I know. This is the most talked about, somewhat boring post, but I'm curious.

Tell me if you're waiting until your kids are 6 for Kindergarten.

FWIW, I've always been in the 5 year olds go to Kindergarten Camp.

But... Not anymore. LOL!

Lisa

Mine will be 6 1/2 when they START kindergarten. After a lot of soul-searching, we decided that despite the unbelievably humungous amount of academic catchup progress that my kids have made this year, they just aren't ready for kindergarten in any other way.
- They are tiny size-wise.
- Their gross & fine motor skills are behind (all are still in PT & OT, which they still really need and we would have to give up due to time-constraints if they went to K next year).
- Socially they fit in better with kids a year younger.
- We live in a very "good" school district. Which translates to 90% of kids ENTERING kindergarten as fluent readers. Parents are so afraid that their kid will be behind, and get tracked in the "wrong track" early, that they actually commonly hire tutors for the year or so before kindergarten to be sure their kids are the most prepared. Only since everyone does it, that has become the norm. I didn't think my kids we be able to even keep up with the bottom layer of kids in that environment.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Megan,

Every time I read anything you write about your school district, it makes me want to cry for the kids. Hiring tutors to START kindergarten? Someone.......... stop the insanity!!!!!!! You be the one to stop the insanity, Megan. Do I have to move there?

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

>Megan,
>
>Every time I read anything you write about your school
>district, it makes me want to cry for the kids. Hiring tutors
>to START kindergarten? Someone.......... stop the
>insanity!!!!!!! You be the one to stop the insanity, Megan.
>Do I have to move there?


But that's the thing - I CAN'T be the one to stop it. No one can. Because nobody wants their kid to be the only one that can't cut it. What a horrible first school experience if you were lightyears behind your peers!

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

That's just it. I could give the thumbs up to move on to first grade, but I think they need to strengthen some basic skills.

I don't want them in the bottom tier of the class, struggling, getting frustrated and ultimately hating school.

Lisa

>That's just it. I could give the thumbs up to move on to
>first grade, but I think they need to strengthen some basic
>skills.
>
>I don't want them in the bottom tier of the class, struggling,
>getting frustrated and ultimately hating school.
>
>Lisa


You always hear experts commenting that where a kid is at the end of first grade is an excellent predictor of future academic success, as well as ultimate job success and future earnings. If you are questioning it, HOLD THEM BACK.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

My youngest DS has a July 25th bday. We could send him to preschool this fall as he will turn 4 this summer, but we are waiting. He will be a 5 yr old preschooler and 6 yr old kindergartner.

He is a giant 3 year old already weighing 45 pounds and 39 inches tall, but he is not ready for the academics. He is a little behind socially and language wise.

Shiloh--Proud Mom to:
BGG born 2/04
B born 7/06

Uh-Oh. Why are you switching camps?

We've had a mixed bag of results for kindergarten.

One has made incredible progress -- more than I ever could have hoped for. And yes, he is now writing sentences! Don't know if they are original, he might still need a "model" to copy. His pictures are still extremely rudimentary. (See my post from last November and the Buffalo Hunt assignment.) He even has made progress in the attending area and she says he is now completing assignments in the timeframe with no more than 1 or 2 cues to pay attention and get back to work. Cues like a hand on the shoulder or a look across the room as opposed to needing a teacher sitting at the desk telling him to pick up his pencil . He has great math skills...yet he cannot count to 121 by one's to save his life. By 2's yes, by 5's and 10's yes. Not by one's. I suspect this is more of an "attention" problem than a "knowledge" problem.

One is "Mr. Maturity" and you would swear from his demeanor he is older than he appears. He likes the academic pursuits and is also now writing sentences ON HIS OWN...not copying others, but actual sentences. Of course, he uses creative spelling for words he does not know.

And the other is "Mr. Personality". His kindergarten experience has not been good and we had ZERO concerns going in. He still is not copying those dang sentences. Unless they let him trace the letters. He can write all of his letters individually. But he can't (or doesn't want to) write the sentences. Math skills are fine. Academically, he knows his stuff. I swear sometimes he does no work in class, yet he is learning the stuff anyway. And now the little stinker is hiding his papers because he says they aren't "good enough" and he doesn't want his teacher or me to see them. And if he gets a check as opposed to a smiley for being off-task and goofy throughout the session, he hides THAT paper too! I am really hoping a new class/new teacher/fewer kids in the classroom is going to help him next year. Hoping....hoping...hoping....

