My twins have been going to a public school and they are now in 1st grade. They are not in promotion in doubt at their current school but recently more and more i feel that they are not reading at the level they should. I'm not happy with the teachers and the school curriculum altogether. All this said I applied to a very good charter school and I was called for them to start school immediately. That was already a hard news to break to the twins but the worst part is that the twins took a placement exam and tested poorly. The charter school is suggesting that the twins go back to kindergarten for the remaining of the school year and start 1st grade all over again in September. What do I do? Is this the only resolution to getting my kids into a great school? In my efforts to give my kids a chance at a better education, am I setting them up for failure? How do I explain to them that their going back to kindergarten? They already think kindergarteners are babies. HELP! (My twins are 6 and turning 7 in late September)
Just to answer some of the questions: My twins were born prematurely at 33 weeks and their a boy and a girl. My daughter did have some issues with her eye sight. She had 3 surgeries for cataract extraction and lens replacement and a muscle surgery towards the end of kindergarden. The school year in my area (NYC) starts from early September - late June. The new school goes from early September to late July (an extra month of school) and their days are longer too 7:50am - 3:45pm.
I work full time but my kids learned how to write their names, colors and shapes and ABC's because I sit with them everyday after work to over what they "learned in school". I give them spelling test. I make them read to me instead of me reading a bedtime story. I understand that some may believe that it's not their present schools' fault but I do but I'm trying to fill in their gap and that's not easily to do. I am their mother and not an educator per say so i may not know how to teach them how to connect the sounds. I am a big believe in education comes first and I take any opportunity to teach my children something new but it has to be a joint effort. It takes a village to raise a child, I have two!
First I'll like to say thank you to all you wonderful moms that helped me with this decision. Through my journey to make the best decision for my babies i learned a lot about my children and about myself. i learned that there was no right or wrong answer because in deciding to place the twins in this new school I had already made the BEST decision for them and their future.
After a lot of back and fourth with myself I met with the principle of the school and in very kind words he stood his ground about where the twins should be placed. I asked to see the test (which he did not have with him) and he told me the twins scored between 60-70. He told me I had two days to make my decision. I finally decided to listen to the principals recommendation even though in my gut I was still not ok with the placement. I know my kids are not at the top of their class but I also know that they are too advance to be in a kindergarten class even in a charter school. They were set to start this Monday!
Today I received a call from an administrator of the school. Apparently the Principal had a meeting with both the would-be kindergarten teachers and the 1st grade teachers of my twins (by law twins cannot be in the same class) and they all agreed that the twins should be placed in 1st grade. In fact, the 1st grade teachers feel that they are not too far behind and they feel confident that the twins will be able to catch up. I am so happy but I know I have work to do here. I have set up tutoring for my twins twice a week for an hour and I am reading with them daily for a minimum of 30minutes. I am also reading bedtime stories to them.
Again I can't thank you all enough!
If they are that far behind, then do it. Only you know how far behind they are. How else will you catch them up?
What level are they reading????
Are they stressed about reading???
also do not forget that reading to them is as important as listening to them read, it builds their vocabulary and their comprehension skills
I agree with Jill K. Tell them new school, new rules and age requirements. I wouldn't get too worked up about it. Many kids who are held back end up doing very well. Why struggle when you can excel? They won't know the difference. Except they will be more pleased with themselves for doing better in school and not struggling. Good luck!
If you think it's a much better school and your children will have a better chance at a good education - do it. If they don't turn 7 until late September then they'll be on the older end of the regular age spectrum for first grade next year. So they won't feel like the oldest or weird.
You can easily explain to your kids that everyone needs to start in kindergarten at this school and since your kids are only going to be there for a few months, they only have to do a few months of kindergarten and then they get to advance with all of their new friends.
From an age standpoint, it doesn't seem like they will be much older (if at all) than some of the 1st graders here. When my son enters 1st grade, he will be 6, turning 7 in December. Many of his friends will be turning 7 right after the school year starts, so September/early October. Your boys would be right in line with average scale.
Also, it sounds like you are getting a good opportunity for a do-over with your sons' education. The exam may be a wake-up call that the approach with your current school isn't working, and even more, that the school doesn't notice. By applying to the charter school, you had an idea in your mind that it was better. I'm assuming you have researched it and maybe talked to some current parents. If you were happy enough with it to apply and accept, I would also accept their judgement.
