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Deesandy
Member
08-12-2003
| Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 1:33 pm
Hello, I noticed a thread where someone was asking for advice from teachers about their child's class project. I often have teacher related questions and hope that someone out there will be able to share what they know! Question #1: What are the requirements for kindergarten?
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Llkoolaid
Member
08-01-2001
| Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 2:39 pm
What a great idea for a thread Deesandy, I don't have a question today but I know I will. Hilary has the best teacher in the world, just love her, she motivates those kids and they adore her. ok now I do have a question. Question#2. How do you tell a teacher that you think she is doing a wonderful job without sounding like a big suck up for your child.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 2:48 pm
Dee--they will (well at least here in IL, it may vary from state to state) screen the child in about April (for the next school year.) Typical things are: knowing colors, the alphabet, potty trained, can count to 20. Don't hold me 100% accountable on these items. I know there are more. I'll post them if I can find them, but really they will screen the child first. Oh other things you'll need: 1. You will need your child’s birth certificate. 2. You will need your child’s Social Security Card. 3. You will need your child’s immunization (shots) record. 4. Schedule an appointment for your child’s school entrance physical. 5. Find a utility bill (such as electric, gas or water bill) or your apartment lease for Proof of Residency.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 2:54 pm
LL, I asked my mom (a middle school teacher) and she says a thank you note would be fine. Say something like "Thank you for all the effort you put forth for my child." Oh and she says a $50.00 bill would be nice too!!
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 3:10 pm
Ll, I work with my dd's teacher, and so we have a "unique" relationship. We've been co teachers ten years ago, and I've always considered her a friend. Last year there was lots of discussions pertaining to having dd in a 'friend's' classroom. So they moved me out of the school! Anyway, I now volunteer at least once a week working on technology in the classroom, with an ultimate goal of making a class video yearbook. I am constantly amazed at how many phone calls she receive that are negative, and total loving how the teacher turns those conversations around to positives. (ex. "Johnny is having a great week" parent "yes, now that the boy isnt choking him at recess, I know you cant watch the children but... yada yada" "or "why isnt janie doing so well in spelling (math) arent you working with him, last year he was perfect in spelling (math whatever)...) I am always surprised as a sub how many hours a week the teachers spend on the phone reassuring a few parents... So, I will second Julie's mom thoughts. I often tell dd's teacher how I truly admire her, but I think its time to put it in writing... ALSO> I know that the Sam's Club awards a few teachers with gift certificates, and there is a Who's Who for teachers that students write why they like their teachers... so that would also be an awesome gift for a teacher, recognition for a job well done!!
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Bookworm
Member
12-18-2001
| Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 6:22 am
Question #1: This will vary from state to state and possibly from district to district. You will need to check with your local district, they may even have their requirements typed up to hand to you. In our local district their is not a screening prior to kindergarten, but in many districts there is one in place. Question #2: Teachers, like any people, want to know when they are doing a good job. Oftentimes parents will tell us what they don't like about what we are doing, but do not approach us with the positives. Just as you would get frustrated if the only time your child's teacher called was if your child did something wrong, we don't only want to hear the negative. I think a thank you card with a nice personal note would be appreciated.
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Deesandy
Member
08-12-2003
| Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 8:03 pm
New Question: What do teachers really think about children who skip a grade or start school early?
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 8:05 pm
I would guess they would not really care. As long as the kid was actually ready for whichever grade they are in. I'll ask my mom and my dad (a principal.)
