Pulling kindergardner out of school for 2 weeks.....

[MrsPete]

TWO WEEKS? My kids covered huge amounts of material (especially phonics) in that amount of time.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Ok, please don't flame for going for 2 weeks...... I will explain again: This is my families one big vacation a year, and we prefer 2 weeks over the 1, it gives us more down time, and time to do other things. I feel that is is a good time for my family, and gives us the quality time and break we need once a year. 2 weeks out of a year is NOT a lot of time in the grand scheme of things.......there are 50 other weeks in the year when we are home.
If my son was in an upper grade, I would probably not pull him out for 2 weeks, but right now, I really don't see the big deal. And again, he did a kindergarten curriculum last year. He is way ahead of where he should be.

I apologize if others don't see my point of view.

Jen

 

[disneychrista]

When you post a question like this you have to expected to get some "sparks." You asked for opinions, so that is what is being given. Of course in the end you have to do what you feel is best for you and your family.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have been trying to determine how honest to be with the school about DS9 missing 4 days in October. I was chatting with another mom last weekend and she said when they took their DS out when he was in Kindergarten they withdrew him and re-enrolled when they came back. That way he wasn't required to turn in any assignments he missed and the school didn't lose funding for him being absent.

I am too chicken to ask the principal about it because it will tip her off that we are going on vacation. Right now I am covertly planning with the teacher - she is being terrific. If my DS was younger I might go the "withdraw, re-enroll" route, but this time I think I will just write a slightly inaccurate note explaining his absences.

 

[daisyduck123]

Kindergarten is mandatory here in Maryland. Every child is required to complete Kindergarten before attending the 1st grade.

I am a first grade teacher & I say "Go ahead & pull out your Kindergartener".
Think about it...one month after your trip, will your child be academically affected by having missed school? No....but you will have been on your trip & have all your memories, pictures, etc. Kids miss a week of school all the time in the winter here (due to colds, flu, etc.), & they "catch up" just fine. Two weeks later, you can't tell who missed school & who did not.

 

[crisi]

My school would definately give us a problem over two weeks. A few days - even a week is ok. But even for kindergarteners, two weeks would be unacceptable and they would be required to report you to the state for truancy.

 

[Tanya]

I totally understand what etink67 is saying... we don't live that far away from one another...My daughter is in kindergarten and in her school we have to get an affidavit and have it signed by a notary. They do NOT give more than 5 days a year for family vacation. They have cumulative and non-cumulative days of absences... Even when they are sick, you have to send them back to school with a note. If the note is from the parent, it is an absence against them and if it's from a doctor they will basically excuse it.

 

[jodifla]

Ultimately, what are they going to do to you? Take away your kids? Have you jailed? It's ridiculous strong-arming by the government.

It's one thing to be considered truant if the child is skipping school to hang out. But the parents are the parents, for heaven's sake. THEY are in charge. Not the state or the feds.

We parents should take back our rights!

 

[MelodyMack]

My Daughter is 4 and in a K4 (or PreK) program and we are taking her out of class for 5 school days in December. That is the MAXIMUM that our family wascomfortable with, and that was after a lot of debate.

Every school and parent have different regulations and opinions. Personally, two weeks seems kind of excessive to me. What if he catches the chicken pox....or a bad flu...or some other illness that requires an extended absence from school? You're already 10 school days in the hole just from a scheduled vacation?

I hope you and yours have a great time at WDW..no matter how many days you do spend!
Mel

 

[Suzanne74]

I understand how it is hard for kids to miss school but I also agree with some posters here who say family time is important too. These days, families are so hectic between work, school, activities etc... I think it is nice to have a break for a vacation, even if it means missing some school.

My dd is in a paid pre-K and they were very good about (heck, they are still getting my money!)

I won't hesitate to take her out here and there at elementary school level. I can't stand going in the summer and like the break that a fall/winter vacation gives the whole family. I would love to be in a scool district that offered school year round with 2 wks off every quarter. I think in this day in age - it would work best for most people but since they don't - I will do it myself

On that note, I am not sure about 2 wks and like another poster said, it depends on your child. The curriculum in our district is reading, spelling etc.. that I don't think I was doing until I was in 2nd grade The kids have homework and books to read too!!! Kindergarten isn't what it used to be, at least here. Personally, I would try and leave on a Thurs/Fri and come back Sun/Mon. You get close to 2wks but your child only missed 1wk plus a day or two more. But, that is just me - do what is best for your child.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Go, have fun, school will be there when he gets back.

