S/O Math acceleration

[nature girl]

Some background: My DD has been home schooled through last year, but we're strongly considering a trial of ps this fall. She has a September birthday, and per our school cut-off she should actually be in 2nd grade, but because this is her first ps experience, and because she has ADHD (and is behind socially) the school has agreed to put her in 1st. The issue is that I've been schooling her at the correct grade level all along, she finished RS B and some of C last year, and this summer we moved quickly through Singapore 1B, starting on 2A now.

 

I don't have a problem at all with her not learning new math next year, my main concern is the ADHD, that when she's bored she acts up. When we started 1B a couple of weeks ago, the beginning was all review, I only had her do a few of the worksheet pages and she still was rolling all over the place, unwilling to finish them. Once we got to math that was new to her she was fine and engaged for a half hour at a time, but then there was more review material, and she acted up again. So I'm worried that if most of the year is review, we may have discipline problems.

 

I asked the school last spring, and they told me that they have differentiation for reading, but not for math unless students are behind. (They use Everyday Math, but may do a trial of Go Math next year. Yuck, and yuck.) So, my question, since I have no experience with how public schools typically work...

 

Would a school ever agree to a parent providing worksheets for a child to do, to replace the worksheets given to the other students? I was thinking she could play with any games or manipulatives they might all be working with, she'd be fine with that, but when the other kids are given worksheets, maybe they'd let me provide my own for her to do? I don't want to be "that" parent, since we're just starting at this school, and it's not that I think my daughter is a special snowflake...She's just working at her actual grade level, not ahead, it's only because of where we've chosen to place her that she happens to be ahead in math. If they knew my concern was that boredom might lead to discipline issues, is there a chance they'd be willing to work with me? Or should I just let it be, and discuss it with them if and when there are issues?

Edited July 11, 2016 by Anna's Mom

[Arcadia]

I would start proceedings to get an IEP plan in place. I know three ADHD kids with IEP from 4th to 8th grade, all at the grade they would be according to birthdates.

 

Some teachers are willing to accomodate without IEP. My oldest's PS teachers did as long as his classmates parents didn't kick a fuss.

[nature girl]

Yes, they'll be scheduling an IEP meeting (may be a 504, they haven't decided yet) in September. And she'll have an aide and behavior plan in place from day 1. (Is this the type of thing I could ask them to include in an IEP? I thought they were mainly for remediation/weaknesses and not for strengths? Or maybe her tendency to disrupt when bored would make it applicable?)

[Dmmetler]

What's her level in other subjects? If she's reading on a 2nd grade level or higher as well, I'd place her in 2nd with an IEP, because that would just be too much boredom to ask a kid to manage, and adding ADHD wouldn't improve matters. So much of 1st grade is focused on reading that I would be a lot more worried about reading than math for boredom reasons. And math is by far the easiest subject for a teacher to just hand a kid a different worksheet in.

 

I would definitely mention it at the IEP so that refusal to do math doesn't come off as appearing that she can't do the content. It is very, very easy for a non-compliant kid to get stuck on a treadmill of constantly easier work and expectations, which only feeds the non-compliance (one of my tricks with 6th graders who had been labeled as problem kids was to jump ahead and start algebra. Quite a lot of them made that jump well-despite often having years of poor math performance, and filled in gaps as we went. Kind of wish now I'd done a controlled study on it...).

[nature girl]

Those are interesting thoughts...She's at a 4th grade level in reading, but writing she's probably right on par with 1st grade...She's super imaginative, and loves coming up with stories for me to transcribe, but has always balked about writing them down herself. (And her handwriting is pretty poor.)

 

My main reason for keeping her in 1st is the social aspect, she's emotionally very immature, and I don't know how 7/8 year olds will treat someone who has never been to school, and cries so easily, and is somewhat impulsive. I feel like that's the age when bullying starts...I also am imagining there's a lot more focused seat work in 2nd, which I know she'll have a hard time with. I visited a 1st grade classroom last spring, and the kids were SO composed, so different from what I'm used to, I'm hoping it's something she'll be able to gradually work up to but she's just not there yet...

