expect that people would tell OP what I said earlier. When the school admits there is a problem you need to believe them. All of these people who say hold him back or the expectation is too high have not dealt with special needs in the public school system,‘where most of the time you are told, give it more time. Or, he’s young, it will come. Advising of any concern means that it’s worse than you think and you need to figure it out and mobilize resources. It also usually means that they don’t have an answer and you are going to need to look beyond the walls of the school for help.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 08:40     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.


In Finland, kids don’t even start academic school until 7 and they have the highest scores in the world. I know that there are other factors contributing to those scores, but it shows that you can wait to teach a kid to read at 7 and they’ll be just fine, not behind.


Last time I checked this wasn't Finland and if you don't get kids reading they are going to fall way behind AND it hurts their self-esteem. Bad advice. There were those expectations when I was in K, and I'm old. We had a full day and it was academic. You are hurting kids who are behind with your do nothing attitude and hoping they will catch up. Many don't. Look at test scores right now.


It is Finland.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/finland-schools-kindergarten-literacy_n_560ece14e4b0af3706e0a60c/amp

And it’s not a do nothing attitude. It’s a play based approach that teaches plenty of skills that sharpen the brain and then they learn to read when they are ready.

Test scores are low in the US because of the preponderance of screens both at school and at home, and how poorly our kids are eating these days. How many kids you know “only eat Mac and cheese and Dino nuggets”? I know way too many. How often do you see kids on iPhones in the grocery store and at restaurants? Constantly. Attention spans are suffering. Big time.


Then more there if you like the system better. That’s not why we have low test scores.


I was using Finland as an example of why parents do not have to freak out if their kids aren’t demonstrating phonological awareness at age 4 and reading by age 5. It’s okay to use examples from other countries who are doing it better than we are.

And as much as you don’t want to admit it, screens ARE a problem.

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/is-too-much-screen-time-too-early-hindering-reading-comprehension/2024/01

We are in the midst of a great failed experiment, and our kids are the guinea pigs who are suffering as a result.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 08:34     Subject: Falling behind at K level
You folks are crazy. It is kindergarten. What’s the IEP for? You should post on special needs board.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 07:03     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Studies show that when there is a LD, repeating the grade only helps in the very short term and also holds a kid back from progressing in other areas. My bright dyslexic kid did not need K 2 times. He needed help with his LD. He would have been exactly the same kid just surrounded by younger peers.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 06:54     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Have him repeat K, the school will ADAMANTLY oppose this, it messes with their numbers somehow I heard, but you know your child best and I would do it now while it's easy.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 21:53     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.


In Finland, kids don’t even start academic school until 7 and they have the highest scores in the world. I know that there are other factors contributing to those scores, but it shows that you can wait to teach a kid to read at 7 and they’ll be just fine, not behind.


Last time I checked this wasn't Finland and if you don't get kids reading they are going to fall way behind AND it hurts their self-esteem. Bad advice. There were those expectations when I was in K, and I'm old. We had a full day and it was academic. You are hurting kids who are behind with your do nothing attitude and hoping they will catch up. Many don't. Look at test scores right now.


It is Finland.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/finland-schools-kindergarten-literacy_n_560ece14e4b0af3706e0a60c/amp

And it’s not a do nothing attitude. It’s a play based approach that teaches plenty of skills that sharpen the brain and then they learn to read when they are ready.

Test scores are low in the US because of the preponderance of screens both at school and at home, and how poorly our kids are eating these days. How many kids you know “only eat Mac and cheese and Dino nuggets”? I know way too many. How often do you see kids on iPhones in the grocery store and at restaurants? Constantly. Attention spans are suffering. Big time.


Then more there if you like the system better. That’s not why we have low test scores.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 21:39     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:Kindergartener struggles with reading and writing. He has IEP, and homeroom teacher and special educator admit that he is falling behind. He attended daycare and then preschool since 6 months old, and there's no other language spoken at home/school except English.

Other than worrying, what could I do to help my son? Any advice? I don't believe he will catch up because I had the same concern since he was 3 years old. Everyone tells me he will be okay, omg. We have paid a few thousands for evaluation(s) for the last few years, other than ADHD diagnosis, we have no clue why he can't read with phonics and why he can't spell. He knows abc, almost all letter sounds, and he recognizes a few words. He can only write his name, mom, dad, his pet name and I love you.

App? Tutoring? Free resources? Any free volunteering help?


Highly recommend the Toddlers Can Read program (ignore the name, it’s for anyone who struggles with reading).

I personally did this course with my child and I am not an educator. The program makes it so easy and walks you through everything step by step so you can teach on your own.

Try the free workshop (shared below) and if it speaks to you I recommend jumping in asap. You can do this! Good on you for tackling this issue head on.

https://www.toddlersread.com/pages/free-workshop


Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 18:43     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.