That said, only YOU know your boys and where you want them to be. Don't feel pressured to choose a school you are not comfortable with. Our charter schools here seem to have a much tougher approach on academics, but I really don't know how that translates into the overall education or what happens next in high school/college/beyond.
A temporary placement in kindergarten is just for two more months. You might be able to explain to them that it is how they will make new friends and adjust to the new school. Put a positive spin on it. See what you can find out about how old the new classmates are. You will also need to explain that they will be in 1st grade again next year. My friend's son finished kindergarten, tested for a new school and had to repeat it again there. He was fine! And it was a good choice for him.
Good luck!
It sounds like you need to get them out of their current school - that would be setting them up for failure. You can tell them that, according to the test scores, the kindergartners at the new school are as smart as the first graders at their school! Make it a really big deal about how smart they are. Tell them that their birthdays really put them halfway in between kindergarten and first grade. You have a choice of keeping them in a school that is not teaching them very well or they could go to a really smart school, and that you are choosing the really smart school with kids closer to their age. Tell them that it is harder for them when they are the youngest in the class. Whatever you decide, make it sound really great and exciting.
Don't let this be about feelings and don't let the kids see that it bugs you. Present it like they are simply having a do-over at the new school and that is just the way it has to be.
If they are so far behind the charter school's standards that they need to go back to K for a couple of months and repeat 1st, then so be it. In the long run it will be in their best interest. If they balk at being in the 'baby class' encourage them to do their absolute best and be good examples for the "little kids".
Basically, your children will be repeating first grade. I think that this is probably really needed. If you can get them in the charter school NOW, go ahead and allow them to be in the end of kinder class. I think that they will feel some success in understanding what is going on in their classroom.
Work with them some this summer to help them with their reading, writing, and math. You may find that they take off in their first grade learning.
Dawn
Where do they fall age wise? That might make a difference. Are they on the "young" side?
I would tell them that the new school is structured differently and the material they have been learning at the current school isn't as good as the material for the new school, so they need to "catch up" so they will be learning the right material.
I would say do it. This is the best time. If you already know that their education is lacking and they haven't picked up on the fundamentals, then the more time you spend without re-mediating them, the further behind they will get.
I know it feels dramatic right now because they are going down a grade, but really they'll simply be repeating 1st grade so by extension, they're finishing the year in Kinder (not necessarily because they need to repeat kinder) so that they establish the peer group they'll stick with.
Your kids are young. If they won't be 7 until late September, you started them in kindergarten (the first time) at 4 turning 5, rather than 5 turning 6 which would have been typical. Whenever we push kids early, we know there is a possibility that it will be too much too soon and they will need to be pulled back a bit.
I don't know why they think kindergarteners are babies. They are the same age! What better way to nip that kind of stuff in the bud than to put them into kindergarten.
I'd just tell them that when you start a new school you start at the beginning (aka kindergarten). Done.
E.,
Why the rush? Relax, you are comparing your kids that is why you feel the way you feel, you may think :"my kids should be doing this because at this age, the kids do this or that": wrong!!!. Schools suggest or recommend things because they have tons of kids and they have to standardize, they speak about "majority", what majority do or achieve; but this doesn't mean that your kids are not doing well, it means that they are learning at different times at different levels.
Again relax. First, they are little ones, they are learning and every kid learns at his/her own pace. Some kids learn very fast some things and others learn a little bit slower than others. Second your mood, or desperation will not help them, just encourage them and help them to succeed. Keep reading to them, read, read and read. Do NOT overdue and start looking for any minute to teach them BY PLAYING, counting cheerios, leaves, building Legos, playing with chalk and write letters and numbers.
If the next step is switching schools, this is the best time to do it since they are so young. I don't understand why there is a stigma about holding kids back for good reasons. This situation is not the end of the world, there is still plenty of time to help and supplement your kids's learning and knowledge. They are absolutely NOT in a situation of failure.
To me it doesn't take a village to raise a child.....it takes a mom like you, strong, patient and consistent. With your love and willingness to be there for them with a smile, they will achieve whatever they need to.
Be happy, and keep doing what you are doing, they will thrive as long as you are happy and relaxed.
I think you should work with them at home. Read Read Read to them and have them read to you! basic math at home for fun! Not the schools fault. This education starts at home! See how they do with your help and retest them at the end of the school year.
