Readiness for Kindergarten - OT

R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
Thank you for the responses everyone -- keep 'em coming. I do think he's ready. I've checked the school's website and it appears that a LOT of the stuff he's learning in preschool is similar, if not an identical curriculum. He's excited about going to the big school.

Up until yesterday's conversation, I really haven't heard from anyone else that we should keep him back. Several of DH's relatives (aunts and cousins) are teachers, two or three of them are special ed teachers, ones a speech pathologist, and we've talked about his readiness -- not once has anyone asked if we'd considered holding him back. If anything, when I expressed my nervousness about the whole all day schedule, they were nothing but encouraging. His doctors are all on board...

When I was stressing this morning, my husband did remind me that if he'd been born four hours earlier, he'd be a May baby <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
Thank you for the responses everyone -- keep 'em coming. I do think he's ready. I've checked the school's website and it appears that a LOT of the stuff he's learning in preschool is similar, if not an identical curriculum. He's excited about going to the big school.

Up until yesterday's conversation, I really haven't heard from anyone else that we should keep him back. Several of DH's relatives (aunts and cousins) are teachers, two or three of them are special ed teachers, ones a speech pathologist, and we've talked about his readiness -- not once has anyone asked if we'd considered holding him back. If anything, when I expressed my nervousness about the whole all day schedule, they were nothing but encouraging. His doctors are all on board...

When I was stressing this morning, my husband did remind me that if he'd been born four hours earlier, he'd be a May baby <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
Thank you for the responses everyone -- keep 'em coming. I do think he's ready. I've checked the school's website and it appears that a LOT of the stuff he's learning in preschool is similar, if not an identical curriculum. He's excited about going to the big school.

Up until yesterday's conversation, I really haven't heard from anyone else that we should keep him back. Several of DH's relatives (aunts and cousins) are teachers, two or three of them are special ed teachers, ones a speech pathologist, and we've talked about his readiness -- not once has anyone asked if we'd considered holding him back. If anything, when I expressed my nervousness about the whole all day schedule, they were nothing but encouraging. His doctors are all on board...

When I was stressing this morning, my husband did remind me that if he'd been born four hours earlier, he'd be a May baby <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
Thank you for the responses everyone -- keep 'em coming. I do think he's ready. I've checked the school's website and it appears that a LOT of the stuff he's learning in preschool is similar, if not an identical curriculum. He's excited about going to the big school.

Up until yesterday's conversation, I really haven't heard from anyone else that we should keep him back. Several of DH's relatives (aunts and cousins) are teachers, two or three of them are special ed teachers, ones a speech pathologist, and we've talked about his readiness -- not once has anyone asked if we'd considered holding him back. If anything, when I expressed my nervousness about the whole all day schedule, they were nothing but encouraging. His doctors are all on board...

When I was stressing this morning, my husband did remind me that if he'd been born four hours earlier, he'd be a May baby <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
Thank you for the responses everyone -- keep 'em coming. I do think he's ready. I've checked the school's website and it appears that a LOT of the stuff he's learning in preschool is similar, if not an identical curriculum. He's excited about going to the big school.
<br />
<br />Up until yesterday's conversation, I really haven't heard from anyone else that we should keep him back. Several of DH's relatives (aunts and cousins) are teachers, two or three of them are special ed teachers, ones a speech pathologist, and we've talked about his readiness -- not once has anyone asked if we'd considered holding him back. If anything, when I expressed my nervousness about the whole all day schedule, they were nothing but encouraging. His doctors are all on board...
<br />
<br />When I was stressing this morning, my husband did remind me that if he'd been born four hours earlier, he'd be a May baby <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
M

miesl

New member
As a former smart cookie child... Don't hold him back.

I was right at the cut off (September baby), and I was always the youngest in my class. Admittedly, I didn't have CF to deal with... but I loved learning and hated having to wait for the kids who didn't get it. I was always in the "smart" classes.

It would have been pure torture to have been held back due to my age. It was hard enough not being able to go at the pace I wanted. I started college at 16 because I was bored out of my mind in jr high and high school (and because MN paid for it).

The only thing I would recommend against would be any of the Excel programs that take him out of his normal classes X days a week to do other activities. Since there's a chance he'll miss classes due to CF - you don't want him to miss extra class time for Excel.
 
M

miesl

New member
As a former smart cookie child... Don't hold him back.

I was right at the cut off (September baby), and I was always the youngest in my class. Admittedly, I didn't have CF to deal with... but I loved learning and hated having to wait for the kids who didn't get it. I was always in the "smart" classes.

