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I am going to drive myself crazy.
With today being Sammy's 4th birthday it's really got me thinking about kindergarten. I know he's a smart cookie... he's always been verbally advanced and very social. But I worry he won't apply himself.
I really want to get him enrolled in kindergarten for next year, and then I realized that AW does kindergarten screening (I'm assuming this is standard everywhere)... and now I feel all neurotic about whether or not he's going to be ready by the time testing rolls around next spring. I'm worried that I haven't taught him enough and I know I'll blame myself if he doesn't make it into school next summer. (I'd really, REALLY like him to be in school next year cause if I hold him back until he's 6, Mer and him will only be a year apart in school and I want a bit more distance between them)
What skills do they look for when enrolling your kid in kindergarten? I know we have some K teachers around here, right?
Re: I am going to drive myself crazy.
It is very possible with his b-day being in late August he may not qualify for Kindergarten next year but you'd probably have to call AW and find out, maybe you already did. An acquantance/friend of mine has a daughter whose b-day is in July and she didn't make the cut off for Sylvania. So apparantely in Sylvania you have to be born before a certain day in July to qualify. She told me if you want to push for your child to go they have to go through a bit of psychological testing to make sure they are ready.
When I went to school (Sylvania) I made the cut off by a week (back then it was a September cut off) and my mom chose to hold me back one year, she said it was the best decision she could have made. She didn't think a 4 year old just turning 5 was quite mature enough or ready. I'm sure everyone has their opinions. But don't feel bad if he is kept out until he is 6. Boys are typically behind girls anyways.
Jill, AW's policy is 5 by Sept. 30, and he'll be 5 just as the school year starts. I know he'll qualify for age, but I worry about the testing.
I just want as much space between Sammy and Mer in school as I can have... I'd like them to be 2 years apart so I'm not having to deal with 2 first day of schools in a row, and 2 graduations within a year of each other, lol.
I have a mid-October birthday and my parents did the testing to put me into school early (when I was 4, almost 5). I am SO glad they did.
Don't stress about the testing, Sammy is definitely a smart, sweet, social kid, and I'm sure he'll do just fine!!!!
As for the testing though, I believe that they cover gross motor skills - hop on one foot, catch a ball, etc. as well as fine motor skills - building something from blocks, drawing a certain picture, tying shoes etc. Plus basics like counting, abc's, colors, etc. I believe they also do stuff like rhyming words and fill in the blank, plus maybe knowing your phone number and address and stuff?
I should know this a little better since my mom is essentially a "kindergarten prep" teacher, but I can't remember all of it, haha.
You should just send him to my mom this fall. She would be sooo happy to see him, and you'd be sure that he is learning everything he needs to know, lol.
My little sister's birthday is Aug 7 and the Liberty Benton school system's cut off is July 31. They would NOT let her in. My mom took her to the testing and she failed (I don't recall what was on it - maybe some light reading, numbers, etc.). So my mom sent her to a private school for one year and then to public school for first grade.
Merin, I thought about that. How much is their preschool program?
I really want to put him into preschool this year... but it's $$$ from what I've seen. If I can find one that's SUPER reasonable I may be able to wing it, but finances already get kind of tight in the winter and I don't want to put any more strain on them than need be.
Check when their cut-off date is. It may not even be an option. I know I was stressing on when to put B, but our cut off date is September 1st...so she barely misses it.
As far as things we check for:
letter recognition and number recognition (being able to look at a number or letter and say that is a 5 or that is the letter 8).
Count to 10 or 20
Counts objects (maybe to 5 or 10)
Recognize shapes
know colors
Rhyming
Trace and draw lines, shapes, some numbers and letters even.
cuts with scissors
Beginning letter sounds (this isn't majorly stressed as they aren't accepted to know it but it would be a major plus).
Follows directions
Can work indeptendently
Can sit for a short story
Here is some of the things we look for.....A child may not know all, but should know alot of this to be fully ready for kindergarten.
Let me know if you have any questions. Taught K and I also always help with our district K registration where we do the testing for the kids coming in to K.
PM ~ I'm going to FB message you in a min.
MC ~ Since you teach are you going to put B in preschool? Will she go in 2 years also or the year after?
We will send her for sure. Probably not until next year or maybe even the following, kind of depends on what I am doing. If I am subbing where I can have "school" here a couple days a week I will wait and only send her to 1 year of preschool. If I am teaching next year, then I probably will send her to preschool for 2 years, bc she won't get that at the sitters. I think its important, even just for the social aspect of it, for her to be in preschool.