I do the same thing but to me there isn't an option. Sure schools need a major overhaul but I have been saying that since my 3rd grader was born. Not sending her to preschool just to stick it to the man would have hurt not helped her.
Would it have hurt her though? I mean, sending her isn't going to hurt her, but not sending a kid doesn't necessarily hurt them. (I'm talking at 2 or 3, not 4)
I think this is kid dependent. *My* kid has really benefitted from the extra years of preschool. She might have caught up from her delays anyway but being around her peers definitely helped expedite that. If you have a typical kid that gets lots of interaction from daycare/siblings/big family/activities/whatever then just one year is probably fine. It's not a gamble I would have taken though. (And this in regards to my situation and my situation only.)
If we want to talk about the flawed education system then I can do that all day long.
Would it have hurt her though? I mean, sending her isn't going to hurt her, but not sending a kid doesn't necessarily hurt them. (I'm talking at 2 or 3, not 4)
I think this is kid dependent. *My* kid has really benefitted from the extra years of preschool. She might have caught up from her delays anyway but being around her peers definitely helped expedite that. If you have a typical kid that gets lots of interaction from daycare/siblings/big family/activities/whatever then just one year is probably fine. It's not a gamble I would have taken though. (And this in regards to my situation and my situation only.)
If we want to talk about the flawed education system then I can do that all day long.
I was posing it more philoosophocally than AG's kid specifically. I agree it's kid-dependent.
I do the same thing but to me there isn't an option. Sure schools need a major overhaul but I have been saying that since my 3rd grader was born. Not sending her to preschool just to stick it to the man would have hurt not helped her.
Would it have hurt her though? I mean, sending her isn't going to hurt her, but not sending a kid doesn't necessarily hurt them. (I'm talking at 2 or 3, not 4)
IDK maybe it would have. My kid is very in tuned with what other kids are doing. I can absolutely see her starting kinder behind her peers effecting her confidence level. Am I sure it would have no? But I am really glad I didn't take that chance. Her years of preschool didn't harm her at all. So if the choice is between something harmless and something that could have negatively effected her I will choose harmless any day.
Would it have hurt her though? I mean, sending her isn't going to hurt her, but not sending a kid doesn't necessarily hurt them. (I'm talking at 2 or 3, not 4)
IDK maybe it would have. My kid is very in tuned with what other kids are doing. I can absolutely see her starting kinder behind her peers effecting her confidence level. Am I sure it would have no? But I am really glad I didn't take that chance. Her years of preschool didn't harm her at all. So if the choice is between something harmless and something that could have negatively effected her I will choose harmless any day.
Sorry, I was really asking more philosophically, not specific to your kid. It's so dependent upon individuals, at-home life, Ei services, daycare v. SAH, yadda yadda.
I used to be the one that was all, "preschool is so dumb, one year is enough, I want half day kinder back." And while I wouldn't say I think the opposite now, what am I going to do but "play the game."
If nothing else, I cannot imagine how my daughter could have jumped from a few half days to 5 full days. She learned a ridiculous amount this year. Like, I'm still amazed. obviously, a lot of that is her, where she was, how she clicked w/ her teacher, etc.
She couldn't have done those things without being comfortable away from me, listening to other adults, moving about a school, interacting with other kids, etc. Would one year have been enough? For her, maybe. But she was almost 6 when she started kindergarten and I can't imagine her doing no preschool until she was almost 5.
DD2 is the opposite - she'll start kindergarten 2 weeks after she turns 5. While her preschool background will be equal, I don't know that she'll be able to make the same advances DD1 did since she's a full year younger, but who knows. Maybe she'll surprise me, I hope so.
Agreeing with most PPs, I sent DS to 2yo "preschool" one day a week for 2 hours. He'll go either 2 or 3 days, for 3 hrs a piece in the fall. This is more for me to get a break, but also, My kid is shy as hell. He takes a long time to adapt. I want him to be secure and confident in himself by the time he enters full day K, not petrified and feeling lost.
Post by rosesandpetals on Jul 6, 2015 23:14:51 GMT -5
DD will also go to half day kinder, 12-3 for 5 days/week. That's part of the reason I want to save her enrollment. I love their kinder program. They have a max of 14 kids in their kinder class and max of 7 kids in the 2s class.
I dont think kids "need" to go but you do need to play the game somewhat.
