DD is entering Kindergarten (I'm scared)

[tmarquez]

My DD will be starting kindergarten at a public school in July. Yesterday we went to the "Kindergarten Roundup". They took the kids to one of the kindergarten classrooms and the parents stayed in the library and got forms and listened to the principal talk.

One of the brochures we got is called "What Your Child is Expected to Learn in Kindergarten". It lists several thing in each subject. For example in Reading it says they should know the letters of the alphabet by name and sound. For math, they should count up to 10 or more objects. There is alot more, but everything is very basic. The principal stressed that the things in the broshure lists things that they will have mastered by the end of kindergarten.

I only have 1 child and really all of her friends are in the same preschool that she goes to...but shouldn't kids already know this stuff by 5? She can everyone of the things in the brochure now. It's not even like she's super smart...she's just an average kid.

I am so worried that she will be bored and bad or that she will "forget" all the stuff she knows now. When we went to pick the kids up from the classroom DD was playing with one of those wooden puzzles with like 5 pieces that you'd give to a baby! This is supossed to be a really good elementary school. Am I overreacting?

One of the K teachers told her it was so great that she could tie her shoes and jokingly asked her if she would come back tomorrow to teach her class how to do it. I didn't teach her to tie her shoes...she learned it at preschool. The preschool she goes to is a Montesorri school and it goes to 6th grade, but we cannot afford to keep her there and I don't even think it would really be the right thing to do anyway.

Any advice? Thanks!

 

[npmommie]

One of the brochures we got is called "What Your Child is Expected to Learn in Kindergarten". It lists several thing in each subject. For example in Reading it says they should know the letters of the alphabet by name and sound. For math, they should count up to 10 or more objects. There is alot more, but everything is very basic. The principal stressed that the things in the broshure lists things that they will have mastered by the end of kindergarten.

I only have 1 child and really all of her friends are in the same preschool that she goes to...but shouldn't kids already know this stuff by 5? She can everyone of the things in the brochure now. It's not even like she's super smart...she's just an average kid.

I am so worried that she will be bored and bad or that she will "forget" all the stuff she knows now. When we went to pick the kids up from the classroom DD was playing with one of those wooden puzzles with like 5 pieces that you'd give to a baby! This is supossed to be a really good elementary school. Am I overreacting?

One of the K teachers told her it was so great that she could tie her shoes and jokingly asked her if she would come back tomorrow to teach her class how to do it. I didn't teach her to tie her shoes...she learned it at preschool. The preschool she goes to is a Montesorri school and it goes to 6th grade, but we cannot afford to keep her there and I don't even think it would really be the right thing to do anyway.

Any advice? Thanks!

I have seen those lists but they are all the things the child should know before entering kindergarten, at least the one i saw here was. i would just wait and see how it goes, I bet there are other kids like her that already know all that stuff,
i just have to ask why don't you think it would be right to keep her at the montessori school she currently attends? it may be the better choice if you have doubts about the public school.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I wouldn't stress. My son knew all that too when he started school. In fact they were impressed that he knew what his knuckles were. (they ahve to know body parts). It is just a guideline. I would say that it is rare that a child does not know all of those things already. They are loosely based guidelines. FTR- my son is doing great in K. He has an amazing teacher. He is reading above grade level and he is not bored. She keeps him interested and learning all the time. Not to be rude but I don't think Montessorri has anything to do with it. Some kids just learn some things quicker. Just be open and communicative with the teacher and I think she will be fine. GOod luck! I know how hard it is. I broke out in hives at the Orientation for K!

 

[tink20]

I guess they have to start out as if your child didn't go to preschool. Some chiildren did not. I think as long as your child's teacher makes learning fun that your daughter will be okay. I would just stay well informed in what they are doing and in Kindergarten they usually keep you informed. My son is in Kindergarten this year and he catches on pretty quick too, and some times he tells me he is bored at school,(he hates nap time too!) but he still obeys the classroom rules, most children like to please their teacher, so I'm sure your daughter will be fine. Give the school a chance, and if you really are unhappy, fine another school for 1st grade.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Try not to worry. My DD entered kindergarten reading chapter books and teaching herself multiplication. I worried that she would be bored, and she is young so I wasn't interested in exploring whether or not she should skip a grade. What I found is that while she was the only "proficient" reader in her class at the start of kindergarten, the other class also had a few proficient readers. They all got pulled out for gifted services, which typically wouldn't start in kindergarten, but the school saw the need. DD is now in third grade, and all of the third graders except one (who was new to our school this year) passed the third grade End of Grade testing at the BEGINNING of third grade (most of them passed with a high pass, which means they were at least at fourth grade level at the start of third grade). It's just a very smart group, and the school has risen to the challenge of teaching them at their level, not according to some preconceived notion of what a third grader should learn.

