parents: skipping kindergarten

[RACER X]

so we signed up april for kindergarten this week.

we;ve been talking to alot of parents and many are dissatisfied w/ the level of education provided in most schools. we are in 1 of the best dist. in the country, but the reality is any-kid can sign up for K no matter there level of education and they are all lumped into the same class. i know of kids starting next yr, that can't spell their names let alone write it out. so you have kids who can read and kids who can't write the alphabet, so who's gonna get the most attention? while the top of the class gets bored.

april is reading and doing spelling, heck she spelled orang (missed the e) at lunch time today by herself.

we've been told you can take a test and place outta K and got straight to 1st grade. has anybody done that?

if she passes this test, we can decide whether she stays in K or goes to first, and also it opens up doors for AP classes.

anybody have their kids skip K ?

[Rider]

Why would you want to do that? Let your kid be a kid. Your cheating him out of an entire year of his youth.

[RACER X]

cuz she'll be bored silly in class. guess it's an asian thing.

[Kaneman]

Why would you want to do that? Let your kid be a kid. Your cheating him out of an entire year of his youth.

Unless you have the ability to hang out with him or her and make that time worth while.

I send my son to Kindergarten because A) I didn't even know skipping it was an option, lol and B) For the socialization and to make friends.

Education doesn't even factor in...I've seen the shit they teach in grade school. :lol:

[shmike]

Why would you want to do that? Let your kid be a kid. Your cheating him out of an entire year of his youth.

I agree.

Especially when they get older there is a lot to be said for being surrounded by kids their own age.

[Rider]

cuz she'll be bored silly in class. guess it's an asian thing.

How do you know she'll be bored?

[Kaneman]

cuz she'll be bored silly in class. guess it's an asian thing.

No its not. My son is pretty bored as he had most of the basics down before he started school. School is pretty boring, always has been and always will be. The difference now is the complete lack of physical stimulus vs. when I was in grade school.

When we went to school I came back from PE and recess tired and ready to sit down. Now they barely even get their heart rate up.

[Cutty72]

Kindergarten is more a begining of socialization in an educational setting than it is an actual education. They have to learn the schedule of "classes" and working with other students etc. Put her in, if she's so smart, she can help the other kids!

[shmike]

cuz she'll be bored silly in class. guess it's an asian thing.


Then homeschool or send her to an advanced academy.

It's not an Asian thing, it is an IQ thing.

[RACER X]

How do you know she'll be bored?

they'll be reviewing the alphabet and spelling her name......she's reading.

and they have to dumb down all the classes.

she's be in pre-k, and the school teaches all that they do in K, where kids who stay at home may or may not do lessons, they just hang out all day.

even now, she goes 1/2 day to daycare where they are still going over the letters and comes home and does 20-30min off homework, either reading , math and spelling.

[Tsunami]

I would let her skip if she can Ed. I think she can makes friends just as easily in first grade. But you know I am Asian too :lol:

I was always in the gifted classes until I moved away to a school that lumped all the dummies together. Guess who got bored to tears which did effect my schoolwork later on.

[RACER X]

Then homeschool or send her to an advanced academy.

It's not an Asian thing, it is an IQ thing.

we've thought about homeschooling, but we like the socialization aspect of it.

thought about private school too, but in talking w/ my sis who also though about private school, they don't teach alot more AT THIS AGE then public schools

I would let her skip if she can Ed. I think she can makes friends just as easily in first grade. But you know I am Asian too :lol:

I was always in the gifted classes until I moved away to a school that lumped all the dummies together. Guess who got bored to tears which did effect my schoolwork later on.

see the asian mindset......:lol

[CrazyKell]

Kindergarten is more a begining of socialization in an educational setting than it is an actual education. They have to learn the schedule of "classes" and working with other students etc. Put her in, if she's so smart, she can help the other kids!

This.

Then homeschool or send her to an advanced academy.

It's not an Asian thing, it is an IQ thing.

And this.

Every year, in every class, she will face the same thing. I know a lot of teaching is, but shouldn't be, to the lowest common denominator. You're not really giving the school any credit. There will always be kids at a lot of different levels for the same grade or different subjects.

One kid might excel in math and be at the top of the class, but might suck at english, and really struggle when that subject is taught.