We took our DS out for a month in 1st grade, yes a whole month. Why? We were going to Europe for my BILs wedding and there was no way in heck that we were going for a week or two. We talked to the principal and his teacher who's only comment was can we come too?! He kept a journal, did his homework (my MIL is a teacher), and e-mailed his class with pictures and updates. We brought back a book on France and chocolates for his teacher, she was thrilled!

Last year he missed two weeks for WDW and a week for DL - yup, we suck. Actually DL they changed the dates of spring break AFTER we'd booked. This year he's missing 7 days so we can go to Europe for Christmas - his teacher and principal already know, they're thrilled for him and he'll be doing the same thing as our last trip over there.

DH is harder on DS about school then the school is, I'm not worried about any of this!

 

[etink67]

First let me say that we take our kids out for a week every year (DS is in 2nd grade). I try to pick a week that already has a day off so he will only miss 4 days. I get very frustrated with the schools strict policies.

That being said, I want to remind you all that we here on this board are very family oriented and our children are of the utmost importance to us. We are probably very involved in their education. Many kids are not that lucky. Their parents do not care whether or not they attend school and do not help/encourage good grades or good study skills. These are the parents that these strict rules are made for. Unfortunately there are more and more families like this. It would be impossible for school districts to try to get these kids in school and yet ignore families taking kids out for unexused absences.

I think the reality is that most educators agree that family time is very important and can be equally educational. However they would be bombarded by people complaining of unfairness it school districts simply enforced the rules on the families they know are less involved. Does that make sense?

Not saying it doesn't annoy the heck out of me, but..

 

[jodifla]

First let me say that we take our kids out for a week every year (DS is in 2nd grade). I try to pick a week that already has a day off so he will only miss 4 days. I get very frustrated with the schools strict policies.

That being said, I want to remind you all that we here on this board are very family oriented and our children are of the utmost importance to us. We are probably very involved in their education. Many kids are not that lucky. Their parents do not care whether or not they attend school and do not help/encourage good grades or good study skills. These are the parents that these strict rules are made for. Unfortunately there are more and more families like this. It would be impossible for school districts to try to get these kids in school and yet ignore families taking kids out for unexused absences.

I think the reality is that most educators agree that family time is very important and can be equally educational. However they would be bombarded by people complaining of unfairness it school districts simply enforced the rules on the families they know are less involved. Does that make sense?

Not saying it doesn't annoy the heck out of me, but..

I'm not saying that parents shouldn't have to account for where their children are to the schools. But once they say that it's a family trip, that should be the end of it. The principal who tried to coerce an earlier poster by saying the child would be held back should be absolutely ashamed of himself.

If they let parents homeschool, then they should let parents take family trips with their children. Ultimately, what's the difference?

 

[MrsPete]

If they let parents homeschool, then they should let parents take family trips with their children. Ultimately, what's the difference?

The difference is that homeschoolers don't expect the school to help the child catch up on what was missed, and the school isn't accountable for the homeschooler's progress.

 

[icebaby]

Have you checked to see if Kindergarten is even mandatory schooling for your state? Here in Indiana, kindergarten is suggested but not mandatory by the state. That's right a child can start first grade without any formal schooling whatsoever. With that said, I took our DD out for a full week in Kindergarten for a land/sea package with WDW, and she also missed 1 full week in December because of a scheduled surgery of tonsils/adenoids being removed. It could have waited until spring or summer break of the following year, but because of insurance issues, it was better to do it at the end of the calendar year. The absences counted against her for only accounting purposes; not for 4 star school requirements or distict funding. On a final note, here in central Indiana, fall break is popular with at 2-4 days off for a given week in late October. I will be pulling out DD (now in 2nd grade) for the other 1 1/2 days for a trip to WDW. Those days are so popular for children not to be there that a letter goes home the week before asking who will be there and who will not. . .IMHO, since you feel your child is academically/social fine with missing a week of school, go for it. In older grades, there might be more reasons to some how incorporate a journal/geography/science/math lesson or two intot he trip to report back to their classroom. Have a good time. . .