Edit for your update:
I am sorry but you are their educator. It is a joint effort but it's your responsibility first. When we know better we do better. Maybe keeping them back is a good Idea for them. If your doing all this with them and they are not getting it then I would keep them back. You would hate to see them struggle in every grade.
No, do not do this to them. It doesn't matter if they're not reading at the expected level. My husband is Mensa level IQ and couldn't read until he was older like these girls are.
Kindergarten and 1st grade is immensely different. They play a lot of the time in kindergarten. It's part of the curriculum. The take naps, it's part of the time schedule. They will absolutley know they are failures if you put them in this other school away from all their friends and then put them in kindergarten on top of it.
Just say No Thank You and work with the school you are going to now.
They must be really young in the class then, because my oldest (whom I didn't red shirt) was 6 turning 7 in early September in first grade. I'd move them and figure out a way to make them okay with it. Whether it be that the charter school has a different cut off, that it's a better school and they learn things in Kindergarten that their current school learns in 1st, etc.
This sounds like a win win situation to me. You knew they were not up to par in reading. The charter school also recognized the problem which shows you that they are concerned. Now, your boys get to go to a new school where no one knows that they were already in first grade (except the administrators.)
What happens next is all going to be up to you and how you present this awesome oppertunity to your kids. If it were me, it would go something like this, "Hey boys, you got accepted into that really awesome charter school that we went to visit. They really liked you and want you both to come to their school. I'm so excited for you to go there. They don't have enough room to put you into the first grade class this year, so you will start first grade there in the fall and finish out the school year in the kindergarten class, which will be so very easy for you because you've already know most of what they are teaching, right? This is going to be great! You boys are going to do so well there!!"
Don't even tell them that your upset about it. It's all going to be in the presentation!
BTW, where I'm from, your boys are still kindergarten age. They are very young first graders.
Good luck!
In CA they really want the kids to wait and be on the older side. The curriculum in Kindergarten is what first grade used to be 10+ years ago.
I think i the long run you will be better off. Can't you tell the kids it is a different school and they teach so much more (or what ever wording that helps). If i was in your shoes I would do what i could to get them in the best environment sooner. They will meet new friends in Kinder/first grade (a lot easier than middle school).
Oh, hard situation!
I'm not sure if this would work, but when my son was 3, he had to move back to the 2-and-under preschool class on account of toileting issues. We told him that class needed a big kid to be their leader. He was young enough that he accepted that without question and took his leader role really seriously. When he returned to the 3-and-up class a few months later, the teacher was amazed, saying "N has become such a leader! What happened?"
Were the twins born prematurely at all? (Some are and some are not).
If yes, then their 'age' by their birth date might not be a good measure to work from.
You might want to use 'adjusted age' as oppose to 'chronological' age - which is only a matter of weeks/months for most kids but it can make a bit difference.
Reading in 1st grade - hmmm.
Some kids read in kindergarten while others don't really take off on it till 2nd grade.
For both myself and my son - we struggled with reading until the 2nd half of 2nd grade - and then we SOARED ahead of the rest of our respective classes.
Seriously - I won ribbons for reading above my grade level and my son has consistently tested above his grade level (his last lexicon for a measure of reading level in the 8th grade came out at 1700+ which is the highest grade possible - his teacher had never seen that high a score before).
But in the 1st grade you would never have guessed we would have done that well.
In both our cases, my Mom read to us (my sister and I) ALL the time, and I read to my son at every opportunity - story time was much more than just a bedtime thing.
So I'm not completely sure how well your kids read (or not) is a good measure for where they 'should' be grade-wise at this time.
I'd look at other areas - how well they follow directions, pay attention, do they have a hard time sitting still, etc - as a guide to how well they fit in with the others of their grade level.
Where we live, you have to be 5 on or before Sept 30 in order to start kindergarten.
My son's birthday is end of Oct - so unless there are earlier Oct birthdays, he is always the oldest/tallest in his grade.
He was 5 for about 2 months before turning 6 in kindergarten and being on the older side has worked out very well for him.
Some are ready sooner than others - it's really an individual thing - and there are no hard fast rules to go by.
Will the charter accept them in September as first graders rather than making them switch now? They might feel a little better about it if they can finish the year where they are and then start fresh in the fall when everyone else is starting the school year too.
All that said, if your kids aren't doing well and you don't feel that they are going to improve at their current school, you definitely want to address the problem quickly and get them back on track.