There is a lot to be said for keeping kids in age cohorts rather than grade cohorts.

If you don't like that style of schooling, you might consider private schools, academies, or schools (there are some public ones like this) that teach based on ability cohorts for each subject rather than age cohorts.

[Rider]

see the asian mindset......:lol

Yeah but you guys don't care about socialization or sports. Very important to kids growing up.

[CrazyKell]

Why not private school with many sports options so she gets the socialization?

[RACER X]

I know a lot of teaching is, but shouldn't be, to the lowest common denominator. You're not really giving the school any credit. .

it is what it is.........they have dumbed down the classes, whether we like it or not

we applied at a magnet school, but they choose by random drawing, guess we didn't get drawn



Yeah but you guys don't care about socialization or sports. Very important to kids growing up.

says white people, not so much for asians.....:lol

Why not private school with many sports options so she gets the socialization?

there's none partiularly close + "but in talking w/ my sis who also though about private school, they don't teach alot more AT THIS AGE then public schools"

[CrazyKell]

it is what it is.........they have dumbed down the classes, whether we like it or not

we applied at a magnet school, but they choose by random drawing, guess we didn't get drawn

Ya I know. It does suck but schools are not solely responsible for the education of your children. (the royal we). Sounds like she'd be better off in an ability cohort. Keep in mind too that she may not always be 'ahead' of everyone. :idk:

What's a magnet school?

[Tsunami]

Yeah but you guys don't care about socialization or sports. Very important to kids growing up.

I had tons of friends in school and always played sports! But when I was in school that did separate us according to ability I excelled in school. Then I moved and they didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings so we all got lumped together. So I was bored and played more sports and made more friends but and lost interest in school.

But its true Rider, my parents never placed much stock in having friends and sports but they are old school. But being around other kids, you just naturally make friends.

[azoomm]

Ed, there is an age requirement in Texas for k and first grade. You're talking about private school, right?

[RACER X]

Ed, there is an age requirement in Texas for k and first grade. You're talking about private school, right?

no public, just was talking to daycare lady about that and she told us about the opt-out direction. we need to goto the school to drop of some paperwork, i'll clarify it then.

she's a very social girl so she'll make friends. she mostly plays w/ olders kids anyways cuz there's only 1 girl on our street her age. and her parents are also looking at doing the same. she's ahead of april as far as reading cuz she started earlier. they have a big family (4 kids) and aprils friend is the youngest so her parents know whats good and bad

[pauldun170]

so we signed up april for kindergarten this week.

we;ve been talking to alot of parents and many are dissatisfied w/ the level of education provided in most schools. we are in 1 of the best dist. in the country, but the reality is any-kid can sign up for K no matter there level of education and they are all lumped into the same class. i know of kids starting next yr, that can't spell their names let alone write it out. so you have kids who can read and kids who can't write the alphabet, so who's gonna get the most attention? while the top of the class gets bored.

april is reading and doing spelling, heck she spelled orang (missed the e) at lunch time today by herself.

we've been told you can take a test and place outta K and got straight to 1st grade. has anybody done that?

if she passes this test, we can decide whether she stays in K or goes to first, and also it opens up doors for AP classes.

anybody have their kids skip K ?

Our oldest is starts K in the fall and we are in a similar situation.
He is in pre-K now and is a way ahead of everyone else since he has been reading and writing for awhile now.
We read the same magazines on the crapper (He has a subscription to National Geographic). He has basic math skills.
While the kids in the class are working on basic words such as cat and all that...I have to come up with on the spot definitions for things he gets out of the magazines.

I'm on the crapper reading whatever is lying around and in walks Lucas
"Aren't you supposed to knock?"
"sorry daddy"
(Knock knock"
"Yes"
(In walks Lucas holding a magazine)
"Daddy, what does anthropogenic mean?"
"Let me finish up ok...five minutes."
(after he walks out..I got make a mad dash to the office to go look it up.)

Hour later..
"Hey Lucas, what does anthropogenic mean?"
"I don't know. Can I watch a movie?"

Kindergarten is more than just learning basic reading skills, its also a social skill development.


I don't know, we'll see what happens when the screen him.