BBB born 7/26/04 at 35 weeks

I volunteered today in their class. They write in their journals every day.

Sarah wrote in hers. "I went to the fare. I had a sno cone. I way 48 inches." (She meant she is 48 inches tall, because that was a big deal because she is tall enough to go on rides by herself now, and did.)

Amanda wrote, "I have a kite. I have a kite too."

Gregory wrote, "I have a fish."

Now keep in mind that I am in one of the WORST school districts in all of America.

While mine were doing that, I worked with a girl that just learned English over the last two months and still doesn't have a grasp of all her letters. If I point them out to her, she can write them.

So my point is that kids are all over the map in kindergarten. I wonder if parents assume that their kids should be able to do everything they are introduced to in kindergarten and put too much pressure on their children? Or do the teachers actually say something about it? Nobody says anything about it at our school.

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

Get this. Imagine on the FIRST DAY of kindergarten being handed a blank piece of paper and a pencil, and being told to "write about your summer vacation". Not that they were expecting page-long essays, but still.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

>So my point is that kids are all over the map in kindergarten.
> I wonder if parents assume that their kids should be able to
>do everything they are introduced to in kindergarten and put
>too much pressure on their children? Or do the teachers
>actually say something about it? Nobody says anything about it
>at our school.


I think that the teachers teach to the average kid's needs. Since the average kid is reading well, they go from there. What would be the point in teaching letters & sounds when the whole class already knows it. It's just a vicious cycle that got out of hand and just gets worse and worse because nobody wants THEIR kid to be the one who changes the cycle.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

You know what irritates me about that? Not every child is destined to be a doctor or a lawyer. Not every kid is going to be the smartest kid in class. Some kids are going to be become truckdrivers or drywall hangers. Does that mean their life will be less fullfilling or that they will be more unhappy than the guy who works 80 hours a week as a doctor and never sees his wife or kids and never gets to take a vacation?

That makes me really angry. There is a kid in their class who started kindergarten reading chapter books. His mother has green hair and wears Madonna gloves. I kid you not. I wouldn't even stand next to her. His dad is a valet at a casino. But that child has the IQ and potential to be ANYTHING. He was just BORN THAT WAY.

So we can either raise kids to be really happy at whatever they end up being, or we can raise kids to always think they have to be the smartest, brightest, and best.

When Sarah told me she was sad because Amanda can draw better, I told her, "We can't all be the best at EVERYTHING." How disappointing to grow up and realize you aren't the best at everything. No wonder America has to take drugs to cope.

Just say NO, Megan. I would. I would tell them they are all stupid. I excel at that.

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

>Just say NO, Megan. I would. I would tell them they are all
>stupid. I excel at that.

I hear you. And if it was ME, I might be willing to do it. But my kids - no way. I just will not willfully put my kids in the position of being at the bottom of the class just to make a point. Maybe you would if you were here. But when it really is a reality, I wonder if you would feel differently.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

But do the teachers make the kids feel stupid for being "at the bottom of the class"? Are children disparaged? Are they made to feel less? I just totally do NOT feel that atmosphere at all in our classroom. NOBODY makes fun of the girl who is learning her letters. In fact, Amanda helps her. They had a boy start a month ago and he is so small and he cried for three days and my girls were like his mother. They were so worried about him. My kids have taken on leadership roles to the kids who are behind. Do you think your school creates an atmosphere to pick on the weakest? If so, I would really be worried about bullying in the future. Somebody has to be at the bottom. That's how life works.

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

>But do the teachers make the kids feel stupid for being "at
>the bottom of the class"? Are children disparaged? Are they
>made to feel less? I just totally do NOT feel that atmosphere
>at all in our classroom. NOBODY makes fun of the girl who is
>learning her letters. In fact, Amanda helps her. They had a
>boy start a month ago and he is so small and he cried for
>three days and my girls were like his mother. They were so
>worried about him. My kids have taken on leadership roles to
>the kids who are behind. Do you think your school creates an
>atmosphere to pick on the weakest? If so, I would really be
>worried about bullying in the future. Somebody has to be at
>the bottom. That's how life works.


