My child has to repeat kindergarten?

Question

i think it would more benificial to my daughter if she repeated kindergarten. how do i explain that to her. she just got glasses this year and it is like she skipped preschool and most of this year. she just learned her alphabet and numbers. she thinks im being mean and starts crying. any suggestions?

Answer 1

Repeating the year may bring more negative effects then you imagine. Your daughter will be older then other children and this may contribute to a regression in behavior. Try improve cognitive skills at home and join a children's art class to promote social development. Invite friends to bring their children to play, paint, work with clay and board games; she'll learn to understand that school is a factor in other child's life too. Encourage friendships with children who will start school with her, having a friend can make all the difference. Friendship by proximity will fade to more widespread confidence and hopefully a happy transition to school. best of luck

Answer 2

I'm not sure how to explain it to her.  She's only 5 (ish).  Just know that you're doing the right thing.  She won't always feel like she's behind all throughout school.  She just needs a little more time in kindergarten to learn the basics.  good luck.

Answer 3

How does the school feel?  Most children only repeat kindergarten because they are not socially ready to move on.  The first part of first grade they refresh on the kinder garten skills.  I would check with the school before making any rash decisions.   Remember, you want her to like school and feel proud of herself.

Answer 4

explain to her that kindergarden is the basis and that now that she has her glasses she will be ahead of everyone else in kindergarden and she can help them out.

Answer 5

Try a lot of extra work this summer. Work with her at home and see how she progresses. When it is closer to the next school year reevaluate things. It doesn't seem that she is behind for a kindergartener. First grade does cover basic principals. Try it and see, and don't mention it to her agian until the end of summer when you see how she is progressing.

Answer 6

Remind her of all the fun times she had in kindergarten and gets to do again. Tell her that she will be very helpful to the other new kindergarteners because she will already know how to act in kindergarten. That they will need her to help them.

Answer 7

As a teacher who has taught kindergarten and first grade, I feel that although it is important for your child to have shown progression during their early years of education they should in no way be expected to have specific skills such as 'reading beginner books' and adding and subtracting.  

All children are likely to have been considered in some kind of transition document/information sharing process between kindergarten and first grade, and I feel it would be wholly inapproriate as a teacher to make any assumptions about children's knowledge as they enter a new year in their learning without considering this.  

Any experienced professional would not have expectations such as being able to write a full sentence, read stories or add and subtract; they would know that every child is an individual and will develop at their own pace.  The first grade teacher's role would be to build upon what each child already knows and scaffold their learning as appropriate; any good teacher would revisit phonics and numeracy as much as is needed in order to further children's learning.  When she is ready for more then she'll be ready for more!  A teacher who expects all children to be attaining at an expected standard on entry into a new year, and feels that all other children should repeat a year, are showing no knowledge of differentiation, formative assessment or early years curriculums!  If your daughter has missed some of the year, along with recently acquiring glasses this has probably had an effect on her development but it's not the be all and end all; have you discussed her development with her kindergarten teacher?  I think this is something you could consider before making any decisions; if her personal social and emotional development is coming together well, I don't think you should worry too much about the rest because it all comes in time, and if her poor eyesight may have effected her learning the rest will probably come very quickly.  Remember that other areas around the world would not even consider children as young as four to be in school/formal educational setting, let alone achieving some of the unrealistic expectations mentioned on this page - and the results they get are all the better for it.  I would also suggest not pushing learning over the summer; remember that learning should be fun at any age and if you want to engage in activities with your daughter make them short and fun (eg writing in baby lotion, paint, sand, ketchup) and subtle (counting fruit as we put it into the bowl etc)  If you want any other ideas just let me know!  You might also find this site really useful for activity ideas that are linked to different stages and areas of your child's development, it's the early years curriculum for the UK and it's fantastic!

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/eyfs/

If the school has systems in place for your daughter's speech and language then obviously they are aware of the need to support her in this; have they suggested to you that she repeats a year or is this a decision you have come to?  I would expect some children to need extra support with their learning, that's just the way things go sometimes, but it doesn't mean that repeating a year is necessary.  Also, think about your knowledge of her classmates, are you sure that every single child is achieving what you think they are?  I have a number of children requiring extra support for a variety of reasons and there are many more across the school.  Remember you are not alone in this and your daughter is not the only child to need support:  speak to the school to find out what their take is on the situation.

Play dates can be quite intimidating at that age, again there are many children in my class who aren't ready for that yet; how does she get on socially in school?

Also, if the school are providing appropriate support (and they should be) then she won't be struggling, she'll just be working at a level more suitable for her in certain aspects of her learning.  Hope all goes well for you in trying to resolve this.

Answer 8

As a teacher who has taught kindergarten and first grade, it is very important that your child knows the essential kindergarten skills before moving them up to first grade.  In first grade, it is assumed you child is already reading beginner books and can add and subtract. Your child should also be able to write a full sentence.  If your child is reading short stories and adding and subtracting then allow her to go on to first grade.  If she only know her letters and numbers then let her stay in kindergarten.  In first grade, letters and numbers may be reviewed for only the first two weeks, but then they focus on reading more elaborate books.

If I was you I would tell your child that they are going to do some of the same fun things all over again.  Remind her of those fun activities and toys she loves.

I would still work with her all summer so she will be in the high reading and math groups when she enters kindergarten.

There is no huge deal if she graduates from college at 22 or 23.  She still has her whole life in front of her...:)>.