[RACER X]

I don't know, we'll see what happens when the screen him.

what screening do they do?

from my understanding everybody is lumped in together.

see if they are in pre-k already, they are already socializing w/ others and learning about getting in line, waiting their turn, sharing w/ others......vs mom(dad) and kid at home all day.

[pauldun170]

what screening do they do?

from my understanding everybody is lumped in together.

see if they are in pre-k already, they are already socializing w/ others and learning about getting in line, waiting their turn, sharing w/ others......vs mom(dad) and kid at home all day.

I think they measure drool ratio and check for pants crappers.
I'm not sure.

[Tmall]

I never went. It wasn't mandatory when I started school, and you had to pay for it.

[EpyonXero]

but the reality is any-kid can sign up for K no matter there level of education

Is this really where things are these days? No shit, its kindergarten you shouldnt need a degree to be qualified to start school. I know kids are starting school in pre-pre-pre-K as soon as they can sit up on their own but thats optional and I really think it needs to stay that way. As malleable as a childs mind is between 3 and 5 years old I think its a bad idea to institutionalize them that early. Schools teach you to act and think a certian way, even moreso now with the increased emphasis on standardized testing, the early childhood years are when kids develop their sense of self and I think in the future we'll be heaing about problems with these kids who have been in school from 2 to 22 years of age.

I didnt go to pre school and if I can help it I plan to keep my (future) kids out of school as long as possible so that they can enjoy their childhood.

BTW, pushing you kids in education may be the Asian way but its no necessarily the healthy way. In China, school children are having health problems because of the stress theyre under.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5274129,00.html

This can easily build into adult problems:
At Cornell University, for instance, 13 of the 21 student suicide victims between 1996 and 2006 were Asians or Asian Americans. That picture is not complete unless you consider that Asians make up of only 14 percent of the total Cornell student body. Cornell is so concerned that in 2002 it formed a special Asian and Asian American Campus Climate Task Force to look into the reason behind the high number of suicides

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=c2b8f3a43bbe3e0445f23 274028d24a7

[pauldun170]

The Asian man just got told by the black man ....
BTW, pushing you kids in education may be the Asian way
I plan to keep my (future) kids out of school as long as possible
This thread just got awesome
:lol:

I know,
I know EpyonXero has a valid point on child development but gatDAMN some sterotypes just got their balls tickled!!

[azoomm]

Ed, sorry, but if you are still living in Houston there is no way your district is that highly ranked in education nationwide. It's a nice thought. But, no way.

Let April be a kid with kids her age.

If she becomes bored, address it then. Stay involved in her education. Don't make assumptions because you're one race or another.

What does Z think?

[Tsunami]

The Asian man just got told by the black man ....


This thread just got awesome
:lol:

I know,
I know EpyonXero has a valid point on child development but gatDAMN some sterotypes just got their balls tickled!!

:lol

[Captain Morgan]

I have to register my daughter for K tomorrow. She's not reading yet, but she can write. Has to ask me how to spell things, though. I can't see having kids skip K and go straight to first grade as I do agree it's generally better to keep them with others their own age.

[RACER X]

Ed, sorry, but if you are still living in Houston there is no way your district is that highly ranked in education nationwide. It's a nice thought. But, no way.

Let April be a kid with kids her age.

If she becomes bored, address it then. Stay involved in her education. Don't make assumptions because you're one race or another.

What does Z think?

Let me guess, but austin does, right

we don't live in "houston"

way back initial Z was all about socialization and being "average" after seeing the rest of my family and seeing that being above avg. is ok and you can be "normal" she's seeing that education is way more important then athletics or cheerleading.

[EpyonXero]

The Asian man just got told by the black man ....


This thread just got awesome
:lol:

I know,
I know EpyonXero has a valid point on child development but gatDAMN some sterotypes just got their balls tickled!!

Maybe. I didnt start organized school until kindergarten. According to my mom I could read before I started school (I dont remember). After I started I was in my class' advanced reading group ( I do remember that). I was in my elementary school's "gifted" program, after that I was in the first graduating class for a new magnet middle school. I chose not to go to the magnet high school because I wanted to go to school with my friends but I took the most advanced AP math and science classes available at my HS. Afterwards I went to engineering school and now im an ocean engineer.

I never did learn to think the way they want you to in school but I think I did alright for someone who was playing in a park with my mom when I was 3 years old instead of counting blocks in a classroom.

