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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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Every March our oldest gets a little accusatory. He points a finger and says it’s my fault (not in a mean way, just a matter of fact). If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have to worry every time his birthday rolls around that someone may ask how old he is.
See, I’m the reason he’s a year older than everyone in his class. I’m the one who basically put him in Kindergarten twice. As some boys are, he was a little immature and his motor skills not as developed as his Kindergarten teacher wanted. His handwriting wasn’t as advanced as the other kids, especially the girls. And his teacher basically told me he wasn’t ready.
(Although I initially didn’t see it that way, I eventually agreed after a few nights of him waking up in the middle of the night and shouting his kindergarten teacher’s name: “I’m sorry Mrs. Glover! I’m sorry!”)
So you can imagine how freaky I am as youngest heads to kindergarten in the fall. Five months away and I’m already a nut, even for me, that’s a little crazy.He’ll already start out as one of the youngest in the class, turning five just a week before school starts. And he’s not used to being away from home for several hours at a time. Especially not seven hours a day, five days a week.
It’d be one thing if there wasn’t a choice. With oldest, it was full-day kindergarten and no other option. So he went all day, five days a week. Twice.
But here in Kansas, you get a choice. Go half-day or pay for full-day. Nearly $300 a month. Now that’s a big decision. At Kindergarten roundup a week ago, teachers’ opinions were all over the board. One said go for the half-day, the other said go full-day and principal said it depends on the child. How’s that for being definitive?
I think we are a little skittish after our first trip through kindergarten with oldest. And because our youngest has never been in daycare and his preschool is just two hours, three days a week, we’re worried a full day will be too much.
(Also, say he does go to full-day and learns more. Is that fair to the kids who don't go?)
Hopefully we can make a decision before the first day of school.
If it makesyou feel better, we went through the same full day/half day contemplation for what seemed like forever. Then, a couple of things became clear to me. First, the total for the year of $3500 for kindergarten didn't fit into our budget, especially since I have been staying home for the last 10 years to raise the kids. Second, my former teacher hat came back on. Some kids at this age are more advanced, but by 2nd grade, all kids are at about the same levels with their reading, writing, and math skills. Of course you always have some that are more advanced or need extra help, but for the most part they even out. I really took that one to heart. That, along with the fact that he is the baby of the family, and it has been really nice to have a little one on one time with him in the mornings before he goes to kindergarten. Good luck with your decision!Oh, and btw, they don't learn any more in all day compared to half day. They cover the same curriculum, just they have more time to expand on them.We went thru the same thing with our oldest that you did (repeating kindergarten). Like your son, ours initially didn't like that he had to repeat a grade ("It made me feel like I was stupid," he said later). It worked out for the best because he was ahead a bit in classwork and in sports by the next year (a big deal for an athletic boy). I think the principal's advice was correct for your youngest son. With my other boys, one was truly ready for kindergarten at 4 and the other not until he was 6. If you put your youngest in kindergaten now and it turns out he's not ready, everyone is upset. If you keep him home one more year, you know he'll be good and ready for school by next year. As for full day vs. half day kindergarten, I can't say, as my kids never had that option available (yes, I'm that old). Let us know how it goes.Both of my sons attended full day kindergarten (at no charge, it was just how the school system offered it). My older son has an October birthday, so he started when he was almost 6 and had no problems. My younger son though is the youngest in his class and could have either waited a year to start or repeated the year, though the school didn't recommend that. He struggles now and hindsight says I should have waited, but I can't change that. All I can do is work with him now. So I think following your gut is the best. I wish I had.Our choice was the same full or half-day, but for different reasons. Middle DD went half day because we couldn't bear subjecting her to a full day of Kindergarten when she was operating on a 2nd grade level. Youngest DS went to full-day because he was so psyched about school and was sooo ready (October BD). They both loved kindergarten. You just have to know your son...how does he do in preschool? Is he excited for school? I would sign him up for the full-day- you can always back it down to the half-day, but you usually cannot get into the full-day once the classes are full. Also to the comment they learn the same - not true. If your son needs help, he'll most likey only get in the full-day because the half-day structure doesn't leave time for extras - and getting outside help is an extra! He won't feel as rushed to get his work done in the full-day as in the half-day.Aren't there some definite behaviors or skills the school looks for? A check list of sorts, along with a parent questionairre? I'd go nuts trying to figure this one out. If he were in preschool again, would you do an every day, 1/2 day preschool to get him ready for kindergarten? If so, it'd certainly be more budget-friendly to go to K instead, as long as he seemed basically "ready." I never went through this. It seems there are valid points made on both sides...Did he go through a screening at K roundup? Those results should help you decide. DD was youngest in her class, but the teacher said send her. She did well. DS was one of the older in his class and that worked out well for him. Boys can benefit from being on the older side, with the development of fine motor skills and language skills, as well as athletics. Nice that you have an option!At our school, the half day kids are mixed in with the full day kids, and they can start half day then switched to full day later. Several kids did that last year. However, I know some schools have all half day kids in one class, so if they get switched to full, they have to change classes. I plan to start DD in half and extend later if she seems to be able to hack it.
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