OK. We're on month 2 of K. We're loving it for the most part, but I was wondering...

Do your kids struggle a little bit, the teacher will write a note home regarding the struggle and you drill them and they totally know the answers?!?

It's like my girls kinda clam up and give the impression they're stumped on certain lessons.

Why aren't they knocking out the right answers at school like they do for me at home?

Lisa

My kids are completely opposite. They are great in school, but when I ask them about the things the teacher writes home about, they can't do it. I don't know what to do about it.

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

My John is like your kids Dawn. At school he can do it, at home he just can't (or won't!) He told me his thinking thing stops working when he gets home.

Jane
Anna/Emma/John/^James^ (9/24/03-9/29/03) 26 wkers
In memory of my beloved Emma 9/24/03 - 1/19/07
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"his thinking thing stops working when he gets home"

That is too funny!!

Paige has gotten so bad that the other day at the doctor she was asked to cough and she wouldn't do it. She was there because she had bronchitis!!! Oh the things they do to make us wonder what goes on in their little heads!

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

One of my dd is like that. I think it is shyness??? The only reason I know is ds tattletales on her. I've asked her why she won't give answers to questions in school that I know for a fact that she knows the answer to. I think she is just so afraid of giving the wrong answer.

Div

Div~

That is so true; shyness. I hate to label the girls like that, but it's like they're still unsure of themselves.

One of their teachers even mentioned they hesitate sharing an answer until they see what their siblings shared.

They're young Kindergartners having just turned 5 in July. We went back and forth about sending them.

I do so much at home: flashcards, educational computer games, phonics games, reading, drilling ABCs and practicing handwriting.

I'm just getting floored at the notes like: please review 12 letters.

And I know they know all 26!

Don't get me wrong; I'm loving that the teachers are challenging them. There's always room for improvement. I'm not naive to think they're little geniuses. I just thought we had mastered a lot of what they're suggesting.

Lisa

Yes, we have the exact same problem. It actually started last year in preschool, so I was able to forewarn the kindergarten teacher about it. My girls are incredibly shy too. I think it is anxiety over being put on the spot. It seems like they're trying to get the teacher to just stop talking to them as quickly as possible, so they just say they don't know. I don't know what to do either. I just told the kindergarten teacher we're going to rely on her advice as the expert here since she's been teaching kindergarten for over 20 years. She believes they will more easily overcome this anxiety as they mature, and since she knows the issue, she'll sometimes press them one more time for the answer. It's a tough issue! I just don't want their shyness to interfere with their ability to perform academically. So for now, we're just talking to them about how it's important to let your teacher know that you know the right answer, and giving them some time to mature.

Good luck!

Angie
GGG 5/13/04

My b/g/g have summer birthdays and when we were doing the kindergarten readiness evaluations - there was information that my son knew, his PreK teacher and I both knew that he knew it, but he couldn't "appropriately demonstrate" that he knew it. Apparently, this is a very common issue that gets lumped in with various other "maturity issues" associated with K-2nd graders. For my son, it clicked in second grade - it's the intangibles - brain and mouth or brain and pencil or brain and manipulative engaging appropriately when prompted on demand.

Robin

We have this too. Which totally FREAKS out everyone involved. Since my children are home schooled we get drilled by strangers/family/friends alike to see if our children are actually learning. *rolling eyes*. On any given day my husband will ask them what they learned. I sit their listening all jazzed about their massive about of information they will pour out from the day and ....they often say "nothing". GASP. He however knows the game and will ask pointed questions or I can say a word/phrase to trigger those little synapses in their brains. If I had to guess I would say comfort level or they are just not in the mood to talk about it. Maybe stage fright? But I feel your pain. You want your children to shine and be challenged and not taken for someone who doesn't get it, I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

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