http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:06:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/#comment-9688 Claiborne Williams Milde Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:46:12 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/#comment-9688 Lauren: my cousin lives in MD, which has the same guidelines regarding repeating Pre-K, so her only choice for holding her son back was to (reluctantly) send him to private school. I inquired last year at my daughter's school (since she is young), and was told she could not repeat Pre-K but could possibly repeat K. I'm not sure what it takes to hold a child back for another year of K, but I'm looking into it this year and will post a link if I find some official information. Lauren: my cousin lives in MD, which has the same guidelines regarding repeating Pre-K, so her only choice for holding her son back was to (reluctantly) send him to private school. I inquired last year at my daughter’s school (since she is young), and was told she could not repeat Pre-K but could possibly repeat K. I’m not sure what it takes to hold a child back for another year of K, but I’m looking into it this year and will post a link if I find some official information.

]]> http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/#comment-9666 Lauren T Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:31:21 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/#comment-9666 Does this cousin, the K teacher, live in NYC? I know a few parents who would have loved the option of having their child repeat pre-K or K, or delay pre-K for a year, but were not allowed to. If you opt not to put your chid in Pre-K when s/he is "of age," then the following year s/he will be placed in kindergarten. The only way to have the child learn with kids who are developmentally equivalent is to let them fail first grade -- then they will be held back, to repeat first grade. All of the parents were dismayed that their child would have to struggle for a few years and then fail, rather than wait and experience success. Any official information on this policy? Does this cousin, the K teacher, live in NYC? I know a few parents who would have loved the option of having their child repeat pre-K or K, or delay pre-K for a year, but were not allowed to. If you opt not to put your chid in Pre-K when s/he is “of age,” then the following year s/he will be placed in kindergarten. The only way to have the child learn with kids who are developmentally equivalent is to let them fail first grade — then they will be held back, to repeat first grade. All of the parents were dismayed that their child would have to struggle for a few years and then fail, rather than wait and experience success. Any official information on this policy?

]]> http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/#comment-9646 Gwen Leifer Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:32:19 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/26/kindergarten-not-what-it-used-to-be/#comment-9646 In some ways, it does seem over the top. My December-born pre-K child (one of those that is still 3) had a recent homework assignment that involved having to listen to a reading and discuss a storybook that seemed more appropriate for a 6-7 year old child. The vocabulary, theme, and length (way too long for a bedtime story, which it had to be for working parents who had to make dinner before homework time) bored him stiff, and lost him completely. The idea, which required us to write down his comments about the book or let him draw about it, would've been fine with a more age-appropriate book. If this is a preview of what kindy will be like, I'm worried. In some ways, it does seem over the top. My December-born pre-K child (one of those that is still 3) had a recent homework assignment that involved having to listen to a reading and discuss a storybook that seemed more appropriate for a 6-7 year old child. The vocabulary, theme, and length (way too long for a bedtime story, which it had to be for working parents who had to make dinner before homework time) bored him stiff, and lost him completely. The idea, which required us to write down his comments about the book or let him draw about it, would’ve been fine with a more age-appropriate book. If this is a preview of what kindy will be like, I’m worried.

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