Options for Kindergarten – Part Three: Kindergarten Twice
Posted on 23. Jun, 2009 by KB in Posts
Part Three – Kindergarten Twice
When Your Child Isn’t Ready
Michelle Marom, a parent of 6 year old twins, came face to face with the issue of her children possibly repeating Kindergarten last year. Her twins have a late August birthday and their teacher recommended that one of the twins be held back because he was not ready socially or developmentally for first grade. Her daughter could have gone ahead but the teacher acknowledged first grade might be a bit of a challenge for her as well. When the decision was made for her son, Michelle decided that her daughter should repeat Kindergarten also. She thought it would be a beneficial growth experience for the twins.
Michelle had some thoughtful advice for parents in this situation. “I feel it is important not to react defensively when being told by teachers or other school heads that it may be necessary to have your child repeat. I think that is the initial reaction for most parents. They feel protective of their kids or want them to succeed and they may feel that by repeating a grade their child is not successful. There are other emotions a parent has about a child staying back but it’s important to be able to hear what the school has to say in detail, discuss the child’s assessments and evaluations, and put all the concerns on the table. So again, I think parents have to put their own ‘stuff’ to the side and really think about what would be most helpful and growth-producing for their child.” I believe that is sound advice for parents. Michelle’s twins ended up having a positive year in Kindergarten the second time around and she felt the extra year gave them the time they needed to mature and grow as children and learners. She was happy that everything fell into place for them the second time around.
Transitioning From a Non-Traditional to Traditional Setting
One diversion from a more traditional Kindergarten setting would be the Montessori Method. Dr. Maria Montessori believed in a child-centered curriculum characterized by self-directed activity, on the part of the child, and observation and guidance, on the part of the teacher. Classrooms are made up of mixed-age groups and the “preschool” years are from age 3 to age 6 with the third year being the “Kindergarten” year. The younger children can learn and are guided by the older children and the older children learn mentorship and leadership skills by guiding the younger students.
There are no academic requirements for the Kindergarten aged child, but children are exposed to amazing amounts of knowledge and often learn to read, write and calculate beyond what is often thought usual for a child of this age. Because of this, parents are often faced with the question of whether to put their child in Kindergarten or 1st Grade if moving to a more traditional school. There are some Montessori elementary, middle and high school programs but the majority of schools end with Primary (or age 6).
After speaking with parents and educators on the subject, most suggest that, when transitioning from a Montessori setting to a more traditional setting, it’s best to repeat the Kindergarten year. This will give them time to adjust to a different teaching and learning style. The challenge is really to make sure, in the schools that you are considering, that the child will be kept academically stimulated while their emotional readiness catches up. So, even though a child may test in the gifted and talented range, and is academically ready for Kindergarten, there is the emotional side that weighs heavily in this equation. It is critical that you find a school with a program that can recognize a child’s talent but can still nurture their true age whether they are young or old for their grade. See related article Options for Kindergarten – Part Two: Redshirting for additional information on this topic.
We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts and experiences regarding the topics written here about Kindergarten. Please feel free to leave a comment.
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jayme
11. Jul, 2009
Great blog with wonderful content. I am new to the school scene and looking for pre-school options. Any suggestions? The whole process seems totally overwhelming! Thanks!
kerribarclay
12. Jul, 2009
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment! Jenn and I are both on vacation but we are hoping to have a lot more content next month on the blog. We are also focusing on “getting the word out” to parents of preschoolers because our focus is on elementary schools! In re: to your question, there are many great preschools to pick from in Denver. Not sure what neighborhood you are in and how far you are willing to drive? My advice to you is to do a google search on “preschools in the Denver area.” There are some great Montessori programs to choose from as well as more traditional programs. There are some preschools that are driven by parent cooperatives so you must be willing to give a lot of your time to assist in the classroom and on committees! Some schools offer only half-day programs, others only full-day. and some both. It is overwhelming! If you want some names of preschools in the area and more specifics, email us directly (see “about the scoop two”) and we’d be happy to try to help you out! Thanks.