Post by fancynewbeesly on Jul 7, 2015 7:11:41 GMT -5
Our district just changed from a half day kindergarten to full day.
Reese will be going to pre-k next year for the first time. She will have one year. Academically, she is on par (or even ahead) of some kids. She has some good friends, and we schedule playdates with them and the differences between some of her playdates is eye opening. She has one best friend that they can disappear for hours and pretend play and take turns and share and we don't even have to check on them. And then another friend (who is older) that is still in the parallel play type stage. The parents seem to have have to initiate/direct most of the play.
To be honest? I think even socially, she could probably go right to kindergarten and not have a year a pre-k.
We did have her in an in home with two and three other kids, so she had some social experience. But to be honest? She got most of her social interaction from the hospital/doctors and learned how to deal with other kids/followed directions. Her nurses are amazed that DH and I can completely leave the hospital room, or even when she is getting her procedures and go get her food and she has no anxiety.
But she is ready and asks to go to school. I would personally love for her to be in the in home for another year--it was so convenient---she provided all breakfast/lunch/snacks--etc. It was super convenient to our house.
I have to say I think full day K gets a bad rep. I prefer full day K. It simply means they get more of the fun stuff. Around here at least. Full day means two recess, PE, Art and music.
I have to say I think full day K gets a bad rep. I prefer full day K. It simply means they get more of the fun stuff. Around here at least. Full day means two recess, PE, Art and music.
I am thrilled about full day. I didn't want to way to pay for private full day kindergarten. It made no sense for a 4 year old to go to full day pre-k to 1/2 kindergarten to full day first grade.
But I am also a teacher, and I also see my colleagues try to cram everything into 1/2 day program.
I have to say I think full day K gets a bad rep. I prefer full day K. It simply means they get more of the fun stuff. Around here at least. Full day means two recess, PE, Art and music.
I really hope so. I have no idea what it means at our school yet. I was a huge advocate for cutting half day. It was literally 2.5 hours long. I'm not sure what kids were getting out of that, but 6.5 hours seems a little long for K. I'm praying they have a lot of fun extras in the afternoon like gym, recess, art and music.
See if you can access your elementary school's website and look for teachers' sites. I was able to see the sites of all 4 of the kindergarten teachers at our school and was able to see a bit more info.
Our day is 6.5 and they have recess twice a day, gym/art/music twice a week, library, regular visits from the school psychologist, a variety of assemblies/all school events. They were lucky this year b/c they were in a temporary building adjacent to the 5-6 upper elem building so they got to walk over to see the big kids when they had choir concerts, etc. They also have a lot of time to spend in centers and other activities that involve movement in the classroom.
I still think it's a super long day but it's unlikely to change so I'm grateful that our teachers are doing a pretty good job with the time.
I really hope so. I have no idea what it means at our school yet. I was a huge advocate for cutting half day. It was literally 2.5 hours long. I'm not sure what kids were getting out of that, but 6.5 hours seems a little long for K. I'm praying they have a lot of fun extras in the afternoon like gym, recess, art and music.
See if you can access your elementary school's website and look for teachers' sites. I was able to see the sites of all 4 of the kindergarten teachers at our school and was able to see a bit more info.
Our day is 6.5 and they have recess twice a day, gym/art/music twice a week, library, regular visits from the school psychologist, a variety of assemblies/all school events. They were lucky this year b/c they were in a temporary building adjacent to the 5-6 upper elem building so they got to walk over to see the big kids when they had choir concerts, etc. They also have a lot of time to spend in centers and other activities that involve movement in the classroom.
I still think it's a super long day but it's unlikely to change so I'm grateful that our teachers are doing a pretty good job with the time.
Get me the school name and I'll find out. In most cases, full day kinder isn't all that different from full day daycare, and most daycare kids are in daycare way longer then they're in school.
And if the kid hasn't been going to daycare, it's a long day, even w/ preschool prep. Plus the bus.
Oh yes, for sure. I'm just throwing out there that it's not uncommon. And in most full day K, there is a lot of "free time" with choice play and recess 2-3x. And even if they haven't been going to daycare, kids are able to handle daycare all day, so they'll adapt, is all I meant.
I think that it cant hurt, especially in her case where the increase in opportunities to communicate with her peers will help her developmentally, ya know?