I have another DD getting ready to start kindergarten in August. She is not as good a reader as her sister was at that age, but she could do everything on the kindergarten readiness list by the middle of this year or earlier. She's known her letters and could count to over a hundred for as long as I can remember. She's not exceptional compared to her classmates, although she is bright. As more and more kids go to preschool and/or have parents who are involved in their early education, the norm for entering kindergarteners changes. A good school will keep up with those changes. If you have reason to believe it is not a good school, you might have reason to worry. But a high-performing school frequently has many, many kids entering who can tie shoes and read proficiently.

My mother-in-law was a kindergarten teacher for many years and tells stories of kids coming in who didn't know their colors and couldn't write their names. It just doesn't seem to happen that much anymore. DD8's class was keeping a writing journal in kindergarten and almost everyone could at least sound out simple words and knew some sight words on the first day of kindergarten.

There are typically state standards for what has to be mastered to pass from one grade to the next. That list might come from that. At DD's school, there is a certain reading level that must be attained to pass from 2nd grade into third. Everyone was there by the start of second grade, and many were there in first grade. The teachers would not have been happy if any of the kids were at that level at the end of second grade because they expected so much more from them, but that is all the state mandated.

If you are really worried, perhaps you can talk to one of the kindergarten teachers to get an idea of what they do in class. Do they do any writing, learning units of measure, do they have spelling tests, do they use the AR program or set some kind of reading goals? What kind of science and social studies do they do? Do they use Junior Achievement or otherwise teach about money and community? The first few weeks of kindergarten will be about separating from mom for those kids who haven't done preschool, waiting turns, raising hands, etc. After that, there should be a plan for what will be accomplished during the year.

Good luck and try not to worry! Just stay involved!

 

[ERMama]

Well, the school has to cater to the needs of ALL the students and children are often all over the intelligence and developmental spectrum. And like a pp said, not all children go to preschool. Some kids are more social than others. Others excel in academics.

I really wouldnt worry. If its a good school they will quickly assess your daughters skills and give her work according to where she is at. If she knows her letters and such they may push her more in reading. If shes good at numbers they can challenge her with adding and subtracting.

My oldest was in "preschool" for 2 yrs. It was Early Childhood/special ed program thru the school district. He was/is in a normal classroom now that hes in school. He does get special ed help still.
I dont think his teachers in any way have had to "dumb" the rest of their students in order to also address his needs. If he began to fall behind the "average" they threw in extra help for him either in the class with a seperate person or pulled him out of class and worked with him individually.

If a child was more gifted in areas they have ways to address that also. I know our school has a competitive chess club where kids in grades K-4 can join. A classmate of my sons excels in math/strategy type of things and did great on the team as a Kindergartener last year.

This was long but I guess Im saying, if youve done your homework and are putting her in a good school district, please dont worry so early on. Give her a few months and see how shes doing. She may learn things you dont quite realize at first.

 

[laceemouse]

I agree with whoever said the lists I saw like that were stating what kids need to know BEFORE starting kindergarten. We moved several times (our older two started school in Jacksonville Florida in an average public school) and that was always the case. In fact, almost every child (unless they had learning issues) was reading very well by the end of the kindergarten year.
I would talk to the school and explain to them that you have done preschool and your child knows these things already and is ready to start reading. I'll bet she is not the only one, the teacher will probably have to work with a variety of ability levels, and they usually do that just fine.

I have to add, we moved several times and were always in highly rated schools. Still, with the large class sizes these days our kids had a hard time always being challenged as best they could. This is one reason we started homeschooling a few years ago!

 

[tmarquez]

I have seen those lists but they are all the things the child should know before entering kindergarten, at least the one i saw here was. i would just wait and see how it goes, I bet there are other kids like her that already know all that stuff,
i just have to ask why don't you think it would be right to keep her at the montessori school she currently attends? it may be the better choice if you have doubts about the public school.

It was definately not what they should know first, they even stressed that. As far as the Montesorri thing goes, even if I could afford to keep her there I think it would be better for her in the long run to be in a public school enviroment. There's more diversity, and more opportunity (the Montesorri school is very small). Also, I'm not sure how to say this without insulting someone but the kids in the upper grades all seem sort of strange and not really great socially.

I broke out in hives at the Orientation for K!

haha...thanks! At least now I know I'm not the only one.