No, I don't think the teachers make the kids feel bad at all! But everybody is going to know who the kid is who doesn't know their letters. I think it's wonderful that your child is helping another learn. And I'm sure it makes Amanda feel very good about herself. But, inside, I'm sure that the other child feels like she is less smart just because she doesn't know what all her classmates know. It's not that anyone is making her feel bad, but she can look around and see that she is the only one who doesn't.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Megan, the child is an illegal alien. I can guarantee you the last thing she is worried about is her letters. I'm thinking food and shelter rate higher. We live in completely different worlds.

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

I really don't think my kids realize that there are kids in there class that are not on the same level as they are. (my kids are not the smartest, but they are not behind either) They are put in different groups and they do the work that is given to them. They never talk about "Oh little Suzie doesn't read well" or "mike can't write all his numbers". I really don't think kids in Kindergarten are as aware of the learning as older kids are. My kids have no concept that their best friend is reading at an almost 2nd grade level and they are only at a 1st grade level. They have no idea that one of my boys is doing 1st grade math and the rest of them are still dealing with kindergarten stuff.

I was so worried about their knowledge before they went into school. I made sure they knew how to identify all of their letters, write most of them, identify numbers 1 - 10, all their colors and the basic shapes. It was all for nothing because many in the class still needed to learn all of that. My kids were not bored because they learned a new way to write all of these things, and they are doing well.

I really think that parents (and I was one of them) get so stressed about making sure our children only stand out for good things. I also think that we put too much pressure on our children at an early age. A child does not need to know how to read before he/she even gets to kindergarten. Remember when we were in K? That was where I learned what a letter was and how to write it. I remember learning how to write my name in kindergarten...now children are expected to write about their summer vacation??? That is just insane!!!!!!

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

Yeah. I'm switching camps.

I just feel that the girls are like 6 or 8 months behind some of their classmates. Academically, socially and chronologically. And it shows.

They have made major progress since last August when school started. Amazing. I'm so proud of them. They've really blossomed and I just love their school. Definitely the best decision.

I want them to be the leaders and really sure of themselves. Right now, they're still hesitant and shy. I actually hate labeling them shy, but they're still a little quiet and like to be the observers.

I found myself really intense with them; almost trying to do some homeschooling AFTER school and I've backed off a little because of our decision. I wanted to get them to a higher level, but it wasn't fun. And then I started to feel guilty that I didn't do Baby Einstein flashcards every minute when they were 2 years old...

But, yeah. I'm OK with the decision.

Thanks, everyone for the input!

Lisa

I just registered my "extra" kid, who is four, in kindergarten today. He turns five in June and will start kindie in August.

He can already read, ride a bike, and probably build an atom bomb if I gave him the right materials. Having that fourth triplet really paid off. He has no clue that he is younger, and I would bet that Megan will see that with her fourth triplet too.

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

OK. I've always considered my girls bright, but when I read how your extra kid can already read, ride a bike and build an atom bomb if given the right materials, it just makes me even more sure that we are going to enjoy another year of Kindergarten! LOL!

>OK. I've always considered my girls bright, but when I read
>how your extra kid can already read, ride a bike and build an
>atom bomb if given the right materials, it just makes me even
>more sure that we are going to enjoy another year of
>Kindergarten! LOL!
>
>

I have been truly SHOCKED to see the difference between the way my full-term, completely typical kid learns vs. the triplets. Elise is completely average. I don't think she's gifted or anything - just normal. But when I watch how easily learning comes to her compared to the triplets, it's truly amazing. I remember going over the stupid animal noises for like a YEAR (the cow says MOOO, etc.) with the triplets before they got it all straight. I went over it like 3 times with Elise and she knew them all. That kind of thing. I don't know if it is b/c the triplets were preemies or what. I do have concerns about one having a mild LD, but the others I think are OK. But I do know that they couldn't keep up if their class was full of kids like Elise! Full-term really is different.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Maybe I can play the triplet card here.

I'll admit. It wasn't until last year when I really started to do some major academics with the girls.

When they were little, we partied! LOL! We took walks. We went to the zoo. We played. We had picnics. We bounced in the bounce house. Just like all of you did, I'm sure.