[azoomm]

Let me guess, but austin does, right

we don't live in "houston"

way back initial Z was all about socialization and being "average" after seeing the rest of my family and seeing that being above avg. is ok and you can be "normal" she's seeing that education is way more important then athletics or cheerleading.

Nope, NO school district in Texas is the top of anything in the nation in regards to education. Not in public school anyway. They can spin reports and test grades at you all they want...

Where did I say anything about cheerleading and athletics? I said, let her be a kid with kids her age. It is your job as parents to supliment her education as you see fit to have her at the education level you believe to be right. If she is WELL beyond those in her age - move her up. But, socialization is really important, don't ever discount that aspect of education. It is NOT about what is in the book...

[pauldun170]

Maybe. I didnt start organized school until kindergarten. According to my mom I could read before I started school (I dont remember). After I started I was in my class' advanced reading group ( I do remember that). I was in my elementary school's "gifted" program, after that I was in the first graduating class for a new magnet middle school. I chose not to go to the magnet high school because I wanted to go to school with my friends but I took the most advanced AP math and science classes available at my HS. Afterwards I went to engineering school and now im an ocean engineer.

I never did learn to think the way they want you to in school but I think I did alright for someone who was playing in a park with my mom when I was 3 years old instead of counting blocks in a classroom.


I know...
I know...
Its just that I do enjoy finding those little "Oh SNAP" moments. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle.

[RACER X]

. If she is WELL beyond those in her age -move her up

and here it thought that this thread was about.

or i guess cuz she's my daughter, she's not well beyond enough, unlike pauls kid.

[Tsunami]

I don't see what the big deal is of 5 year olds hanging out with 6 year olds? How is that going to hinder her social development? Its not like she is 5 hanging out with 10 year olds.

[azoomm]

and here it thought that this thread was about.

or i guess cuz she's my daughter, she's not well beyond enough, unlike pauls kid.

Dude, with grammar like that your child would be left behind if it were about your ability :lol:

We all believe our children to be above the bar and better than the herd. It's OK for her to get straight A's - it's OK for her to be smarter than those around her. Let her.

You say she's the best. I'm trying to tell you to let the school tell you that. :wink:

[RACER X]

I don't see what the big deal is of 5 year olds hanging out with 6 year olds? How is that going to hinder her social development? Its not like she is 5 hanging out with 10 year olds.

in daycare she hangs w/ kids her age

at home she hangs w/ 1 kid her age , ALL the kids that come and play at our house are older.

[MILK]

My son likes to hang with older kids too. They get him in trouble. Of course they would never happen to April though, of course. Of course!!

[azoomm]

My son likes to hang with older kids too. They get him in trouble. Of course they would never happen to April though, of course. Of course!!

:lol:

[RACER X]

My son likes to hang with older kids too. They get him in trouble. Of course they would never happen to April though, of course. Of course!!

she leads the pack like i did. :lol

[lauralynne]

if she's as bright as you're indicating (and that's not up for me to decide) - you're going to have to supplement at home no matter what grade. She's goign to learn faster than her peers, be bored regardless of what the school does and generally have a difficult time. Moving her up will not solve any of that. She'll still be in classrooms with kids who can't read and other kids who have behavioral issues. Because she's not a problem, she's likely to get ignored. The outcome of that will depend on her personality.
My vote - put her with her age peers. It might not matter much now but when she's 14/15, she'll have friends who start driving before her, start getting more freedoms than her, jobs before her, etc. And that may likely happen anyway if her 'peers' are older anyway. Fro a girl, it's FAR more important from a social point of view.
My vote is to keep her with age peers, lessen the social issues she's got the potential for later, and supplement either at home or with a learning center.

My #1 vote is for a private school. We went that route (2 highly capable children, top 1%) but we had a 'highly capable' school in our area. It spoiled me for public schools. As a sophomore in AP math in high school, my daughter has the same book she already did - in fifth grade private school.

Makes me want to cry.

[Rangerscott]

My middle bro skipped K or starting early. He ended up having trouble down the road.


Just cause your child seems smart doesn't mean he/she will not hit a mental brick wall down the road.

[Apoc]

Up here (in this province at least), K is now mandatory.