I have really wrestled with the decision, but I am going to send N two days this year. G will go MWF and I'm going to send N on M and F only. That way I can do Ws therapy and other appts on Mondays and Fridays, but still have Wednesdays to do something fun with N. She just turned 2 in April, but she seems ready and I am sure will transition easily.
Our old district had full day K. We moved a couple of months ago and this district is half day K and I have mixed feelings. DS has had 2 years of preschool so I'm not worried about him adapting to a classroom and the hours are roughly the same as in preschool.
But I worry that he's got an awful lot to learn in those 3 hours. On the other hand, he comes home from preschool so exhausted that maybe 1/2 day K is a good transition to full day school. He'll do a lot more academics and less playing so maybe it will be better to have half days while he adjusts to school. His preschool was play based and I'm fairly sure there's going to be very little playing in K. But I could be wrong.
He does NOT do well with change at all. After we moved he cried every day for a week to go back to our old house. And we only moved like 15 minutes away.
So I think adjusting to the demands of the academics of elementary school while maintaining the same hours he's used to might be better for him than going straight to full time high pressure academics.
Honestly, homeschooling gets a bad rap as a bunch of bible thumping agrophobes, but I see the appeal because this is all such bullshit. Not the appeal in actually doing it myself, but if you had a great co-op. I get it. We have this place around here, and I completely get the appeal of how combined with a decent co-op you have a better experience.
I have to say I think full day K gets a bad rep. I prefer full day K. It simply means they get more of the fun stuff. Around here at least. Full day means two recess, PE, Art and music.
yeah, but they can do the fun stuff at home. Plus, here there isn't more fun stuff in the afternoon. But our local public is crap.
I've taught elementary school. It is literally half a class. 14 kids. Much less cramming with such a small group.
I have to say I think full day K gets a bad rep. I prefer full day K. It simply means they get more of the fun stuff. Around here at least. Full day means two recess, PE, Art and music.
yeah, but they can do the fun stuff at home. Plus, here there isn't more fun stuff in the afternoon. But our local public is crap.
I've taught elementary school. It is literally half a class. 14 kids. Much less cramming with such a small group.
Trust me I am not teaching composers and famous artist at home nor do I have the materials or knowledge to do so. The kids who go half day in another district get all the academics and no fun. My kids love doing PE, recess etc with their friends. They find it more fun to play soccer with their peers than me at home imagine that.
I have to say I think full day K gets a bad rep. I prefer full day K. It simply means they get more of the fun stuff. Around here at least. Full day means two recess, PE, Art and music.
yeah, but they can do the fun stuff at home. Plus, here there isn't more fun stuff in the afternoon. But our local public is crap.
I've taught elementary school. It is literally half a class. 14 kids. Much less cramming with such a small group.
Honestly, homeschooling gets a bad rap as a bunch of bible thumping agrophobes, but I see the appeal because this is all such bullshit. Not the appeal in actually doing it myself, but if you had a great co-op. I get it. We have this place around here, and I completely get the appeal of how combined with a decent co-op you have a better experience.
yeah, but they can do the fun stuff at home. Plus, here there isn't more fun stuff in the afternoon. But our local public is crap.
I've taught elementary school. It is literally half a class. 14 kids. Much less cramming with such a small group.
Trust me I am not teaching composers and famous artist at home nor do I have the materials or knowledge to do so. The kids who go half day in another district get all the academics and no fun. My kids love doing PE, recess etc with their friends. They find it more fun to play soccer with their peers than me at home imagine that.
I meant music lessons, gymnastics class, that sort of thing. I couldn't teach how to play an instrument either.
auroraloo of course not everyone can and affordable child care is also an issue. But for people who can (and want to) do that stuff privately, I don't think half day kinder will hinder them at all. And worst case scenario, it is only one year.
Just ftr, I think full day kinder is good policy for public schools. But I think half day can be beneficial too if it is supplemented with other activities.
Honestly, homeschooling gets a bad rap as a bunch of bible thumping agrophobes, but I see the appeal because this is all such bullshit. Not the appeal in actually doing it myself, but if you had a great co-op. I get it. We have this place around here, and I completely get the appeal of how combined with a decent co-op you have a better experience.
I would 100 times do this over enroll my kid in a Philadelphia public school at this point. Like hands down not even a question, sans maybe 2-3 elementary schools if I investigated further, and was able to move into their encatchment (and was assured they wouldn't be over-enrolled and my kid would get turfed to another school anyway).