 

[jodifla]

The difference is that homeschoolers don't expect the school to help the child catch up on what was missed, and the school isn't accountable for the homeschooler's progress.

In most cases, missing a week or two of elementary school is just not that big a deal.

How many two week vacations do you remember, versus how many two week periods of school do you remember?

 

[HaleyB]

I know this type of question has been posted before about pulling kids out of school, excuse letters, and such... but I was wondering specifically about parents pulling out their kindergardners?? Is it looked at differently since it is only kindergarden and no homework yet? Did the school give you a problem?
My son is in a half day program at the public school and we want to pull him out for 2 weeks in January.
My parents (who are teachers) have already given me grief on this - but I honestly don't see the big deal since he isn't in the upper grades yet.
Thanks!
Jen

I didn't read the thread so sorry if this is repeat information.

Kindergarten is socialization in some areas, and the first year of school in others so it very much depends. It also depends on the child. Some children feel badly about 'missing out' on school because they know that school is fun. These types of kids get upset with long pull outs. Some kids are very demanding of them selves, they do not want to miss anything for fear of falling behind. The time period after Christmas break is one of the most productive for a teacher. You do not want your child to get the idea that school is optional. Those are the against arguements. School policy and what other people think do not factor in for me- this is your child and your choice.

On the other side of things. The holidays are stressful for a lot of families, this might be a well needed family bonding time. Your child will not stop learning because they don't go to school... there are a ton of great skills you can work on in the park. Kindergarten skills are ones most people are able to catch their kids up on, and many kids have all the Kinder skills well before Kinder is over (this becomes less true for every year that goes by). If this is the only way to have a family trip, I think family time is very important, even more important than school time. Kindergarten is not a graded age leavel- they skill test, but it is not a letter or number grade- so missing two weeks will not hurt the childs grade (this will not be true anymore in a few years).

You will find as many people that say don't do it as you find who say it is OK. The truth is it depends on the child and family.

 

[luvmygirls]

DD -6 is in kindergarten, she can already read, do basic math so I am not sweating it with her. I told her teacher & I said just send the homework, to which her teacher laughed & said just have a great time.

DD- 7 is in 2nd grade, I'm more worried about her, while her reading/writing skills are strong her spelling/math skills are weaker. That said I told her teacher to send the homework, we will get it done . I also figure I can use things like, giving her the money to buy something & helping her figure out how much are change is, etc..

I look at it like this:

It maybe a once in a lifetime trip for us, we just never know what tomorrow brings. If it her grade slips for a few weeks, we will work through that, sometimes I just believe we have to live for today..

That said last year in 1st grade, dd missed 15 days, she broke her arm & missed 5 days, then she had the flu 2 separate times & was out for a week each time, 1 time we ended up taking her to the hospital for dehydration..The school didn't say anything then & I sure hope they don't say anything now!

Shelly

 

[EricaLovesMickey]

I am a former Kindergarten teacher. I used to get frustrated when people took their children out of school....but then I had children of my own.

I now say, do it. To me, the only danger of pulling a Kindergartener out of school is sending a message that learning isn't important. That being said, I think you can learn so much at WDW. Talk about the various learning opportunities that you can experience in WDW. I'm sure the children in the class at home would love a "report" along with pictures of the trip.

As a mother of twin 14yr old girls, let me tell you.....the time goes so fast. I can think of nothing more important in your child's life then spending valuable time together as a family.

Have fun! Don't feel guilty at all. If anything, the teacher will be extremely jealous!!

Erica

 

[HaleyB]

Shelly

I have a 4th and a 2nd grader. We are taking them out for a week.

A couple ideas for 2nd grade skills at WDW.

Map reading! Great while in lines. They don't even know they are learning. "We want to do X next, how do we get there?"

Estimation and rounding off, if the line sign says 25 minutes that is about how long? Oh and time skills, telling time and estimating how long things will take are 2nd grade skills (like how long the actual ride is, that is always a fun one).

Count by 2's. 3's 4's and so on in lines or as you walk. This is learning the times tables and more fun than flash cards. My son has to count by 7's when he goes up stairs and by 8's on the way down at least one time a day (7&8 are the hard ones). Counting down or backwards is also a good math skill.