I guess they have to start out as if your child didn't go to preschool. Some chiildren did not. I think as long as your child's teacher makes learning fun that your daughter will be okay. I would just stay well informed in what they are doing and in Kindergarten they usually keep you informed. My son is in Kindergarten this year and he catches on pretty quick too, and some times he tells me he is bored at school,(he hates nap time too!) but he still obeys the classroom rules, most children like to please their teacher, so I'm sure your daughter will be fine. Give the school a chance, and if you really are unhappy, fine another school for 1st grade.

I realize that some kids don't go to preschool...but unless they were kept in a cage with no books, toys or even tv they would be able to count to 10. They didn't mention a nap time...I hope they don't have one...DD would REALLY hate that too. Thanks everyone!

 

[ERMama]

I realize that some kids don't go to preschool...but unless they were kept in a cage with no books, toys or even tv they would be able to count to 10. They didn't mention a nap time...I hope they don't have one...DD would REALLY hate that too. Thanks everyone!

Sorry, but this is very offensive to me and Im not sure you quite meant it to be.

As the mom of a child who has learning disabilities and other issues, I can tell you, we have not done nothing nor was he kept in a cage like an animal. Children all learn in their own way and at their own pace.

FTR, our school did have a quiet time in K. They could nap if they liked, or they could read or do some other quiet activity of their choosing.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I realize that some kids don't go to preschool...but unless they were kept in a cage with no books, toys or even tv they would be able to count to 10. They didn't mention a nap time...I hope they don't have one...DD would REALLY hate that too. Thanks everyone!

Is it a full day kindergarten? Ours is full day and there is a "rest time" after lunch. The lights are dimmed but the kids can also read or look at books as long as they are quiet. I think it is to help the kids recharge and let the teacher catch her breath!

 

[Minniemouse07]

As a former teacher I can tell you that there is an extremely wide variation on the level of each child as they start K.

There are some kids that went through preschool or day care and still can't count or write their names...others that stayed home w/ mom and can read 1st or 2nd grade level books.

Unfortunately there are other children that are just not exposed to anything. In PA there is no "mandatory" K and I know in Philadelphia they couldn't offer K to all the qualified children for many years. They literally had kids entering the first grade that had never held a pencil before! Thankfully in the last five years or so they have made sure that they have room for every child that qualifies for K to be in a class.

My dd is in 1st grade. She attends our local public school which is VERY small (k-3, only 2 classes per grade level and only about 16-19 kids per class). We have an extremely mixed population that is very diverse...both culturally as well as economically. Our school is lucky that we have a Head Start class right IN our school and those children simply move down the hall for K.

I definitely wouldn't worry about your dd. While K is definitely more academically geared today than it was when I was in it, it still is all about learning to work w/ other kids, listening to the teacher and getting the hang of school. Since your dd is coming out of a Montessori program, I would definitely think it is worth it so she can transition. Montessori is so very different from traditional schooling (not that it's bad...I think it is great!) that she will definitely need this time to switch gears!

 

[jodifla]

Hmmm. That list does sound more like what they were expected to know going into kindergarten.

Ending K, my son's school wants them to be reading, counting to 100, doing simple addition and subtraction, etc.

 

[Crisgw]

K is more for socialization and acclimation of a school's climate. If her program is full day, they will have a gifted component (pull out) if she is indeed identified. My oldest DS is starting K this August. He's reading chapter books and can do mathematical addition and subtraction problems in his head. He is advanced for his age, but I don't think for a second he'll be bored b/c he'll mainly be playing and going at his own pace at the different stations (reading/math/art/motor skills/etc...). Don't worry too much! It's only Kindergarten and you don't want your DD to sense your fears

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

No advise but we have similar worries. DD has another full year and a half to go (October bday so can't start K until almost 6 in Sept 09!) and she ALREADY can complete the entire K "expectation" list (beginning reading, basic addition, counting to 100, etc). All I keep thinking is "good luck to her teacher!"

 

[nessz79]

These threads always bug me as many of us have bright kids but they aren't reading chapter books yet. These threads always turn into a mini-competition about whose kid is brighter. I'm NOT flaming anyone who has posted, just stating my observations about threads I've seen like this.

Anyhow, we just picked up our Kindergarten registration papers and we have the same objectives as stated in the first post. These expectations are for the first quarter, however, and NOT the end of the year. If those are the expectations for the end of the year, I might be a little concerned about how challenged your child will be. However, I'm sure the teacher will recognize her brightness and will help supplement the gap of learning for her. If she doesn't you can bring that up to her teacher as a concern within the first couple months. If that still doesn't work, address the principal. If that STILL didn't work, work with your daughter at home and look for a different school in your district.

I don't know how your district is, but we have school choice. As long as the parent provides transportation you can go to a different school within the district. You have to apply and it's not guaranteed they'll have a place for you, though.