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 8:09 pm
I asked my p's and they said they don't often let a kid skip a grade. They have to be tested in order to let them start kindergarten if they are not 5 by the start of the school year.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Monday, December 13, 2004 - 6:16 pm
It's not very common, but we do have some students who double up on their required classes. The couple of instances that I can think of, it was no big deal. In HS kids tend to "mix up" in classes anyway -- it's rarely just one "grade" -- so as long as the student can do the work, I couldn't care less. PS -- I was one of those kids -- and have been glad every day that I was able to start my college career a year early -- it means I'm a year closer to retirement! LOL (And retirement for me will mean working in a fun place like a book store or library -- NO PAPERS! LOL)
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Deesandy
Member
08-12-2003
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:58 am
Okay, I will cut to the chase... My daughter is going to be four years old in March. She meets all the known requirements that a kindergarten aged child would...and then some. She is spelling, writing, and doing basic math. She knows her right from her left, can draw animals and stays in the lines when she colors. She knows her telephone number, address, name of her car and full name of both parents, etc. Presently she is going to pre-school which does nothing for her academically but is wonderful for her to develop her social skills, which brings me to my concern... If we have her tested, and she is indeed qualified to start school early, what would that do to her emotionally? I am not sure she is on the same level of a five year old in that department. My other concern is that if she is ready to do more things on a higher level, the MENSA website (my husband is a member) recommends that if a child is to skip a grade that it be done before the child passes third grade or they will have a difficult time. Does anyone know anything about a situation like this?
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 8:17 am
I would call your school district and ask them.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 8:19 am
Deesandy, first, get her tested by an appropriate outside source, so you have a measure of her strengths and weaknesses. The public school system may offer these for her age level, not sure. Many private schools administer these tests for children seeking admission. (My two children were tested free at a private school.) The 'parts' of who we are mature at different speeds. I wouldn't risk nurturing the one part of her at the risk of the other parts. But the reverse is true, too. So you need to find an environment that allows for her intellectual growth. If she qualifies, I would opt for a gifted program, if your school system offers one. That way she is with her age level, yet her curiosity and intelligence won't be stifled or compromised. A lot of small children are better suited to a Montessori setting--which allows students to explore their environment in a freer way, more according to their interests. If there is no gifted program available in the public school system, then seek out a private school that does offer one. Scholarships are almost always available. Best of luck!
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 8:23 am
Barbara Walters interviewed the 10 most interesting people of 2204 and 2 of them were the Google guys. She asked something along the line of what was key to their success, and they both said they they went to Montessori preschools. My nieces go to one and they love it and it does seem great.
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Schoolmarm
Member
02-18-2001
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 9:07 am
Please remember that regulations regarding schools vary vastly from state to state. This includes starting age, skipping grades, cut off dates, testing requirements, etc. etc. etc. Skipping or repeating grades IS best done before age 10. There is a developmental stage that happens about then. There is also a HUGE shift in the amount of reading--using reading as a tool to learn other subjects instead of simply learning to read. My niece just missed the age cutoff, and in her district in South Dakota they have a special program for "at risk" students that are Kindergarten age. They select bright pre-schoolers to be the "model" students. YUP, she's a model student and is doing a little bit more academically than the average pre-school. Another tidbit from my research with child prodigies and other gifted students.....the farther your IQ is from "the average", the greater the struggles in interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. (This works for above AND below the average.) It's not all that bad that your bright child is getting good social skill training this year. They were going to skip me from 1st to 3rd grade, but my Mom didn't want to. I was really little and she didn't like the kids in the class ahead of me....lots of ruffians! LOL! Sure, I was bored in school, but really bright kids should learn how to make boring situations unboring. Montessori schools are interesting and you should check them out. I find it HIGHLY ironic that they were developed for the children in the Rome ghettos in order to give them life skills, social skills as well as a regular education. Here in the United States, lots of Montessori schools are very elite. Also very expensive, and attended by the children of the rich and famous. There are some public school districts that will have a building or two using the Montessori philosophy. Make sure that the teachers are certified. (If I had kids, I personally would not let my children be taught by an uncertified teacher no matter how talented they are. If you are THAT good, why don't you get a teaching license? Many private schools have teachers who are not licensed by the state.....just a thought here!) Gifted programs follow federal guidelines, but I have found that the states do vary how, when, and in what areas they test or identify students. Some gifted programs are excellent. Others are a waste of federal funds and simply "enrich" the curriculum in areas that all children could do. Look for specialized programs....if they are spending three weeks looking at details in carrots so that they can pull "their" carrot out of a pile....well, I would ask questions! Don't ALL students benefit from field trips? Look for personalization of programming.
