DD is entering Kindergarten (I'm scared)

[Aliceacc]

My youngest is incredibly intuitive. She's creative. I always say we can give her a potato and a piece of paper and she'll keep herself occupied for a week. She can climb the tree in our front yard much more easily than can the 8 year old across the street. Her social skills are amazing-- she can get a smile out of anyone, regardless of the circumstances. She's amazingly emphathetic. She's a good swimmer.

She enters Kindergarten in the fall and is still working on her letters. Please believe me: she has not been "in a cage" for the past 5 years. NOr was she "plopped in front of a TV." Both my husband and I are teachers and avid readers. Her brother and sister were both comfortable with the letters and basic reading at this point in time. She also just phased out of a year and a half of speech support... did I mention that I coached Speech & Debate for 18 years??

Here's the problem: kids are people, just like adults. They're individuals, not cookie cutter Stepford kids. Each grows and learns at his or her own pace. Some learn sounds and letters right away, some ride a bike at 3, some are play dough Picassos.

At this moment Kira is in the middle of a scavenger hunt with her brother, sister, and the 2 friends who slept over last night. She's not reading, but she is thinking. At 11 we head off to see her sister give a presentation in the science fair sponsored by the local museum. Once again, she won't be working on those letters but rest assured: she'll be learning.

It's all part of the beauty of kids-- that each one is different. Your daughter will do just fine in Kindergarten. There's no chance that she'll forget what she already knows-- those are the things they'll be working on. But the odds are good that there will be a variety of things from which to choose for any child who finishes early. There will be leveled readers if she chooses to get one, crayons and markers in case that's her preferance, and puzzles in case that's what she's in the mood for. She won't be sitting there with her head down, crying because she's bored.

 

[Minniemouse07]

My bold. Hi neighbor.

I am in HHSD and my youngest is in K and it is 1/2 day.

I did not realize we were the only one around here that was a half day.

I understand OPs concerns, my oldest went to private K and I really thought he would be bored entering 1st grade, but he was not and he did just fine.

Cool! It really is a small world!

We are over in the WSD.

 

[bellebud]

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!"

I didn't read through all the pages, but just wanted to respond to this... my step mil's ds was an oct bday w/ a school cut-off in sept, and she asked the school district to evaluate him and allow him to go "early", because she just couldn't imagine him not being in K that year. He went "early" and has always done fine and is a junior now. (I quote the word early because in my school district, our cut-off is dec 1, so my oct bday dd went to K at 4yo, as do many, many kids who's school districts have later cut-off's). Don't know if it's a situation you'd consider or if your school district does it, but just wanted to mention it.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I can give you a little personal experience. I did go to preschool, but I also had older siblings. When my sisters got sick of playing dolls, they taught me things. My older kids do this with DD4, as well.

I started K at age 4. I took a test to get in a little early. Before I started, I could print my full name and write Stephanie in cursive. I could read longer books, Dr. Seuss, etc. I could add, subtract, multiply and divide and could speak a little French (my sister was a French major in high school and we had Canadian Sesame Street, too!). I was only that far ahead because of my sisters' boredom, not because of some extra intelligence.

Anyway, I remember Kindergarten as being fun. I didnt start getting bored until about sixth grade. And that was back when K was not even close to what it is now. I wouldn't worry too much.

My DD starts in september and she is the same way, my older son and daughter have taught her math and reading...we have started taking out shorter chapter books from the library now, but I think Kindergarten will be fine. She is really excited and the last thing I am concerned about is her being bored. She is so proud to be able to ride the bus to school like her big brother and sister, I don't think she would care if they folded paper for 8 hours a day.

 

[kimgof]

Don't fret. I have three kids . My first two boys both could read by the time they were three. They both enjoyed Kindergarten and excelled . This is a tough year for teachers, because the kids are in so many different levels. For example, my Daughter will start Kindergarten in the fall, she can't read at all. However, she can clearly write her name, which that was something my boys both needed work with. Now my oldest son is in 7th grade and in excellerated programs. My younger son is in 1st grade with a teacher that gives him "special" work to challenge him and I'm sure he will be in the excellerated program as well. It does have a lot to do with the teacher and the programs your school offers. If you know you have a great school system, then I wouldn't worry. Your daughter will have a great experience and will be at the head of her class- which can only help her self esteem. Relax, mom, all will be fine.

 

[jaycns]

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!

I have to reply as a mom AND a kindergarten teacher. Neither of my kids went into Kindergarten knowing half the stuff parents like to brag about their kids knowing before kindergarten, and both just came out with pretty much the Kindergarten basics. They had every educational advantage, and were bright and inquistive. They just weren't that interested. Fortunately they had teachers and parents that understand child development so it wasn't a big deal. They are both honor roll students now in junior high, and one of them excels. (Straight A's in honors classes) My husband remembers finally learning to read in the 3rd grade - and he was his high school valedictorian.

Some kids are simply not developmentally ready in K to be fluently reading, writing, or using many of the math concepts that we teach. Read anything by Piaget on child development.

I have 19 kids in my class currently. One reads at the third grade level, two at second, a few at first grade level, a group right on grade level, and six kids who are still struggling with their letter sounds. I also have quite a few who came to K, even with preschool experience, not able to accurately count objects to 10. (Reciting it doesn't count!) They were not kept in cages, they were simply not ready.

A good teacher teaches on many levels. He/she plans activities that are tiered to reach kids with many different abilities.

If you want your child in a leveled classroom where all the kids are beyond grade level, you're probably going to have to go to a private school that has a different set of benchmarks for entry. In the public schools, they take everyone, and most gifted programs don't start until later - because it's not always the kids who come into K reading that turn out to be gifted.