I just felt spent after basic needs and just having fun; I had no strength to conduct a little school session at home as much as I should have done.

Then, when they turned three, they were off to pre-school for what I thought was fun AND getting ready for Kindergarten. And it was. If anything, it was more fun and a little break for me.

Michele, I understand your view: what's so bad about not being the smartest in the class? I get that.

More than wanting them to be the rocket scientists in the class, I want them to be happy and confident, KWIM? I want them to love school and crave to learn and set the examples. The last thing I want to do is push them on to first grade where they're unsure and frustrated.

Lisa

Hillyt mom to
Ian 12
Ella, Holly, Jilly 6
Hadley 3

This is one of the more interesting discussions I have read on this subject. Several good points. I thought I would share my story. My girls were 5, six days after kindergarten started. I sent them. They have thrived! Socially, they were ready. Very independent, outgoing, follow rules, ect. We live in one of the top districts in our state, and they have kept up academically, but had to work at it. That has been a blessing. My full-term singleton had everything come really easy to him in the beginning, and has built some very poor habits, and hates having to put effort into his work.

They are now finishing first grade, and will not be 7 until second grade begins. All of them are performing at or above grade level. They love school, and I have no regrets about sending them. I can see both sides, but I felt like there was an age range for a reason, and they were in the range, so that is where they belonged.

What I have liked best is that they have matured a lot from being in school. You would not be able to identify them as the "young" ones by their behavior or their work. I think some of that comes from practicing on each other. Triplets have a built in peer group, and have to work on some of the skills that are required in school, just because there are three of them. Waiting their turn, competing, listening to each other's ideas, cooperation, and respect for others are daily life skills that triplets have to practice sooner than singletons.

Both of my mom's sisters have taught first grade for 20+ years, and say that some kids have to work harder than others to get there, but most kids catch up by second grade if age is the factor.

Mine are in second grade now. We held them back an extra year in pre-K (their bday is end of Sept) and have never once regretted it. I really don't think it could ever possibly hurt them to wait an extra year for K. If you have ANY doubts, do it, once you decide it will no longer be an issue and your kids will be fine!

Kari S.

Mom to BBB 21, 18, 14
BBG 9/25/01

I don't think I would have regretted holding my kids out until this coming year (July 26 b-day). However, at the urging of my husband AND the preschool teachers, we didn't. We went ahead and put them in school at the tender age of 61 months. I have regretted that off and on throughout this kindergarten year!

Why? In our case, I think putting them in kindergarten for another year would be socially devastating for 2 of them. And academically, there is just no reason to hold them back! I wish we had made the decision to keep them out FIRST as it doesn't seem feasible to do it NOW.

One has become a very hard worker and I think has moved to the top of his class academically despite being younger. However, he is socially immature -- doesn't really have the great playground skills of his peers...yet he is very competitive and would know darned well for YEARS that the kids he went to school with the first go round were a year ahead of him. I think this would crush him. Plus, academically, there is no way he could spend another year in kindy. No way.

Our #2 son has been diagnosed PDD-NOS. He appears to be extremely mildly affected. He has made leaps and bounds of progress in the writing/academic area and has tested average to high-average IQ. I'd say he has the social skills of a 3.5 year old. He is very anxious and shy and socially unsure of himself and that goes along with the PDD-NOS. However, another year of kindy would be boring academically. I'd say he is right in the middle of the pack academically now. Yet he could certainly use another year to mature before moving on with the big kids. Socially, I don't think he'd care at all about spending another year in kindy. Academically, there would be no challenge there for him.

Our #1 son....well, has the social skills and attitude of a 10-year-old. He would be super-devastated by being in kindy another year while his buds moved on. It would crush him. He has kept up academically - knowledge-wise -- but has struggled with the fine motor tasks and still does. He just isn't ready. I'm not so worried about the writing as I think it will come in its own time. He is also having attention/behavior issues that could be due to age -- just not ready to sit still and learn in that academic environment. Yet he DOES learn -- he just can't behave and sit still appropriately. He is very bright, but attention is a huge issue in the classroom. I think he is too young to determine ADD/ADHD and he can finish projects of HIS choosing but almost never finishes anything in school! If he decides he is going to do something, there is very little that stands in his way. If he decides it's "boring", there is very little that gets him moving. I don't think he has gelled with his teacher AT ALL. I think his self-esteem has been hurt by this teacher's approach and the fact that writing has been so heavily emphasized. He needs a TON of encouragement and does not take correction of his writing attempts well at all - thus he hides his work. Don't want to hold HIM back as the same teacher is the ONLY kindy teacher and I think another year with her would do more damage (on top of the huge blow he would feel seeing his buds in 1st grade).