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 10:25 am
I have some personal experience with this... When I was in pre-school, I asked my parents to take me out because I thought all they did at pre-school was play, and I oh-so-confidently stated that I could learn more by staying home and watching Sesame Street. They didn't, and I likely reaped important social benefits because of it... In elementary school, I was skipped two grades -- 4th and 5th. Basically, I spent my entire 3rd grade year taking classes in the 5th grade class (except homeroom), and then after that year I started 6th grade -- middle school. While it might have been the best thing for me to do academically, I can tell you that I often had a hard time of it socially at different points in middle school, high school and college. Of course, from the outside you wouldn't notice it -- I was very active in school activities, class president, etc. -- but INSIDE I felt different, and "punished" somewhat because I was so much younger than my peers and wasn't allowed to do some of the same things they were. You see, after a few years my peers became my emotional peers as well as academic peers -- but there were no allowances made for that. I was 11 when I started high school, and 15 when I graduated. I couldn't drive, wasn't allowed to date, etc. And when I started college at 16, my friends were going out and having fun, and I was too young and had to stay home. And because of the difficult time I had socially, my academics sometimes suffered -- usually whenever I started something new and had to re-adjust. For example, my grades went down when I first started middle school (having just finished 3rd grade), then again when I first started high school (most of my friends from middle school went to a different high school and I had to re-make friends), and then at first at college when the age difference was REALLY noticeable. Once I became comfortable in each of these situations, my grades were great, but it did seem to take me a while to become comfortable and at ease -- and my parents unfortunately made no allowances for the emotional part of it all -- they thought I was merely acting out, being lazy with my academics, etc. However, on the flip side, I started my career at age 19. Now, in my mid-30s, I am president of my own company, and held a vice-presidency at a very well-known national company. I have had a 15+ year career, and feel as though the head start was extremely helpful to me. Despite what I wrote above about the difficulties, I do think if I had a choice I WOULD do it all over again. But if you have a child in a similar circumstance, I would just say to try to remember how emotionally and socially difficult the decision may be for that child ... all through school. I believe those difficulties are NOT insurmountable, and would likely have been easier for me if my parents had understood a bit more. p.s. -- I agree that if a child is going to skip grades, the earlier the better. Part of my hard time was because I went from the 3rd grade to middle school -- a HUGE HUGE leap.
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Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 10:45 am
I too have some experience with skipping a grade, and I practically echo everything Yankee said (minus, of course, the success of her career! you go, girl!). I was a pre-school drop out at age four -- I would sit in a corner and do jigsaw puzzles while the other kids played, and eventually demanded to my mother that I would not be going there any more. So she enrolled me in kindergarten at age four, and after one week, the teacher suggested that they put me straight into grade one. Because my HS was set up on a semester system, we would take 2 classes a day, every day, 2 1/2 hours each, for ten weeks. Write our finals and be done with that course. Because of the way I structured my schedule, I 'technically' graduated from HS (meaning I had acquired all of the required credits) four months before my 16th birthday My parents had some reservations about it -- they were concerned about the teasing from the 'older kids', about the peer issues once the age actually became a factor -- but I have to admit that I did not even notice it until, in 12th grade, I was still 15 and couldn't drive. Some of my classmates were old enough to VOTE and I couldn't drive. And again in college, while all my friends were going out drinking, and I was 17 and not allowed in the bar (our age is 19, which most of my peers were.) As for the emotional growth involved with skipping a grade, I'd have to say that children are very much a product of their environment, and if you give them no reason to believe that they are different from the rest of the class, they won't feel it. When I was in elementary school, I was OH SO PROUD of the fact that I was turning ten while some of my peers were turning 12... because I still was doing better in school than they were. Mind you, I had a few family situations that forced me to grow up quickly. I took on the 'matriarch' role when I was 14, so for a good part of ten+ years I have been 'X going on 30', so perhaps I'm not the best case study of the emotional impact of skipping a grade. But I would not change a thing about the educational choices my parents made for me. I would have much rather had to deal with 'being younger' than I would have liked to sit bored in a classroom day in, day out. I found public school incredibly boring and unchallenging as it was, I can't imagine being forced to prolong it. Your child already has the academic skills to skip a grade, it's vital that you ensure she's got the emotional skills to go along with it. You'll make the right choice.
