Kid starting Kindergarten - how to approach teacher?

Question

My 5 yr old is starting Kindergarten at our public school in Aug. She can read chapter books, write stories with 15 sentences, add 23 + 8 .. subtract 17-9, knows about science(water cycle, butterflies,seasons), social studies (map, globe, USA, east/west coast, world, solar system..), plays well, shares, socializes, participates.

I don't think she is gifted, just ahead, smart and got the right start. I don't want her to skip Kindergarten. The teacher she will have is affectionate, warm but not much into challenging kids who are ahead.

Question is: What can Kindergarten teachers do to keep such kids interested? What can I ask the teacher to have my kid do?

I am hoping if I have specific request/suggestions, she might be able to try some of them.

I do realize the teacher has 20 students, and that my kid will learn valuable social and "following rules" skills. But, what specific things can I request of the teacher and how to phrase them?

Answer 1

If there is an AIG (academically and itellecually gifted) program at your school she can go into that. just ask her teacher about it. it is called different things so ask her teacher about a program for gifted kids. it allows kids to stay in a class with kids who are at a lower level than them but a couple times a week she'll go with kids who are at there level into a  class with an AIG teacher. hope ive helped : )

Answer 2

It is nearly impossible for public school teachers to give their students the customized education they need/deserve.  They do their best with what they have.

Honestly, I would imagine (based on teachers I know, and parents that have been in situations similar to yours) the teacher is only going to view you as a pushy mother...they generally (not all teachers) feel that EVERY parent thinks their child is smart/ahead/etc. and pretty much dismiss the notion that the parent presents.

Have you considered homeschooling your daughter?  My oldest daughter was very similar to yours when she was Kindergarten age.  It is part of the reason we decided to homeschool-she would have been bored in the school setting.  She can still learn to follow rules and socialize with other children by going to playgroups, joining Scouts or another activity, etc.  You can also get together with other homeschoolers in your area.

If you do not want to homeschool, then I would just have a friendly chat with the teacher for the first conversation and tell her some of your concerns and ask if/how she can/will address them.  After you determine how she is going to take it, then you can create a list.  Just knwo that she might not be able to accomodate your daughter.

You can always do what they call "after schooling", which is where a parent essentially homeschools a child after school.  In the upper grades I think that can be too much on a child, but at the Kindergarten age it can probably be done without causing y our daughter much stress.

I wish you the best!

Answer 3

You cant write a teachers curriculum for them unless you pay for 1 on 1 tutoring. Your child will know some of the stuff she teaches already and will learn a lot, other kids will know things your child doesn't and lack skill in things your child excels in that's the education system it will never be perfect.

Answer 4

I would just go in and tell her my concerns.  My daughter is the same way and we have chose to homeschool her.  I think the teacher will understand and can help figure out the right fit for your daughter.  God Bless and Good Job Momma!

Answer 5

Just say what you just said! Your caveats will help a lot (teachers will tune out if you start talking about "boredom" or "giftedness," but should listen if you're talking about specifics.)  You can ask whether there will be books in the classroom at the right reading level for free-reading time, for example.

I had exactly the same issues with two of my kids.  They had a wonderfully gifted kindergarten teacher who put them in reading groups with other kids reading chapter books and differentiated other parts of the curriculum to keep them challenged (made sure they were writing paragraphs rather than single words, had my son calculating the odds of rolling a 6 with two dice while the other kids were counting the dots, etc.).  

We've also had some years with teachers who were "not much into challenging kids who are ahead," which in my view is a shame because 30 hours a week for a year is a really long time to be sitting listening to stuff you've known for a year.  The year my daughter had a teacher who didn't differentiate instruction at all is the year she decided school was boring.  (Fortunately she had a great teacher the year after who challenged her a lot).  I've come to the conclusion that there's not a tremendous amount you can do if the teacher's philosophy is really opposed to differentiating instruction, but you can consider discussing what teacher your child gets placed with the principal next year (when academics get more serious anyway ... kindergarten is still mostly playing and social skills).

Answer 6

Umm...give it a few weeks and see how your daughter does in kindergarten then ask the teacher if she -- in her unbiased opinion-- thinks your daughter is ``ahead.`` As moms we have a tendency to exaggerate our children`s gifts. I was lucky that my daughter lived up to the picture in my mind and is the smartest kid in her school but not every one is that way.

If after that you think your daughter is well ahead of the class -- that is the time to approach the teacher about ways to challenge your daughter. And if the teacher is unhelpful go to the principal. Could your daughter go to reading group in the first grade room? Work with a classroom aide or volunteer to make a movie about school for incoming kindergarteners and new students? Be tested for gifted education?  Work with other advanced students to write a book or story while others are getting help with alphabet etc.?

The best thing would probably be for the teacher to put your daughter along with all the others in her class who are on her level in a high reading group with more challenging material and they can be given enrichment activities to do during the other kids` reading groups.

Good luck -- and as I said it may be that there are several kindergarteners on your daughter`s level and they can all be given enrichment activities.