 

I don't know, I went back and forth with the school on what would be best for her, they did balk a bit about placing her in 1st, but they eventually agreed it would probably be in her (and the school's) best interests. I'm hoping the teacher will understand the reasons she might act up, but I guess that will depend on the teacher. :(

[Arcadia]

I thought they were mainly for remediation/weaknesses and not for strengths? Or maybe her tendency to disrupt when bored would make it applicable?)

For both, my friends kids are 2E. Being bored would get one of my friend's son walking on table tops and the aide has to coax him down.

 

If she is reading at 4th grade level, placing her at 2nd might be better than first. My oldest read several grade levels ahead, his teachers allowed him to bring his own books for reading time. His math and reading levels were tested on the first week of school.

 

Writing can be accomodated, my oldest's teachers did not push writing output for my kid and he didn't even have an IEP. Some teachers are really accomodating and would ask parents for tips.

 

You can bring your child's psychologist for the IEP meeting. Mine offered to attend if we want to pursue an IEP and it is apparently the norm.

[wapiti]

I agree with the others that 2nd grade with IEP makes much more sense.  On top of that, cross your fingers that you get a flexible teacher; sometimes it really is the luck of the draw.

Edited July 11, 2016 by wapiti

[vonfirmath]

 

I asked the school last spring, and they told me that they have differentiation for reading, but not for math unless students are behind. (They use Everyday Math, but may do a trial of Go Math next year. Yuck, and yuck.) So, my question, since I have no experience with how public schools typically work...

 

 

 

 

Like anything, Go Math depends on the teacher.  My son's school uses Go Math, has since he was in K. Yet it has not impeded his mathematical learning one bit. (He's going into 4th next year, and will be starting in a special program that teaches 4th,5th, and 6th grade math in 4th and 5th grades.)  OTOH, He brings home his Go Math workbooks at the end of every year and there are quite a few pages not used.   So the teacher (different teacher every year) is teaching math and using Go Math to aid in the teaching.  Mostly I think the workbook pages are used as homework.  There is a reasonable amount of work on one workbook page (front and back). Some trickier problems, some easier.  Not enough pages to work out some of the problems, IMHO. Though my son always manages. (I tried to teach him to use a separate piece of paper but he chooses to cram it all on the workbook page instead)

[Terabith]

Honestly, I get why everyone is saying 2nd with an IEP, but as the parent of a 2e child, we had much better success with the lower grade that corresponded more to social and emotional maturity than academic.  Yes, a lot of first grade is about learning to read, but there is going to be a LOT of variance.  There will be other kids reading that well, and I'm sure the school will accommodate.  I might ask, as part of the IEP, for her to be accelerated for math, however.  Go to second grade for it or what not.  Might also give them an opportunity to see how she does there.  If she does sufficiently well, then bumping is easier than retaining. 

[nature girl]

Yes, Terabith, that's what we've been thinking. Especially since she'd probably be the youngest in her class (only a week and a half before the cutoff), and has the emotional maturity of a child a year or two younger...If my primary concern was academics, I know she'd get a much better education at home. But one of the main reasons we've considered school is for the socialization, she loves being around other kids, and I'm afraid she'd be ostracized by older children because of her differences.

 

Maybe it would also help her feel more capable, knowing she was ahead of the other kids in most areas. I'd love to improve her self-esteem, because she can be hard on herself.

 

Having her go to a different classroom for math is an interesting idea...I wonder if they'd be able to do that? I'll talk to the school psych and see what she thinks, she's been a great advocate for Anna's needs so far.

[kiwik]

I have an emotional, easily frustrated son. Putting him in a class where he was the oldest and most advanced made him behave less maturely. Teachers expected more maturity because he was oldest and could read and do maths well.