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Karuuna
Member
08-31-2000
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 10:56 am
Dees, it truly depends on the child, and I hope with all these reflections, it will help you find the right way for your child. One thing to remember is that even if she seems not quite ready socially/emotionally, that part usually catches up pretty quickly, especially in girls. My son certainly wasn't ready emotionally or socially at age five for kindergarten, but we started him anyway, since academically he was mre than ready. By second grade, he was at the same level as his peers in most respects. By the start of fourth grade, he was completely caught up socially/emotionally. My teachers recommended that I skip second grade (go from 1st to 3rd), but my mother wouldn't allow it, since that would have put me in the same grade as my brother. Since there were no gifted programs available, I pretty much slept thru most of my elementary and middle school education. I daydreamed in class, or did my homework instead of paying attention. The night before a test I'd skim the material and then pretty much ace the test the next day. I was bored to death. In addition, as kids do, I was picked on for being so smart, so ended up somewhat ostracized socially. In high school, I fixed the problem myself, since they finally allowed more flexibility. I took college level classes, and finished the high school program in 3 instead of 4 years. Best thing I ever did! The challenge helped me blossom, I joined clubs and gained a social life. The upshot is again, that you have to figure out what is best for your child. It depends on what your area and what her school have to offer, and what will be best for her temperament. Good luck, I know it's a tough decision!
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Graceunderfyre
Member
01-21-2004
| Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 11:57 am
Dee Want another perspective? Well I'll give it to you anyway. . . I am looking at it from the Day care aspect where we are not very academic and VERY social. Over the past 3 years of working at the YMCA, I've had 3 kids that skipped grades. One was a 2nd grader girl when I met her and she got along really well with the other gals in her class. . . she was extremely mature for her age and I often forgot how old she was. Other than the fact that she was no bigger than a mouse, you would never have guessed that she was a year younger. In fact, a lot of times she did much better than kids her age - reading, talent show stuff, drama stuff, arts & crafts - all of those things she did really well at. In her case, I think it did her well to skip 1st grade. In that school district, the kids had full day kindergarten programs so skipping into the 2nd grade was no big deal as far as schedules go because she was already used to the hours. Also, we had an unusually high number of 1st going into 2nd graders at the YCMA so she had personal relationships with at least 10 kids if not more in her new grade (I believe there were only 3 classes of 25 in that school). I also had a 4th grader that had skipped 3rd grade. Because of redistricting he got moved to my school at the same time - so he knew nobody in the 4th grade. He also knew very few in the 3rd grade since only a handful got moved over to our school. He was lucky enough to have his best friend (who remained in the 3rd grade) switch schools along with him. He didn't do so well that first year and we did a lot of work with him to learn how to deal with life. He was much better the second year he was in my program, but he always seemed to hang out with kids in the lower grades as opposed to the upper grades and the ones in the lower grades always seemed to gravitate to him. Now of course, the two kids came from different homelifes - the girl had 2 parents that were very supportive of her and the boy lived with mom and saw dad on the weekends and I think both wanted to be very involved in his life but neither one could totally do it. I def. think the home life has a lot to do with how a child feels about themself and how they are able to deal with stress in school. I also had a good friend who skipped 4th grade after homeschooling for a year or so when we were in grade school. She and I were super close and ended up in a lot of the same classes in jr high but there were always problems which when you came down to it had to do A LOT with socializing. Whether that came from homeschooling or from skipping a grade, I don't know. (BTW, no offenses to home schoolers - I have a great respect for it when it's done right)
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Llkoolaid
Member
08-01-2001
| Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 8:36 am
NEW QUESTION: What is a good gift idea for a christmas present for a teacher. I am sure that they are sick of candy.
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Graceunderfyre
Member
01-21-2004
| Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 10:11 am
llkoolaid. . . go here - the thread is a bit hidden but someone already started one for this question a few weeks back 
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Llkoolaid
Member
08-01-2001
| Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:19 am
Thanks Grace.
