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I'm hoping for some advice from teachers (and anyone honestly) on what to do with our daughter next year.
A bit of background. E turned 5 Sept 15, our kindergarten cut off is Sept 1, so she is not technically in kindy. She is in a Montessori school that goes through kindergarten, she is working with the other 5yr olds, most of whom will be going to first grade next year.
E's teacher has offered to call the elementary Montessori school (which we are regardless planning to send E to) and ask that they admit E early into first grade.
E is reading but not chapter books or anything, kids books and sounds out about half the words she reads still. She is learning basic addition and knows numbers to 100. She only recently was able to remember our phone number and still gets confused between things like city and country, state and continent etc.
Her teacher and my mom (who is a teacher) feel that she's ready for 1st grade (or will be by Fall), but I can't help but feel like another year in Kindergarten couldn't hurt. I would rather have her work at the top of her class than struggle...kwim?
So what's your advice? Is it worth mentioning also that E is very tall? at the 95% for height, she is about the size of an average 7yr old right now.
Thanks for your help!
ETA: I'm asking these questions now because applications will be due in January
I'm with you. Kindergarten couldn't hurt. It will give her an advantage all through school. She'll be more mature, and better able to handle more advanced concepts to come. Also the great thing about Montessori schools is that children get to work at their own pace. I wouldn't push her.
That is a tough call. How is she socially with the other 5 year olds? Does she have a lot of friends? Is she able to get through the day without meltdowns? How is she transitioning from one task to the next? Does she like school? Is 1st grade Montessori or traditional?
Size I wouldn't worry too much about-either the other kids are going to catch up or she is just going to get used to being the tallest girl in the class, there isn't anything you can really do about that.
There is a lot more to school than grades. She sounds on track for an average kindergartner.
Thanks golfgal, she does have a lot of friends, hasn't had a meltdown in ages and transitions fine, she loves school. I worry more that she isn't going to academically be able to keep up in a somewhat competitive environment, there are other 5yr olds in her class learning multiplication...geesh, when did kindergarten become third grade!
You might as well go ahead and apply for the first grade at the other school and see how the process goes. You can always defer her admission for a year. That will buy you a little more time to see how she compares later in the year.
It's hard to make a comment without knowing your child.
In our district, we tend to not have students skip a grade. Social/emotional development is a paramount component of the whole picture.
How will she feel about leaving her friends behind in a younger class? What does SHE think about this idea?
5 years old in preschool learning multiplication? I imagine that is more along the line of 6 rows of eggs, 2 in each row type of hands-on stuff. Anyway, I hope so!
From what you describe she doesn't sound like she's academically ready for 1st grade. I'm in an academically competitive area though. Based on her skills, she sounds like a child who is currently in PK4.
I'd say wait until the end of this school year and reassess where she is. So much happens in a 6 month time frame at this age that by the end of the year it may be a completely different story than it is right now.
There are so many things to consider...her individual levels of academic success, social abilities, physical accomplishments, maturity level and self confidence, just to name a few. So some things to ask yourself when the end of this school year arrives are:
Is she at the same general level academically as the others in her K class, or ahead of them, particularly in reading and math?
Is she comfortable socially with the peers she is with now or does she tend to mother/boss/lead them?
Does she hold her own or dominate in physical activities outside and is she adequate or advanced in things like writing and using scissors?
Is she able to handle changes, transitions, misbehavior and the daily schedule easily without tears, misbehavior on her part and napping after school?
Does she show self confidence when faced with new challenges of any level or is she looking for reassurance, assistance or close guidance?
As you can see, age is just one factor to consider.
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