[nature girl]

Did he have a diagnosis though, kiwik? I'm hoping because of her ADHD and upcoming IEP that the teacher will know what to expect.

 

I would say she behaves socially, in many ways, still like a Kindergartener (although she's improving.)

[kiwik]

Did he have a diagnosis though, kiwik? I'm hoping because of her ADHD and upcoming IEP that the teacher will know what to expect.

 

I would say she behaves socially, in many ways, still like a Kindergartener (although she's improving.)

He doesn't have a diagnosis except giftedness (99.8 percentie). It is agreed he has ASD characteristics in a couple of areas but not in enough areas for a diagnosis. He just takes his cues from the other kids so is less mature around younger kids and more mature around older ones. So he was becoming academically frustrated and reacting to stress like a preschooler. Now he has to work academically and behave at the level expected of older kids he is more relaxed at school and less anxious. Edited July 17, 2016 by kiwik

[nature girl]

He doesn't have a diagnosis except giftedness (99.8 percentie). It is agreed he has ASD characteristics in a couple of areas but not in enough areas for a diagnosis. He just takes his cues from the other kids so is less mature around younger kids and more mature around older ones. So he was becoming academically frustrated and reacting to stress like a preschooler. Now he has to work academically and behave at the level expected of older kids he is more relaxed at school and less anxious.

 

Ah, that makes sense. DD doesn't change her behavior at all, she always acts equally immaturely regardless of who she's with.

 

One other point, she loves pretend play, is always pretending to be a cat/dino/dragon, etc., and I'm guessing that kind of play has really tapered off by 2nd grade. (Maybe even by 1st grade.) So recess would be a huge challenge for her, I doubt she'd find anyone who wanted to play the games she enjoys, and they might even tease her for acting babyish. She actually has an imaginary friend "Stuart," a mouse she makes with her fingers, and pretends to people that he's real...I'm trying to get her to stop that in public, because I'm sure that won't go over well in 1st grade either...

 

Gah, this is all so stressful, I do hope she can fit in. But I think it will be 10x harder for her to fit in with an older crowd.

[Terabith]

Eh, first and second graders are weird.  She's really not unique in that, although maybe in degree.  But even in fourth grade, my daughter was having lots of pretend play games at recess, so I think that might not be a hue issue. 

[nature girl]

Eh, first and second graders are weird.  She's really not unique in that, although maybe in degree.  But even in fourth grade, my daughter was having lots of pretend play games at recess, so I think that might not be a hue issue. 

 

That's good to hear! Thank you. :)

[Janeway]

Do you mean she will be 7, turning 8 when she starts? Because being much older than the other children will not help her to adjust.  I guess it looks like she is 6 and turning 7. If so, my son is that age and going in to 1st grade.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Janeway

[nature girl]

She is 6 now, will turn 7 a month into school.

[Janeway]

My oldest read ahead of grade level and was forced to do kindergarten when he was reading chapter books. He was reading at a 3rd grade level in kindergarten. School was a disaster. He was still expected to sit still and do redundant work about things he already knew and had mastered. He was expected with being happy with being at school all day learning nothing and doing the lessons. It was like playing school, all day, every day, only less fun. It was awful. He should have been up a grade level. He had a September birthday but the cut off here is Sept 1. So he turned 7 right after 1st grade began.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Janeway

[SanDiegoMom]

My PS daughter (who granted was young for her grade) did pretend play all the way through fifth. Though she didn't pretend to be a different creature, I have memories of her and her fifth grade friends setting up pretend houses in the backyard and making schedules and different jobs (dog walker, pet sitter- they all had a definite bent). In fourth grade recess they pretended some bushes were another land that they would visit, and made a little house in it. But not all the girls did that. My dd just had the right friends and a lack of concern for anything going on around her.

