I want to thank all of you for the helpful advice I received regarding my kids and their start of school.

As a result of all of your advice, I met with the principal, their teacher and the ExCEL teacher yesterday afternoon. We discussed a plan for my children and I am very pleased with the results.

It was good to see the assessments that had been made and to review what we were doing to work with them at their level.

Thank you, again, for all of the advice.

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.

Yes! Good news!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

So what did they suggest? Are you moving them ahead?

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

Nope. I didn't want to move them ahead -- they were in pre-school with kids older than them, and that wasn't always good. And, everyone here also pointed out the problems that we'd have in high school. I've been really conflicted about that and haven't really known what to do about things. My biggest concern has been for the impacts of having them sit in class without learning anything new.

During our meeting I was shown how they had assessed them for reading and placed them into a program for reading and writing with the first graders. They started this about a week ago. Their teacher is using that same time to work with the kindergarteners on letters and phonics so they aren't missing out on any of the fun stuff from kindergarten. And, beginning this next Monday they will start with the reading groups within the classroom, too.

We also talked about the math issues, and the first grade math is online, and there are a lot of math games that they can be doing on the computer while the others are learning to write the numbers and talking about shapes. Since the first graders are working on math in the afternoons, we'll be working on math at home so that they can continue to move on with their math skills.

The spelling is also online, and they'll be working on that at home. But, they will be with the kindergarteners for the remaining times and they will be going home on the same schedule with them. I feel really good about this because I have felt that this is where they belong socially and they have made good friends.

BTW, the principal pointed out that if they were not in the combo class, they would not have been able to put them into an ExCEL group or to work things around the way that we are going to. It is a wonderful compromise, but we didn't map out the compromise completely until we all sat down together, which was prompted by my request for a meeting.

In short, we have come up with a plan that will allow them to work on first grade curriculum while remaining with their age group. This is, in fact, the best of all possible worlds. When they are in first grade, we will be making similar adjustments.

I'm really excited with the way that we are going to be handling things. It just seems like a perfect approach and the teachers and principal are great. I know that you've been having some of the same questions with your kids and you may find that they are able to work out such a compromise for you, as well.

In the meantime, I am very glad that I set up a meeting on this. I'm glad that I posted the question here and got such great input.

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.