It would have been pure torture to have been held back due to my age. It was hard enough not being able to go at the pace I wanted. I started college at 16 because I was bored out of my mind in jr high and high school (and because MN paid for it).

The only thing I would recommend against would be any of the Excel programs that take him out of his normal classes X days a week to do other activities. Since there's a chance he'll miss classes due to CF - you don't want him to miss extra class time for Excel.
 
M

miesl

New member
As a former smart cookie child... Don't hold him back.

I was right at the cut off (September baby), and I was always the youngest in my class. Admittedly, I didn't have CF to deal with... but I loved learning and hated having to wait for the kids who didn't get it. I was always in the "smart" classes.

It would have been pure torture to have been held back due to my age. It was hard enough not being able to go at the pace I wanted. I started college at 16 because I was bored out of my mind in jr high and high school (and because MN paid for it).

The only thing I would recommend against would be any of the Excel programs that take him out of his normal classes X days a week to do other activities. Since there's a chance he'll miss classes due to CF - you don't want him to miss extra class time for Excel.
 
M

miesl

New member
As a former smart cookie child... Don't hold him back.

I was right at the cut off (September baby), and I was always the youngest in my class. Admittedly, I didn't have CF to deal with... but I loved learning and hated having to wait for the kids who didn't get it. I was always in the "smart" classes.

It would have been pure torture to have been held back due to my age. It was hard enough not being able to go at the pace I wanted. I started college at 16 because I was bored out of my mind in jr high and high school (and because MN paid for it).

The only thing I would recommend against would be any of the Excel programs that take him out of his normal classes X days a week to do other activities. Since there's a chance he'll miss classes due to CF - you don't want him to miss extra class time for Excel.
 
M

miesl

New member
As a former smart cookie child... Don't hold him back.
<br />
<br />I was right at the cut off (September baby), and I was always the youngest in my class. Admittedly, I didn't have CF to deal with... but I loved learning and hated having to wait for the kids who didn't get it. I was always in the "smart" classes.
<br />
<br />It would have been pure torture to have been held back due to my age. It was hard enough not being able to go at the pace I wanted. I started college at 16 because I was bored out of my mind in jr high and high school (and because MN paid for it).
<br />
<br />The only thing I would recommend against would be any of the Excel programs that take him out of his normal classes X days a week to do other activities. Since there's a chance he'll miss classes due to CF - you don't want him to miss extra class time for Excel.
 
J

juls

Guest
Just wanted to say I agree with everyone else. It sounds like he is ready. My oldest is a June baby (end of June actually) and he started K. when he was 5. He is just finishing 1st grade and is doing great. I have a late birthday (November) so I was only 4 1/2 when I started Kindergarten. The only time it bothered me being younger was when all my friends started driving and I had to wait!

Here in CA the cut off for starting Kindergarten is not until Dec. 2nd! So we have many kids that start Kindergarten when they are only 4. When I taught at a year round school we started a new school year right after the 4th of July, so we had some kids that were 4 for almost half of the year! Many were definitely not ready and struggled. I wish that CA would push back the cut off date to September. With all the pressures of NCLB and standardized testing it would be better for everyone!
 
J

juls

Guest
Just wanted to say I agree with everyone else. It sounds like he is ready. My oldest is a June baby (end of June actually) and he started K. when he was 5. He is just finishing 1st grade and is doing great. I have a late birthday (November) so I was only 4 1/2 when I started Kindergarten. The only time it bothered me being younger was when all my friends started driving and I had to wait!

Here in CA the cut off for starting Kindergarten is not until Dec. 2nd! So we have many kids that start Kindergarten when they are only 4. When I taught at a year round school we started a new school year right after the 4th of July, so we had some kids that were 4 for almost half of the year! Many were definitely not ready and struggled. I wish that CA would push back the cut off date to September. With all the pressures of NCLB and standardized testing it would be better for everyone!
 
J

juls

Guest
Just wanted to say I agree with everyone else. It sounds like he is ready. My oldest is a June baby (end of June actually) and he started K. when he was 5. He is just finishing 1st grade and is doing great. I have a late birthday (November) so I was only 4 1/2 when I started Kindergarten. The only time it bothered me being younger was when all my friends started driving and I had to wait!