 

And for my ds who was PS k-2 I was allowed to come in and teach him math separate, but only because he was three grade levels ahead. For the other kids who had tested out of grade level math they used Aleks- they didn't make them do the regular math homework but they did have them take the tests to make sure they were still hitting their second grade targets and hadn't forgotten anything. This was a small public school in CA with a very large parent presence and s large influence by the PTA. Parents had more leeway because they were so dependent on them for fundraising and volunteering

[Tanikit]

My DD, 8, started school in April following homeschooling - she started in grade 3 which was age-appropriate. Her Math is well ahead of where the school is teaching as is her reading and she did exceptionally well with an oral presentation she had to do last term. However, her spelling is behind and her writing well behind expectations. I warned the teacher that she may show ADHD tendencies - she is highly kinaesthetic and cannot sit still and appears not to be concentrating because of all the movement, however she is taking things in if she is moving - they allowed her to have blue tack/prestick/whatever it is called where you live with her at school and to play with it whenever she wants and I know she does not keep her feet still but is able to cope somewhat in class (there is a fair amount of movement in their school day).

 

I was told today that she will be moved to grade 4 for mathematics and they will see how she copes - the math will probably still be too easy, but emotionally it will be an adjustment just to be with a different class and teacher so I will wait and see. I am afterschooling for history and geography and may bring in some science if she is not too tired. I have also adjusted our read-alouds to teach more. I am also still homeschooling math and until she reaches a challenge level at school I will continue to do so. My daughter was calling to return to homeschool recently although she enjoys school too and has made friends easily. Allow for adjustments when starting school and try to work with the school and get them to work with your child - I feel like my job has changed from homeschooler to advocate for my children and to be honest I prefer the role of teacher, but do appreciate that the school is trying.

[nature girl]

The movement thing does worry me...I visited a 1st grade classroom last spring, when we were trying to decide whether she could survive in school, and the kids were sitting for almost the entire time I was watching (about an hour) doing "reading" which basically involved, in unison, sounding out digraphs and spelling out words from flash cards the teacher was holding. Yuck. I don't know how she would ever manage to sit through more than a few minutes of that (although they mentioned that after they've evaluated they may put her in a pull-out reading/writing class, since her reading skills are around 3 years ahead and her writing behind.) I've bought her a bouncy band, to use on her chair, and she has a couple of fidgets we've used at home, so hopefully that will help.

 

We'll see what they do with math...I wish I'd had the opportunity to watch the class do math, so I could have more of an idea of what it looks like, and how much they do at a time...She's okay with worksheets as long as the problems are widely spaced, and she likes having pictures on the page, I think so she can have a place to rest her eyes. We're doing Singapore now, which is nice because most pages don't have too many problems, but I've never pushed her past a couple of pages at a time (maybe 5-7 minutes of work time.) After that she starts trying to hang off her chair, or do somersaults...I'm not sure how much they'll expect from the kids, I guess we shall see. I only know that if she was faced with a page of single-digit addition/subtraction problems (which I assume they probably start the year with) it might be an issue, whereas if she had a sheet of multiplication or multi-digit addition/subtraction and could use some mental math skills, the challenge might keep her engaged.

[nature girl]

Oh, and as far as afterschooling...I don't think I'll afterschool the 3 R's specifically, I'm sure she'll be drained. (The bus comes at 8AM and she doesn't get home till 4. :( We also have her in gymnastics, probably swimming, and a social skills group. I have no idea how I'll ever get her to do homework, even if it's only 20-30 minutes...especially since with her inattentiveness, 20 minutes of homework could very well take an hour or more.) I do want to continue with our art appreciation, since we both enjoy that. I have a wonderful book we've been using this year. And we'll probably continue writing Jot It Down style, since she loves writing if she doesn't actually have to write!

 

Hopefully she'll be able to sit still for read alouds in the afternoons (we do popcorn reading, so that will be reading practice), she loves stories, and it'll give us the cuddle time we don't get during the day! I also have always read to her at breakfast, so we'll at least squeeze in some reading then.