We're moving so its a non issue, but I just can't flat out shrug off a robust, supplemented HS option (if it exists) when all of your other options are shitty.
Also UO, I give zero shits if we end up in a district with 1/2 or full day kindy. The districts are good, everyone is doing fine, children aren't dying or dropping out due to burn out at age 8. IDK -- the "best" districts around here seem to have half day (not that I think there is a correlation, its just the way it is at the two we would likely end up in), and the kids seem to get more than enough fun stuff, either through extended hours dictated by childcare needs, or through the 846389073589026 enrichment programs around. Or like, just playing with their friends.
The driving factor for full day kindy around here seems to be as an alternative to child care, and there just isn't the parental demand in some of the districts.
I think if you are a large socioeconomically diverse district, you have to provide full day anymore. It's just good public policy. There was a need and demand for it in Philadelphia.
The same doesn't hold true for lots of the surrounding burbs.
I think if you are a large socioeconomically diverse district, you have to provide full day anymore. It's just good public policy. There was a need and demand for it in Philadelphia.
The same doesn't hold true for lots of the surrounding burbs.
Honestly here it has less to to with social diversity and more to do with numbers. My kids schools are remarkably small (18 in DDs second grade class) so full day kinder is an option for schools that are overcrowded or even beyond capacity half day makes more sense because you serve twice as many kids with the same number of teachers.
I would 100 times do this over enroll my kid in a Philadelphia public school at this point. Like hands down not even a question, sans maybe 2-3 elementary schools if I investigated further, and was able to move into their encatchment (and was assured they wouldn't be over-enrolled and my kid would get turfed to another school anyway).
We're moving so its a non issue, but I just can't flat out shrug off a robust, supplemented HS option (if it exists) when all of your other options are shitty.
Also UO, I give zero shits if we end up in a district with 1/2 or full day kindy. The districts are good, everyone is doing fine, children aren't dying or dropping out due to burn out at age 8. IDK -- the "best" districts around here seem to have half day (not that I think there is a correlation, its just the way it is at the two we would likely end up in), and the kids seem to get more than enough fun stuff, either through extended hours dictated by childcare needs, or through the 846389073589026 enrichment programs around. Or like, just playing with their friends.
The driving factor for full day kindy around here seems to be as an alternative to child care, and there just isn't the parental demand in some of the districts.
If we hadn't been able to make a last minute move to a better district we were 99% sure we were going to join a homeschool co op type thing for kinder and I never would've thought I would attempt homeschooling.
Would I do it my kids entire school Career? Highly unlikely. Would I do it until we figured out a school situation? Absolutely
I think if you are a large socioeconomically diverse district, you have to provide full day anymore. It's just good public policy. There was a need and demand for it in Philadelphia.
The same doesn't hold true for lots of the surrounding burbs.
Honestly here it has less to to with social diversity and more to do with numbers. My kids schools are remarkably small (18 in DDs second grade class) so full day kinder is an option for schools that are overcrowded or even beyond capacity half day makes more sense because you serve twice as many kids with the same number of teachers.
18?! That sounds amazing. Even the privates here have 28.
I wish there were more secular private schools. There's only one here.
Honestly here it has less to to with social diversity and more to do with numbers. My kids schools are remarkably small (18 in DDs second grade class) so full day kinder is an option for schools that are overcrowded or even beyond capacity half day makes more sense because you serve twice as many kids with the same number of teachers.
18?! That sounds amazing. Even the privates here have 28.
I wish there were more secular private schools. There's only one here.
Our district is one of the fastest growing in the state but they are amazing at planning bond issues ahead! We will open a new highschool next year with an average of 22 per class. It is one of the reasons I chose it.
18?! That sounds amazing. Even the privates here have 28.
I wish there were more secular private schools. There's only one here.
Our district is one of the fastest growing in the state but they are amazing at planning bond issues ahead! We will open a new highschool next year with an average of 22 per class. It is one of the reasons I chose it.
22 in HS?? I'm in shock if that's the case. I average 26 at the middle school level, but I've had classes up to 45 and as low as 12...guess what that averages?
andrewsgal, I know we've discussed before, your school situation is far from the norm and I am amazed. You are very lucky.