In Finland, kids don’t even start academic school until 7 and they have the highest scores in the world. I know that there are other factors contributing to those scores, but it shows that you can wait to teach a kid to read at 7 and they’ll be just fine, not behind.


Last time I checked this wasn't Finland and if you don't get kids reading they are going to fall way behind AND it hurts their self-esteem. Bad advice. There were those expectations when I was in K, and I'm old. We had a full day and it was academic. You are hurting kids who are behind with your do nothing attitude and hoping they will catch up. Many don't. Look at test scores right now.


It is Finland.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/finland-schools-kindergarten-literacy_n_560ece14e4b0af3706e0a60c/amp

And it’s not a do nothing attitude. It’s a play based approach that teaches plenty of skills that sharpen the brain and then they learn to read when they are ready.

Test scores are low in the US because of the preponderance of screens both at school and at home, and how poorly our kids are eating these days. How many kids you know “only eat Mac and cheese and Dino nuggets”? I know way too many. How often do you see kids on iPhones in the grocery store and at restaurants? Constantly. Attention spans are suffering. Big time.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 18:35     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.


We were expected to read in K/1st. Maybe that was your experience, but it wasn't mine. At our preschool for our kids, majority of kids were reading before entering K as they were taught it at school and at home.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 18:34     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.


In Finland, kids don’t even start academic school until 7 and they have the highest scores in the world. I know that there are other factors contributing to those scores, but it shows that you can wait to teach a kid to read at 7 and they’ll be just fine, not behind.


Last time I checked this wasn't Finland and if you don't get kids reading they are going to fall way behind AND it hurts their self-esteem. Bad advice. There were those expectations when I was in K, and I'm old. We had a full day and it was academic. You are hurting kids who are behind with your do nothing attitude and hoping they will catch up. Many don't. Look at test scores right now.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 17:39     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.


In Finland, kids don’t even start academic school until 7 and they have the highest scores in the world. I know that there are other factors contributing to those scores, but it shows that you can wait to teach a kid to read at 7 and they’ll be just fine, not behind.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 14:16     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.


They are high. There was no expectation to be able to read anything when I was in kindergarten. It was a half day and we learned one letter a week. Now our pre-k students do that.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 13:43     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I forgot to mention that he also has speech delay. My older child is a special need child and he can read chapter books and does multiplication at age 5. Not for comparison, I would never expect that my younger child would struggle with reading/writing and he is not good with math. He has IEP or child find program since 1 year old, so I have been keeping track of his development. Preschool teacher has tried extra effort to do 1:1 on him, and it took him a long long time to learn phonics. His IQ seems fine, but I wonder if he is dyslexia. He is going to 1st grade, and we are not holding him back.


Don't compare kids. MCPS ES curriculum is not very good. I would get a reading tutor and ask his private SLP to work on it. My speech disordered kid was reading very early, other kids I know were but many were not. Our SLP did a lot of visual work and we read a lot at home. We used apps and workbooks as well. Handwriting/writing was delayed and we did about 10-20 minutes a day of Kumon workbooks and it really helped (not the class, just the workbooks). And, if he's not in private speech get him in private speech. Phonics never worked for my kid. It was sight reading. We also used the CC for videos and did a lot of reading vidoes.


Do you have a kid using the new curriculum in K? I have heard good things about it. Not to say this parent/child may not need more, just wondering if your assessment that the curriculum is not good is based on the current curriculum or a previous one.


No but even if it’s better it’s not working for op child.


It might be working fine but the expectaions for a kindergartener are too high and unrealistic.


Expectations are not high. He's 5. You learn to read, write and do very basic math. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get your child caught up.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 13:42     Subject: Falling behind at K level
Anonymous wrote:If he has a summer birthday and is younger than most of the classmates, I would repeat Kindergarten - if the school will even allow you to.

My grandson has similar issues and finally in 6th grade they found a private school that only takes kids like this. But it's expensive, 30K, with the state covering about 10K. Luckily they can afford it.

Their hope is after HS he can get some type of job that is hands on and not focused on reading, writing and sitting at a desk. Like a ski instructor or river guide.


Don't do this. It doesn't fix anything. Get him tutoring, work with him at home, increase the private speech therapy (assuming you are in it), work on handwriting. Repeating K is not going to fix things if he isn't getting what he needs from the curriculum in the first place.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 09:58     Subject: Falling behind at K level
If he has a summer birthday and is younger than most of the classmates, I would repeat Kindergarten - if the school will even allow you to.

My grandson has similar issues and finally in 6th grade they found a private school that only takes kids like this. But it's expensive, 30K, with the state covering about 10K. Luckily they can afford it.

Their hope is after HS he can get some type of job that is hands on and not focused on reading, writing and sitting at a desk. Like a ski instructor or river guide.