Wasn't when I was young, and I never went, but times have changed.

And Kindergarten isnt about what she'll learn to do on paper, its about her learning to socialize in large groups. Every parent thinks their kid is 'gifted', but face it, she's spelling a few words, not writing novels. Put her with kids her age, and let her enjoy it. Its not an Asian thing, its a stupid thing. She needs to be with kids her age, doing the things kids her age do.

[MissHell]

My vote - put her with her age peers. It might not matter much now but when she's 14/15, she'll have friends who start driving before her, start getting more freedoms than her, jobs before her, etc. And that may likely happen anyway if her 'peers' are older anyway. Fro a girl, it's FAR more important from a social point of view.
My vote is to keep her with age peers, lessen the social issues she's got the potential for later, and supplement either at home or with a learning center.

This.

I forgot what month April was born, depending on how big the age discrepancy would be, would be a factor for me on having her skip K.

[RACER X]

june

[askmrjesus]

june

And you named her April...

I guess we can dispense with the "Asians are brainy" stereotype now.

JC

[tommymac]

And you named her April...

I guess we can dispense with the "Asians are brainy" stereotype now.

JC

I thought that was done after the whole fire dept picking the lock thing :lol:

[askmrjesus]

I thought that was done after the whole fire dept picking the lock thing :lol:

No, that was the "Asians are cheap bastards" stereotype.

This one is different.

JC

[tommymac]

No, that was the "Asians are cheap bastards" stereotype.

This one is different.

JC

Need a damn score card to keep up with all of this :lol:

[Rider]

Need a damn score card to keep up with all of this :lol:

Easy... Ed 0, TWF eleventy billion!

[pauldun170]

And you named her April...

I guess we can dispense with the "Asians are brainy" stereotype now.

JC

I thought that was done after the whole fire dept picking the lock thing :lol:

No, that was the "Asians are cheap bastards" stereotype.

This one is different.

JC


:lol:

[defector]

I have some first hand experience in this. I was in "gifted" classes through most of grade school. K-2 was pretty cool. Because I could already read and write in Kindergarten, I got to read the naptime story to the class every Friday, while the teacher did other stuff.

In my experience, here is where it sucked....when you are 8 years old (3rd grade age) going to class with kids that are 12 and 13 years old (7th and 8th grade age). I wasn't even in the akward phase of puberty yet...

It may be different for a female, but it completely screwed my self confidence up for a while. I am naturally competitive, and the only thing I could compete in was academics. Sports (which I absolutely love) were out - I was obviously much smaller/weaker than the rest of the kids, so the getting picked last thing was commonplace. If I ever got picked at all.

Add in the fact that "smart" kids were usually getting picked on anyway(in their own grade), and some days just sucked. You get picked on for being good at something, then get your ass handed to you in everything else you enjoy. Kids can be pretty damn mean to an easy target, which I was at that time. Toughens you up mentally for sure.

[Tmall]

I have some first hand experience in this. I was in "gifted" classes through most of grade school. K-2 was pretty cool. Because I could already read and write in Kindergarten, I got to read the naptime story to the class every Friday, while the teacher did other stuff.

In my experience, here is where it sucked....when you are 8 years old (3rd grade age) going to class with kids that are 12 and 13 years old (7th and 8th grade age). I wasn't even in the akward phase of puberty yet...

It may be different for a female, but it completely screwed my self confidence up for a while. I am naturally competitive, and the only thing I could compete in was academics. Sports (which I absolutely love) were out - I was obviously much smaller/weaker than the rest of the kids, so the getting picked last thing was commonplace. If I ever got picked at all.

Add in the fact that "smart" kids were usually getting picked on anyway(in their own grade), and some days just sucked. You get picked on for being good at something, then get your ass handed to you in everything else you enjoy. Kids can be pretty damn mean to an easy target, which I was at that time. Toughens you up mentally for sure.
Here's an important question that nobody seems to have asked..

Did being in the "gifted" class help you in any way whatsoever?

[CrazyKell]

Here's an important question that nobody seems to have asked..

Did being in the "gifted" class help you in any way whatsoever?

I was in "gifted" all through school too.

Looking back I think it helped in a couple of ways. It wasn't about doing MORE work, it's about teaching those children to think laterally, or outside the box. I think that's a valuable lesson.