 

Honestly? Thinking about the homework? If it's something she knows backwards and forwards I might not make her do it unless she wants to...I don't know how that would go across with the teacher, but honestly? I think there are much more productive, soul-enriching things she could be doing with her time. Maybe that could be included in her IEP, I don't know...

[Arcadia]

Homework - my kids teachers didn't care if it was completed. I asked and they confirmed it was okay for my kids to not complete. Put it into the IEP just in case you get less flexible teacher

 

Reading - my kid gets to skip phonics in reading since he read before K. They did some phonics in 1st grade spelling. They use Sitton Spelling. My older loathe writing (composition) and luckily they just let him read by himself instead of doing writing pull out. His handwriting was okay.

http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/products/literacy/spelling-grammar/sitton-spelling-and-word-skills/about-the-program

 

Math - they use math minutes which isn't so bad. The math drills started in 3rd. His 1st grade teacher was weak in math so the teacher let him self teach. You would want any accommodation listed out in the IEP. The 1st grade teachers use plenty of manipulatives.

 

My friends with 2E kids say to list everything you think your child need in the IEP. If you get a less accommodating teacher later, at least it is already in the IEP. My kids didn't have an IEP but accommodations are in their annual personal learning plan which each kid in their public school has.

[nature girl]

Homework - my kids teachers didn't care if it was completed. I asked and they confirmed it was okay for my kids to not complete. Put it into the IEP just in case you get less flexible teacher

 

My friends with 2E kids say to list everything you think your child need in the IEP. If you get a less accommodating teacher later, at least it is already in the IEP. My kids didn't have an IEP but accommodations are in their annual personal learning plan which each kid in their public school has.

 

I think it's a great idea to include these things on the IEP, if they're willing. I don't know, it's not in my nature to rock any boats, but I think I'll be able to advocate fiercely. I know they might think of me as a crazy ex-homeschooler with unrealistic expectations (I'm imagining them rolling their eyes at each other across the table.) But hopefully I'll at least have open lines of communication with her teacher before we actually have the IEP meeting, so that I can tell her my concerns/wishes and guage her reaction before I try to rock those boats.

[Kat w]

Nature girl,

I think your DD is going to blow your mind :)

 

I read a couple days ago about behavior . mine were in ps fir several years. Wild but, they behaved way better fir the teachers than for me. I think that's pretty typical.

 

I bet your DD will do the same.

She will be ahead if the kids in math. Way ahead. Your doing an and I can tell, doing a good job :)

 

You're right, you can put her in 1st and it's always easier to move up a grade, than down.

Moving down is quite humiliating to a child. My DS 12 was held back in the spec. Needs preschool our PS offered, he knew he was the same age if the kids moving up and was quite upset. And felt dumb.

 

I think her being an only child and things you have described in the past, that PS will be good for her. At least for a try, a year, or a season of life.

 

I am a homeschooler at heart and had mine in ps fir the SN part.

 

Who knows? They might even put her in accelerated math (gifted)

So you never know how these things will work out til you try it.

 

I think it's a good start to try 1st, ...1st lol :

[SKL]

As far as pretend play, my 9yos do this and so do their classmates (they are going into 5th grade).  A few weeks ago, we went to a birthday party for a classmate, and all the other girls there were 10yo and they played pretend "I'm a doggy" type games the whole time.  I have to admit that I was surprised.  :)  Also, my youngest, who is young for grade, is a leader on the playground because she makes up imaginative games for all to play.  Last year my kids brought their toys regularly also.  Play is definitely not out of style yet, thankfully.

 

As far as advanced level in math etc., just keep in mind that it's one thing to be able to apply math concepts; it's another thing to understand what the teacher / textbook is asking the child to do.  If your daughter has no experience sitting in a room full of noisy people and trying to follow along with a lesson, you don't know how she's going to do with that.  So just keep an open mind.  It will be a while before the class does math independently / quietly.  And if your child is one who doesn't follow along well etc. (like mine), I'm not sure what the fix for that would be in a group setting.  Afterschooling doesn't address group learning dynamics.