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:42 am
Hi Dees, another perspective if you're up for it! DS's both had IQ's tested, due to their hearing loss, which was great, because they were labeled "special needs" and most think automatically Learning Disabled - I had to fight when t he hearing impaired school dismissed them to their home district, and the home district wanted them placed in the LD classes. If not for that IQ, they would of done that! In 6th grade DS's teacher said he is "gifted" I said "I know", she thought I was being flippant, I think because she said, "NO, he truly is, I know he is not an "over achiever", he gets bored easily, and hasnt been making A's" "I again said, Yes, we had his IQ tested, but its been wasting my breath trying to get help for him... so she explains most kids are "people pleasers, or "over achievers' But few are "gifted" Fast Forward to DD, I know the signs now, and DD is reading at 3, asking very perceptive questions, loves non fiction etc... so I begin to research knowing DD has an Oct birthday, she was in a preschool class of "early 3's" and I was surprised that 8 out of 10 had October birthdays! I talked to a few teachers "off the record" about early admit to K... and they explained that most of the test is as described above, HOWEVER, part of the test is purely 'subjective', meaning,, they cant afford to let in every kid that "qualifies" in early, and that socially kids do benifet from being with their peers - (altho as stated by others, I learned from my son, I dont get to decide who thier peers are, but the school sure tries!!) So DD is now in 2nd grade, and her 2nd grade teacher has an endorsement in gifted, and she goes way beyond what most teachers do, so DD is engaged in learning, most of the time, the teacher also allows dd to regroup (read books!) which is also important part of her day!! DS's 6th grade teacher, due to the uniqueness of this school, has subbed in dd classrooms and again explains her mind to me - its like she's in a room with a bunch of 3yr olds, if I have a conversation with her, I'm always struck at the level she achieves. Also, DH skipped 2nd grade, his teacher was so frustrated with him, she put him in the hall with a math book and the next day dh had it completed, she was relieved to get dh out of her classroom!! LOL, unfortunately the next grade he skipped was 8th he went from 7th to high school, and his high school was not so accomadating in the class schedules, he suffered socially because of it - I went to a different high school, but met him anyway!! good luck!
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Schoolmarm
Member
02-18-2001
| Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 3:38 pm
Gifted kids WILL have friends in grad school. Just a thought, from one gifted kid who had to learn socialization skills from a busted marriage. I was just thinking about a couple of kids that I taught in Des Moines at a magnet school for science. One boy just never said much...I had him for several years. He just sat there and absorbed, played instruments when I asked, but never volunteered. His homeroom teachers' said he was pretty much the same. I taught a music and technology composition class through the gifted department after school to about 12 4th and 5th graders and was surprised to see him signed up, as I didn't think that he liked music very much. He was a DIFFERENT kid at that class. Quite the jabber-mouth! It was like teaching a little "college" class and the students were so inquisitive. He found a peer group in that class. I was glad that he didn't have to wait til grad school to find some real friends. Gifted kids need challenges or they get bored. Gifted kids need a social peer group (this can be tough). Gifted kids need to learn to use their time wisely (I STILL wait til the last minute to do things, cause I just KNOW that I can do it quickly!). Gifted kids need to learn to study BEFORE they go to grad school. (Dang it, I didn't even learn to practice until grad school...I probably could have been a concert artist, had I learned to practice earlier). Gifted kids need to learn how to react when something does not come easily. (Thank you, Dad, for making me play softball....I truly sucked! But I learned valuable lessons.) Gifted girls....well, parents...don't let them hide their light under a bushel for some dumb boy. OK, maybe I'm NOT the one to give advice about this. Too bad lots of boys just don't like smart girls. Nuff said. Gifted kids need to explore their interests at a depth that other kids don't need to. Give them time and resources for this. Enjoy your gifted kid! Heck, enjoy ALL your children....you are lucky enough to have them all the time. I only get them for part of the day, or for a semester. Teach your children to love life and to live to their fullest! I did part of my masters on Gifted and Talented, if anyone wants some academic books on teaching GT or designing curriculum for GT, I could send you a reading list.
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 4:32 pm
I appreciate your advice Schoolmarm. Right now how do I get my gifted strong willed child to flow with the family. She is throwing a temper tantrum, she was disrespectful to her brother, so now she is yelling at me... "no mother would ignore their daughter. You're not listening to me. Good mothers' listen" She truly is a treasure. I keep seeing Dr Phil and his fast advice, but it just is different for this family! I understand that
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