It helped me to see that I wasn't the only one like that.

I was in a special program where I went to school one day a week at a different school for gifted children. I looked forward to those days because I actually got to enjoy learning on those days.

[defector]

Here's an important question that nobody seems to have asked..

Did being in the "gifted" class help you in any way whatsoever?

I think it did, overall. Sure, there were ups and downs, but that is with anything in life. It definitely toughened me up mentally, and it opened doors academically that likely wouldn't have been otherwise. Some courses (physics, aeronautics) were off limits to most freshman, but I was allowed to take them due to my grade school academics.

Believe it or not, it wasn't nearly as bad (socially) when I got to high school.

[Trip]

Honestly, I don't think gifted shit helps til you get to college. I took the bored path throughout k-12. Didn't give a shit, learned what I wanted to and basically made the grades I needed to graduate.

Then I went to college and put the hammer down and graduate with every damn honor I could get. Honor society everything. Got a good job and now all that shit doesn't matter again. GPA helps you once, get your first job. After that it doesn't mean a damn thing ever again.

High school GPA helps you get scholarships though, so that is helpful.

[azoomm]

Honestly, I don't think gifted shit helps til you get to college. I took the bored path throughout k-12. Didn't give a shit, learned what I wanted to and basically made the grades I needed to graduate.

Then I went to college and put the hammer down and graduate with every damn honor I could get. Honor society everything. Got a good job and now all that shit doesn't matter again. GPA helps you once, get your first job. After that it doesn't mean a damn thing ever again.

High school GPA helps you get scholarships though, so that is helpful.
Now, it's about more than GPA. It's about extracurricular, scholastic, applying themselves, etc. 4.0 doesn't get you shit anymore.

[RACER X]

i know alot of HS kids who's AP classes counted as college level. they had so many they finished college in 2 yrs.

[Rider]

i know alot of HS kids who's AP classes counted as college level. they had so many they finished college in 2 yrs.

I've seen AP math, AP science and AP English but not 2 years worth of stuff. Although I know people that have graduated in 2 1/2 years so it's possible.

[CrazyKell]

People that graduate in 2 1/2 years don't have summer's off. There's nothing AP about that.

[azoomm]

i know alot of HS kids who's AP classes counted as college level. they had so many they finished college in 2 yrs.

And, in Texas students get two free courses per year through the community college system. Jordan is doing that right now with her AP classes. She came to us last year with a plan to graduate a year early, Evan and I opposed it. BE A KID. There will be plenty of time to go to college and to be successful.

[EpyonXero]

Here's an important question that nobody seems to have asked..

Did being in the "gifted" class help you in any way whatsoever?

It helped me stay more interested. I got to take classes that werent available to the general population, like high school classes in middle school which allowed me to do college/AP classes in HS. Teachers were also free to "experiment" with classes that might not work in a regular school. In PE we got to play sports like golf and team handball, we had elecitive classes like Japanese and investing. I was able to take evening classes that counted towards HS credits like photography and desktop publishing.

I think it was great for the students who were able to do it, but it sucks for the rest of the school system who had their best/most creative teachers taken out of regular schools to teach the kids who could probably have learned from anyone.

[Homeslice]

Nope, NO school district in Texas is the top of anything in the nation in regards to education. Not in public school anyway. They can spin reports and test grades at you all they want......

:zowned:


Where did I say anything about cheerleading and athletics? I said, let her be a kid with kids her age. It is your job as parents to supliment her education as you see fit to have her at the education level you believe to be right. If she is WELL beyond those in her age - move her up. But, socialization is really important, don't ever discount that aspect of education. It is NOT about what is in the book...

Word.

As for everyone saying "let kids be kids"........Let's say you let them skip K, how are you going to ensure that they take advantage of that free time and grow from it? If they are not in school how are you going to get them socialized? Going over to the neighbors house every night isn't enough IMO.

[EpyonXero]

:zowned:




Word.

As for everyone saying "let kids be kids"........Let's say you let them skip K, how are you going to ensure that they take advantage of that free time and grow from it? If they are not in school how are you going to get them socialized? Going over to the neighbors house every night isn't enough IMO.

I think the people saying let kids be kids are saying not to skip kindergarten.