 

Can't say much about reading since my kids' school mostly treats everyone the same, except for pull-out help for the slowest learners.  It doesn't seem to bother my advanced learner, but she may be an exception.  She keeps many books with her at all times and reads while waiting for the class to catch up to her.

[kiwik]

Eh, first and second graders are weird. She's really not unique in that, although maybe in degree. But even in fourth grade, my daughter was having lots of pretend play games at recess, so I think that might not be a hue issue.

My 9 year old was pushed by a werewolf and had to have his head glued up last month. There is a lot of pretend type play. Make sure she watches a bit of kids TV before she goes.

 

Ds7 behaves immaturely all tbe time it just gets worse when he is underchallenged, overwhelmed or in the company of less mature kids.

[nature girl]

As far as advanced level in math etc., just keep in mind that it's one thing to be able to apply math concepts; it's another thing to understand what the teacher / textbook is asking the child to do.  If your daughter has no experience sitting in a room full of noisy people and trying to follow along with a lesson, you don't know how she's going to do with that.  So just keep an open mind.  It will be a while before the class does math independently / quietly.  And if your child is one who doesn't follow along well etc. (like mine), I'm not sure what the fix for that would be in a group setting.  Afterschooling doesn't address group learning dynamics.

 

I've really wondered how she'll do with this...A one on one learning environment, with no distractions, where I can judge her understanding (and how well she is or isn't attending) is very different from typical classroom learning. I just don't know...At least since she's ahead she won't need to actually learn much that's new, but I don't know if she'll be able to follow directions, learn how to use new manipulatives, play new games, etc. She does attend well at library story times (but she loves stories), and she learns at our co-op, but that's all interest-based stuff. Learning about motors/instruments/dinos, etc. is very different from listening to a teacher talk about long division...

 

 

Make sure she watches a bit of kids TV before she goes.

 

Ah, something else to worry about. We don't do TV at all here, really, DH watches sports (but she's not into it) and we never watch kids shows because I know how easy it would be with her hyperfocusing for her to get sucked into them. What are kids that age even watching these days? Is there anything popular that isn't plain awful?

[Alessandra]

I skimmed the posts, so apologies if I am missing something....

 

I would definitely try for an IEP rather than a 504 -- broader support with the IEP. Has your dd had testing yet? There should be testing that covers innate abilities (IQ type) and one that covers knowledge/learned stuff.

 

Honestly, I would not focus on the math. There could very well be lots of kids who are ahead (or behind) in either math or reading. Kids in early elementary develop at such different rates. And the school will quickly get an idea of your dd's level from the testing. There will be time between agreeing to testing, actual testing, getting the results, and IEP meeting.

 

You may want to find out what accommodations the school has. A resource room is fairly typical -- pull out for kids who need a different environment. And I do know kids who have had a pull out and been given more advanced work in math. It does happen. Most special Ed teachers are very attuned to meeting kids at their level. Gross are smaller than in traditional classrooms, so it's easier. Certainly, point out things like the visual aspects of too many problems on a page. For keeping still, there are loads of accommodations, like preferred seating in front of room, allowed breaks in middle of class, etc. an OT can provide things to fidget with. But if you can find out what is typically done, school is better able to help than if you are asking for something new at he beginning.

 

Remember, an IEP meeting can be called anytime during the year, if you need it. But if you have a decent case manager, many problems can be solved expeditiously.

[Dmmetler]

I've really wondered how she'll do with this...A one on one learning environment, with no distractions, where I can judge her understanding (and how well she is or isn't attending) is very different from typical classroom learning. I just don't know...At least since she's ahead she won't need to actually learn much that's new, but I don't know if she'll be able to follow directions, learn how to use new manipulatives, play new games, etc. She does attend well at library story times (but she loves stories), and she learns at our co-op, but that's all interest-based stuff. Learning about motors/instruments/dinos, etc. is very different from listening to a teacher talk about long division...