 

[tmarquez]

Sorry, but this is very offensive to me and Im not sure you quite meant it to be.

As the mom of a child who has learning disabilities and other issues, I can tell you, we have not done nothing nor was he kept in a cage like an animal. Children all learn in their own way and at their own pace.

FTR, our school did have a quiet time in K. They could nap if they liked, or they could read or do some other quiet activity of their choosing.

Sorry I didn't mean to offend you or anyone. I wasn't talking about kids with any type of learing disability. I do know people that have kids with no disabilty that didn't send their kids to preschool and also didn't spend a bit of time teaching them ANYthing...just plopped them in front of a tv all the time...but they still learned from that. That's all I meant.

No advise but we have similar worries. DD has another full year and a half to go (October bday so can't start K until almost 6 in Sept 09!) and she ALREADY can complete the entire K "expectation" list (beginning reading, basic addition, counting to 100, etc). All I keep thinking is "good luck to her teacher!"

That's exactly where I am coming from. I have already cleared out a filing cabinet for all the notes home I expect (kidding). Mine is a November birthday so will also almost be 6. DD can't stop talking when she isn't bored...I can only imagine what she'd be like if she does get bored.

 

[tazdev3225]

I have to agree that not all kids can go to preschool and therefore aren't always as ready as some of the other kids are. I had 3 kids, DS had a learning disability, went to preschool and refused to let anyone know what he knew, DD was very young and wasn't quite ready for 1st grade until the end of 1st grade -she repeated- and youngest DD was very intelligent and advanced until 3rd grade when her learning disability kicked in. The school adapted to each one and they had some exceptional teachers.

DGD is 3 and already reads and can fulfill most of the requirements for kindergarten and she doesn't go for another year and a half. She is not in a preschool her greatgrandmother works with her 2 days a week. I know she will be more advanced when she starts school but I would never stop her learning process now. She will be placed in a class at her level or be placed in the gifted class. She also likes to "teach" so maybe she will be a little helper to her classmates.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

That's exactly where I am coming from. I have already cleared out a filing cabinet for all the notes home I expect (kidding). Mine is a November birthday so will also almost be 6. DD can't stop talking when she isn't bored...I can only imagine what she'd be like if she does get bored.

I'm going to need one of those file cabinets too! Even worse...my DD is going to be going to Catholic school...they don't put up with much. I fully expect that I will have to change my work schedule for all the times I have to go in for "meetings" regarding her inability to be quiet for 5 seconds

 

[eliza61]

I only have 1 child and really all of her friends are in the same preschool that she goes to...but shouldn't kids already know this stuff by 5? She can everyone of the things in the brochure now. It's not even like she's super smart...she's just an average kid.

I am so worried that she will be bored and bad or that she will "forget" all the stuff she knows now. When we went to pick the kids up from the classroom DD was playing with one of those wooden puzzles with like 5 pieces that you'd give to a baby! This is supossed to be a really good elementary school. Am I overreacting?


Any advice? Thanks!

In a nutshell YES! My Advice. Chill out! You're daughter hasn't even started school and you're already stressing that she'll possibly be bad or bored or forget stuff.
This is always the possibility that she will be excited, motivated, stimulated and a great student. Why the heck are you borrowing trouble (as my mom would say)?
Try being positive. Try saying things like, "her teacher is a trained educated professional who will be able to challenge and stimulate your daughter"
If the school has a reputation for being excellent, there is a chance that tit is actually an excellent school and your daughter will thrive.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

These threads always bug me as many of us have bright kids but they aren't reading chapter books yet. These threads always turn into a mini-competition about whose kid is brighter. I'm NOT flaming anyone who has posted, just stating my observations about threads I've seen like this.

No one who has posted has appeared to be competitive about their children. The posts have all seemed to offer genuine reassurance from those of us who have been there, done that. The only negativity has actually been in your post.

As the one who actually mentioned chapter books in my post (and since no one else did, it is hard to feel that your comment was directed anywhere else), it was mentioned to illustrate that while DD was advanced compared to the stated kindergarten objectives, she was surrounded by 40 other kids who surpassed the objectives and by several that read just as well as she did. She was not bored and neither were her friends - they had an excellent teacher who quickly identified the levels of her kids. That's not to imply that some didn't struggle, but they were in the minority and they received the help they needed to be above grade level now.

If the OP's child is all alone in being advanced, she will have to be a stronger advocate to ensure her child is challenged. If her child is one of many who has the basics down, it is highly likely that all of those children will receive the special services they deserve.

I'm secure enough in my children's abilities (even the one not reading chapter books - go figure!) to not feel competitive with you or anyone else. Besides, my children's accomplishments are THEIRS, not mine.