So....I wish we HAD waited. I feel in our case that all 3 could have benefitted from an extra year at home for different reasons. Now I feel it is too late and holding them back in kindy for another year would be the wrong decision for all 3 of them (for different reasons). I even thought about just taking them out of school for a year! In our state, school attendance is not mandatory until age 7.

BBB born 7/26/04 at 35 weeks

THe kids have a child who has a very hard time sitting still in class. The first teacher they had this year had a real problem with him. I would say she hated him. She was awful to him. Don't get me wrong, the child is a handful. But he's a really sweet kid and he's really bright. He just doesn't seem to be able to sit still. Now that the kids have another teacher, he is flourishing. She has a completely different approach with him. Instead of making him feel bad all the time, she just engages him with different activities. I sure hope you get a teacher that is willing to work with your son and it brings out his good attributes. I really think the teacher makes a difference. I wouldn't want my kid back with that teacher next year either. That would make me a wreck.

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

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

My girls have a September birthday. In any state other than the one we currently live in, they wouldn't be allowed to start. But we're military...and we'll move. I decided to keep them one more year in preschool. The school has a "bridge class" for young 5s, and it will provide them with some continuity...we moved in summer 08 and summer 09. They know where they are going next year, they know who their teacher will be etc.

Academically, they are more than ready to start kindergarten. They have pre-reading skills (they spell words for me when reading, so they know the words) and they can recognize sight words. They cannot read yet. They can add and subtract...one almost can add double digits...

Socially, they are ready...they're all outgoing girls, and are successfully navigating a preschool class that has mostly older kids.

BUT, and this is a big one, JUNIOR HIGH IS COMING. I don't want my almost 12 year olds in a 7th grade class with kids who are nearly 14....the age gap during those years is huge. I don't want them to wait until junior year to drive, and I don't want them to go away to college at 17.

I think those are the years where I will notice the immaturity...

So we'll spend one more year at preschool...and when we move, we'll be right on track!

Alice

GGG born 9/3/05 at 35w3d

Alice

It is funny that you are already worried about Jr High...as this is the reason I didn't send my oldest and everyone laughed at me! I'm so glad to find another Mom who gets it!

I started K when I was 4 (turned 5 a month later) and I started college when I was 17 (turned 18 a month later) Ladies, think about sending your 17 year old off to college! I was 17 and in a sorority I would NEVER be able to send my 17 year old out into the world. How my parents were so calm about it I will never know.

My oldest has a b-day one week after mine. She could have been in the same situation as I was. Luckily, I was pregnant and on bedrest an hour from home when we had to make the decision so it was made pretty easily. No way my baby is headed to K without her Momma around! I am thrilled with the decision now. She is exactly where I would hope for her socially, academically, and most importantly my baby will be home with me for one more year before I send her off to college

Lots of arguments about what if the kid is bored because they were ready and you didn't send them on. I don't buy it. If they are bored with the basics find something else that will keep them challenged! Something like learning a musical instrument. These days they can even earn most of their college credits while in high scholl around here! Wow! If only that had been around when I was young! I could've been 17 and a Senior in college

Hey Momma,

I didn't read all the responses but this is what we did. The cut off for K in our district is Dec. 1, that meant my kids had to start K when they were 4 and turned 5 about 2 months later.

Not only that mine were early. We held them back this year and had them repeat K. We spoke with their teachers and the school psychologist as well. They thought it was a good idea, but not to the point they would have suggested it to me had I not brought it up.

I was feeling guilty about it, but I think it is the best thing we could have done for them.

They could have scraped by acadmeically, but maturity wise they were just not on the same level as the kids last year.

This year one is at the top of the class and the other who has several OT issues still (oh and STUBBORN as all get out) is middle/low of the pack.

This is how I looked at it. I would rather them repeat K now then possibly, more then likely struggle down the road and have to hold one or both of them back.