No matter what you decide to do about school, work with them at home as much as you possibly can. Make it fun though - don't make it more stressful by making them feel they aren't smart. Find ways to turn reading into a game.
You sound like a great mom, concerned, involved and willing to do what it takes to get them to where they need to be. That alone is going to make them successful - a caring mom will always make sure her kids are getting a good education.
Also, just read to them as much as possible. My son is in kindergarten and we read twice a day for 15 - 20 minutes each time.
my daughter is 6 and in first grade, she turns 7 next september. i had all of the girls over 2 times and they went over their ages. they ranged from almost 7-8 in first grade. My daughter is the youngest one. She's doing great BUT at times i wish i held her back.
I would put them in K if I was you and tell them this school is diferent and harder and the kids will be the same age. they will adjust and they have eachother.
My 6 year old will be turning 7 in late Sept as well. She is in kindergarten now. she could not enroll in k before she was 5, state law. I think switching schools is the best time to make this switch. Explain to the kids this school does things differently based on age so that's why they are in k now. No biggie. I read that early eye problems can make reading difficult later on. I would discuss this with an eye and learning professional and maybe get a private tutor as well as move them to k. This is the perfect situation to have them be held back, later on would be harder.
hmmm, that almost sounds like something the charter is doing just so they start off as a whole new class in first in sept.
willl the school let the twins tour it so they can see it isn't babyish?
I would do it no matter what if you honestly thing the charter is going to do things differently, sounds like the kids might have some issues if they are that old and it hasn't clicked and those issues aren't going to go away just by repeating kinder, but if class sizes are alot smaller, if the work is more hands on, if there is support staff like title one or what ever there to give extra help, then they will probably flourish.
If this will help your kids in the long run then I say do it. I also have twins (boys who will be eight in June). They are finishing up first grade but started last August as 7 year olds (we redshirted them for kindergarten). So your twins will be exactly the same age as mine starting first grade again. I can not express to you what a difference it has made for my boys to be the older kids. Their teachers have said they are more mature and pick up things easier than the youngers. They entered first grade reading a little and both are now reading far past the recommended level for the end of first grade. I know it kind of hurts your pride a little that your kiddos didn't just blossom in school like you had hoped. All us mamas understand that completely. But it's not the end of the world, it won't mean a hill of beans to them one day. But if it helps them get a strong foundation then you will reap nothing but rewards. Believe me, it will be a nightmare for you if you don't let them go back and pick up what they are missing, especially when they have to start taking the state standardized tests and you have to stress and worry if they can pass them.
Education starts at home stop blaming the school the teachers the curriclum.Reading,writng,math can be done daily at home not just school.What are you doing at home to teach your twins?
Ask for a list of site words from Kindergarten & 1st grade go through them everyday add in new words with spelling 3x times a week to add to their vocabulary the meaning of the word how to use them in a sentence.
Wanted to add this in Kindergarten here is like 1st grade no more naps less play time except for recess & PE it all is education focused books writing lots of it
I think the fact that they were premies and that they are actually young for first grade plays a huge roll in their development. FYI, I am not sure what state you live in, but in most states the cuttoff is actually Sept. 1st, meaning they would have to be 5 to start kindergarten and 6 to start 1st grade. Meaning that your kids would only be in kindergarten this year in most districts. I have worked with kids for many years (I am an Occupational Therapist) and I used to live in NY, where the cuttoff was later (Dec. I think), so some kids were still 4 going into kindergarten. Expectations are so hight these days, that some kids just aren't developmentally ready for the expectations even if they are on target for their age. That being said, they may just need a little extra time- and in reality, they would only be in kindergarten if you lived somewhere else). It might be hard at first, but don't make a big deal out of them being in kindergarten. Just tell them they are starting a new school and new class.
Do you have the option to start them in the fall? Find out what the skill expectations are and work with them over the summer. At worst, they would have to repeat first grade at a new school. I don't know many kids that would be okay with moving back to K after spending most of the year in first.
It sounds like the charter school is going to be much more rigorous. Starting them in K for the rest of the year is going to help them get back on track. I like the idea of telling them what Lilsa said.
I have not read the other responses, but seeing as how it's this late in the school year (only a little more than 2 months to go), why not let them finish the year where they are, work with them over the summer, then have them re-do 1st grade at the new school in September? In our public school district, with your kids having a late birthday and their histories, they would have been able to do a year of "junior kindergarten" when they turned 5, and then kindergarten at 6. So this past year would have been spent in kindergarten anyway.
