Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

Actually I sent my some to K at four. I just didn't like the curriculum. Why are you so angry? People's choices and opinions don't directly affect you. It isn't a few odd studies that demonstrate the advantage of starting academics later (not school -- I am in favor of a sending kids to K and 5 play-based curriculum.) Beive it or not play is not a waste of time, it is fundamental for brain development. There are mega data sets about literacy rates and high school level test scores that show Swedish students outscoring Americans. You may believe your child's brain is more "developed" because of early academics, but his advantages will be gone by 4th grade.

When you have a critical mass of parents who believe that just holding back their own child(ren) won't affect anyone else directly, then you end up with curricular changes that do eventually affect everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

Actually I sent my some to K at four. I just didn't like the curriculum. Why are you so angry? People's choices and opinions don't directly affect you. It isn't a few odd studies that demonstrate the advantage of starting academics later (not school -- I am in favor of a sending kids to K and 5 play-based curriculum.) Beive it or not play is not a waste of time, it is fundamental for brain development. There are mega data sets about literacy rates and high school level test scores that show Swedish students outscoring Americans. You may believe your child's brain is more "developed" because of early academics, but his advantages will be gone by 4th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am coming from another country. I was shocked by the number of 10 year olds in 4th grade. (They turned 10 before school year started). And then the parents complain if their kids are bored.. Well, they should be in 5th grade!

Coming from another country is no excuse for resurrecting a 5 YEAR OLD thread! Get a life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

Anonymous wrote:I am coming from another country. I was shocked by the number of 10 year olds in 4th grade. (They turned 10 before school year started). And then the parents complain if their kids are bored.. Well, they should be in 5th grade!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am coming from another country. I was shocked by the number of 10 year olds in 4th grade. (They turned 10 before school year started). And then the parents complain if their kids are bored.. Well, they should be in 5th grade!

Because you're from another country, I'll nicely point out that my "on time" September boy turned 10 at the start of 4th grade (the private school's age cut off is Sept 1). Some things are shocking. A 10 yr old in 4th grade shouldn't shock you.

Anonymous wrote:I am coming from another country. I was shocked by the number of 10 year olds in 4th grade. (They turned 10 before school year started). And then the parents complain if their kids are bored.. Well, they should be in 5th grade!

Anonymous wrote:I am coming from another country. I was shocked by the number of 10 year olds in 4th grade. (They turned 10 before school year started). And then the parents complain if their kids are bored.. Well, they should be in 5th grade!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son entered kindergarten in a public school at age 4. He is a Nov. birthday. He transferred to a Big 3. He is now a senior and just turned 17. There are two girls in his class who are one month younger. He is by far the youngest boy. His best friend is turning 19 in January. It all seems to be working out for both the older kids and him. His only complaint was that he had to wait until his senior year to drive to school because of his age.

PP, that was me too. I was a 17 year old college freshman with my English professor trying to seduce me. Taking 17 credits a semester while competing in a sport at a Div 1 school.

I could have used a little more maturing before choosing a major, finding a career and buying a house