Here in CA the cut off for starting Kindergarten is not until Dec. 2nd! So we have many kids that start Kindergarten when they are only 4. When I taught at a year round school we started a new school year right after the 4th of July, so we had some kids that were 4 for almost half of the year! Many were definitely not ready and struggled. I wish that CA would push back the cut off date to September. With all the pressures of NCLB and standardized testing it would be better for everyone!
 
J

juls

Guest
Just wanted to say I agree with everyone else. It sounds like he is ready. My oldest is a June baby (end of June actually) and he started K. when he was 5. He is just finishing 1st grade and is doing great. I have a late birthday (November) so I was only 4 1/2 when I started Kindergarten. The only time it bothered me being younger was when all my friends started driving and I had to wait!

Here in CA the cut off for starting Kindergarten is not until Dec. 2nd! So we have many kids that start Kindergarten when they are only 4. When I taught at a year round school we started a new school year right after the 4th of July, so we had some kids that were 4 for almost half of the year! Many were definitely not ready and struggled. I wish that CA would push back the cut off date to September. With all the pressures of NCLB and standardized testing it would be better for everyone!
 
J

juls

Guest
Just wanted to say I agree with everyone else. It sounds like he is ready. My oldest is a June baby (end of June actually) and he started K. when he was 5. He is just finishing 1st grade and is doing great. I have a late birthday (November) so I was only 4 1/2 when I started Kindergarten. The only time it bothered me being younger was when all my friends started driving and I had to wait!
<br />
<br />Here in CA the cut off for starting Kindergarten is not until Dec. 2nd! So we have many kids that start Kindergarten when they are only 4. When I taught at a year round school we started a new school year right after the 4th of July, so we had some kids that were 4 for almost half of the year! Many were definitely not ready and struggled. I wish that CA would push back the cut off date to September. With all the pressures of NCLB and standardized testing it would be better for everyone!
 
T

tara

New member
I'm in California and the cutoff (for now) is still December 2. I plan to send my twins (no CF) next year, fall 2009 to kindergarten. They will be 4 for the first few weeks of class, as they are October babies.

Socially and academically right now they are keeping up with all their 3 year old peers (some are now 4) in Preschool. I debated on holding them back as well, but the preschool teachers (so far) say there seems to be no need to hold them back. I'm going to have to ask them again in the fall, before I register them for the 2009 Kindergarten class.

Just thought I'd let you know, you're not alone.
 
T

tara

New member
I'm in California and the cutoff (for now) is still December 2. I plan to send my twins (no CF) next year, fall 2009 to kindergarten. They will be 4 for the first few weeks of class, as they are October babies.

Socially and academically right now they are keeping up with all their 3 year old peers (some are now 4) in Preschool. I debated on holding them back as well, but the preschool teachers (so far) say there seems to be no need to hold them back. I'm going to have to ask them again in the fall, before I register them for the 2009 Kindergarten class.

Just thought I'd let you know, you're not alone.
 
T

tara

New member
I'm in California and the cutoff (for now) is still December 2. I plan to send my twins (no CF) next year, fall 2009 to kindergarten. They will be 4 for the first few weeks of class, as they are October babies.

Socially and academically right now they are keeping up with all their 3 year old peers (some are now 4) in Preschool. I debated on holding them back as well, but the preschool teachers (so far) say there seems to be no need to hold them back. I'm going to have to ask them again in the fall, before I register them for the 2009 Kindergarten class.

Just thought I'd let you know, you're not alone.
 
T

tara

New member
I'm in California and the cutoff (for now) is still December 2. I plan to send my twins (no CF) next year, fall 2009 to kindergarten. They will be 4 for the first few weeks of class, as they are October babies.

Socially and academically right now they are keeping up with all their 3 year old peers (some are now 4) in Preschool. I debated on holding them back as well, but the preschool teachers (so far) say there seems to be no need to hold them back. I'm going to have to ask them again in the fall, before I register them for the 2009 Kindergarten class.

Just thought I'd let you know, you're not alone.
 
T

tara

New member
I'm in California and the cutoff (for now) is still December 2. I plan to send my twins (no CF) next year, fall 2009 to kindergarten. They will be 4 for the first few weeks of class, as they are October babies.
<br />
<br />Socially and academically right now they are keeping up with all their 3 year old peers (some are now 4) in Preschool. I debated on holding them back as well, but the preschool teachers (so far) say there seems to be no need to hold them back. I'm going to have to ask them again in the fall, before I register them for the 2009 Kindergarten class.
<br />
<br />Just thought I'd let you know, you're not alone.
<br />
 
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