At this point, would pulling them out and starting them in a new school create more stress and upheaval than it's worth? How bad would it be to let them finish out the year, and then start new in the fall with first grade again?
I haven't really read the other responses but I have a 33wk preemie as well. She's only 4 right now but when she starts school she will be one of the older kids due to cut off date. Since she was supposed to be due in December and born in October I think this is a great thing. Even now at 4 I can see how her maturity and academic level is just coming in sync with the other kids in preschool. I've also discussed this with my sister-in-law who was a first grade teacher. She said at that age she can always tell when their birthdays are just by how they act and how well they grasp the curicullum (sp?). She has also told parents to have some kids repeat first grade again and some really don't take it so well, the parents not the kids. I personally don't think that repeating the grade is bad especially if it is really needed.
It sounds like your kids started kindergarten early - in my district, they would not have been allowed to start K if they were turning 5 in late September, they would have been required to wait another year. So really, going back to K for them will be going back to a grade where kids are closer to their same age, instead of them being very young in the class.
I think someone below had it right - you tell them that this school is different and better, and that they are moving into a class with kids who are their age instead of being with older kids. At this different and better school, that means K.
I can understand the thought that teachers know more. Sure they deal with lots of kids and have a degree, but they aren't always correct; so you might want to have your children evaluated by a school psychologist or an IEP councselor to make sure they are correct. Most teachers are not educated in how to identify special needs students. As for charter vs. public school... A private/charter school usually runs at a faster pace than a public school The reason is that there are usually more students and more learning diversified students in a public school than in a smaller school. Kindergarten in a charter/private school may be the same as 1st grade in a public school. The education of your children is one of the most imporant decisions you can make, so you need to make one that you feel comfortable with. When dealing with schools, private/charter schools usually have a little more flexibility than public school, but it never hurts to ask for their professional help. You could ask about what if you send your children to summer school for reading, since it's only one thing that's holding them back. You could ask what you could do to help your children, are there any books or websites they'd suggest. The thing you want to do know is research and find out as much as you can about what is best for your children and how to help them.
You would not be setting them up for failure, don't ever think that. You are trying to better their education so they can be successful. Babies are babies, not kindergarteners, you tell them that and that new students start in kindergarten. Your attitude guides theirs, you know this is an excellent opportunity for them, seize it!
I suggest asking the school if they go back to K for the remainder of this year and then go to summer school, if they can start in 1st grade in September. If they go to summer school and you really work with them over the summer, they should be caught up enough to start out in 1st grade.
Good luck!
If your children have to be held back do it now don't wait untl they are in 6th grade.
I held my daughter back in 2nd grade because she did not grasp all the concepts. I spun it to her that she needed more time to understand what was required and that there is no shame in staying in a grade one more year. It was the best thing we could do. Besides we were in a military school and many of the kids moved on to other bases/posts so it was not a stigma of "You stayed back - boo hoo on you!" A neighbor's kid was held back as my daughter but again when she went to 4th grade and that was crushing to her self-esteem. She downright cried when she got the news as she thought she had done well enough to go forward with her "friends". They did move that summer so I hope that she was able to finish her education on time or close to it.
It was a hard decision but it was best for the child and not the mom or dad who needed the help. Just be matter of fact and positive about how you approach the subject with the children and they will go along with it. Besides they don't know the difference for the long term.
the other S.
I would do what the charter school suggests. Switch now. Discuss it with the twins as Lilsa suggested.
Your kids will get over it. Say no one in first grade is as young as they are so they will not allow them to be in first grade. I would definitely do this if I were you. My oldest is young for her grade bc we're tall and I didn't want her to stand out. Late sept bday also but she wasn't premature on top of it. There are kids in her class a year older... She is very smart in certain ways but also had a reading issue and it turns out it may be her eyes as well. I wish we'd just waited a year. My younger is older for her grade and it's all so easy. I have plenty of friends whose kids repeated K and they are all so glad they did. And go to the better school NOW! It only gets harder as the kids get older. I'll have to change my kids eventually so made that mistake too - I'm going to have to make them make new friends at a tougher age to do so. You may have a couple of months of difficulties with the change but be positive about it to your kids and you should enjoy the rewards for years to come. The school year is almost over so not like the kids are doing a whole year of K. Remind them it's a couple of months. Kids don't get the concept of time easily but just keep saying it anyway.