Amy
Wife to Jason(pixelpusher)
Mom to Gwynne, Connor, Chloe 11/03/03
25wks 1day

www.ferristrio.blogspot.com

http://lilypie.com>

Lisa, what do the kids' K teachers think? Our kids were born mid-July so I have always expected that they would need an extra year before 1st grade. However, we have approached the decision in baby steps. Last spring the preschool teacher and us all felt the kids were ready for something more challenging than another year of pre-K so we signed them up for part-time K. We figured they could then do full-time K if they needed an extra year. As it turns out, the teachers feel strongly that they are ready for First so we are going ahead with that.

We have been on the fence for a long time. I am actually happy that our state now has so much testing because they could show us the improvement the kids have made. We also had input from the two K teachers, a reading teacher and Hannah's speech teacher who all recommend First next year.

It's hard to compare different school districts. From what I have seen this year our school expects kids to learn to write their name, learn all the letters and number up to 20 in the first couple of months. By the end of K they should be reading simple books independently (like the Bob series) and writing sentences on their own (with very creative spelling). They do basic addition and subtraction and count by 5's and 10's (but not consistently). They can count up to about 40 on their own.

I hope this helps. It is such a hard decision!

Marsha
mom to Nick, Hannah and Paige born July 15, 2004

We plan on having our trio repeat Kindergarten next year. What really did it for me was having playdates with some of the other kids in their classroom. Although mine fit in well, they are a bit behind socially and actually 2 are academically. I could see that well when I had another Kindergartener right along side my trio during the playdates. One dd may be a bit bored next year but I still think for maturity it will benefit her. She will be more of a leader and she is more of a follower at this point since the other kids are more mature.
Just our experience. Good luck!
Happy

Thank you, everyone for your responses. I appreciate the input.

I still think we're going ahead with another year of K. It will be the morning class so I'm happy about that transition.

Their teachers think they could move on to first grade, but we're all on the same page for giving them more time to be confident.

I'm gratful their classroom is set up so the kids work independently. So, if I am making a mistake in giving them another year, there are activities and lessons to keep them going since they work at their own pace.

Thanks, again.

Lisa

My kids are in full day kindergarten. When they started they were 5 years, 10 months. Thankfully they were ready, I can't imagine sending them when they were younger (didn't have a choice because they didn't make the cut-off).

My son is still somewhat behind my girls but he's catching up with some extra work from home. My neice, who is a kindergarten teacher, is tutoring him this summer so he'll be caught up with his sisters and ready for first grade in Sept.

Michel


Born 12/21/03

My kids turned 6 a week after school started. There is a girl in their class who is close to a year younger than they are. She is really struggling though. This year the school district changed the cutoff date to July rather than October. (my 3 could have gone last year; but would have had to wait under the new cutoff)

Overall I'm glad we waited. One of my girls would have been ready last year but my son was not ready. She is in the more advanced reading group which is OK. Better that than having my son struggling because he started too early. It really does depend on the child. If E would have been a singleton I would have sent her last year instead of this year, but I didn't want my triplets to be in different grades and was worried one of them might be held in K for another year.

As for size, my other daughter looks like she is a second grader rather than a kindergartner. Hopefully it won't be too hard on her being one of the bigger kid in class. Though her size almost made me send them last year.

My kids turned 6 a week after school started. There is a girl in their class who is close to a year younger than they are. She is really struggling though. This year the school district changed the cutoff date to July rather than October. (my 3 could have gone last year; but would have had to wait under the new cutoff)

Overall I'm glad we waited. One of my girls would have been ready last year but my son was not ready. She is in the more advanced reading group which is OK. Better that than having my son struggling because he started too early. It really does depend on the child. If E would have been a singleton I would have sent her last year instead of this year, but I didn't want my triplets to be in different grades and was worried one of them might be held in K for another year.

As for size, my other daughter looks like she is a second grader rather than a kindergartner. Hopefully it won't be too hard on her being one of the bigger kid in class. Though her size almost made me send them last year.

Mine will be turning 6, three months in to the school year.

Welcome to the 6 in kindergarten camp - we have cookies! lol


Michelle

Tyler - 19-college bound-Oh My!
Steph - 17
Ayden, Ryley & Dylan - 5 ~33wk2d~