 

 

 

Ah, something else to worry about. We don't do TV at all here, really, DH watches sports (but she's not into it) and we never watch kids shows because I know how easy it would be with her hyperfocusing for her to get sucked into them. What are kids that age even watching these days? Is there anything popular that isn't plain awful?

What I used to do was to have DD read the little Tv character books in the supermarket checkout lane (or at a bookstore). It took her about 2 minutes to read one, and gave her enough knowledge of the characters and setting to interact with others in imaginary play.

[Cake and Pi]

I have no advice, but I can commiserate as we're in a similar-ish situation over here.  My DS#2's birthday is a few days before the October cutoff, so he's supposed to be a 2nd grader this year, but he'll still be 6 until a month and a half into the school year.  Last year he was registered as a kindergartener in our public-homeschool charter (doing 1 day per week at actual school, otherwise homeschooled), but he's three quarters of the way through 3rd grade math and can read at about a 6th grade level.  

 

This year he's asked to go to school full time, and I'm going to let him.  I agonized over it for weeks and weeks and just decided yesterday to go ahead and register him as a 2nd grader and not as a 1st grader.  As it turns out, our homeschool charter is just this year starting a full time program for 2nd-5th graders.  I would really rather him be in 1st grade this year for social-emotional reasons, but we'd have to do a different school to keep him in 1st, and then I'd be walking to 3 different schools, which would just be insane.  So, 2nd grade it is!  

 

He'll be in a mixed 2nd-3rd grade class and will probably start the year as the only (really immature) 6yo in a class of 7, 8, and possibly 9yos (red shirting is pretty common around here).  Socially, he may not fit in all that well; however, he's a pretty odd kid all around, so I don't necessarily think he really "fits" with 6-7yos any better.  Maybe he'll work out some social chameleon skills and do fine.   I do plan to talk to the teacher and the school's new IEP/ALP specialist.  If I have to be "that mom" I will, lol.

 

Good luck with the IEP.  I think that these cusp kiddos can do well in either grade, and I think it's totally reasonable and appropriate to be your child's advocate.  I hope your DD has a really positive experience in public school!

[kiwik]

What I used to do was to have DD read the little Tv character books in the supermarket checkout lane (or at a bookstore). It took her about 2 minutes to read one, and gave her enough knowledge of the characters and setting to interact with others in imaginary play.

Good idea. It just occurred to me that ds9 didn't watch kid's TV until a couple of months ago. I think a lot of it is computer games based but not having played the games doesn't seem to be much of an issue.

[Nart]

Good idea. It just occurred to me that ds9 didn't watch kid's TV until a couple of months ago. I think a lot of it is computer games based but not having played the games doesn't seem to be much of an issue.

 

 

I think times have changed since I was a kid. I had a friend whose family didn't watch TV and she did seem a little out of the loop on the playground at times. But back there weren't so many channels so in the evenings there were only two or three kid friendly things to watch. So many kids tended to watch the same shows. Now with the YouTube, cable TV, DirecTV, Netflix  kids are watching a variety of things on TV, so there isn't only one or two things kids are watching. I don't think it is an issue for kids who don't watch TV.  My husband's car has Sirius Radio and has a KidzBop music channel. My kids love it and it seems like they talk more about music than a particular TV show. Like last year when everyone was singing the "whip/Nae Nae" song.  I think they would have been out of it if they had never heard it before. You can buy the current CD at Target. 

[SKL]

I wouldn't worry too much about TV knowledge.  Kids understand that not everyone watches the same shows - how could anyone possibly watch all that is out there?

 

My friend used to try to get me worried about my kids not watching TV.  "How will they know who Mickey Mouse is?"  Well, miraculously, they came home on the first day of preschool talking about Mickey Mouse and Spiderman.  Nope, they didn't miss a beat.

[kiwik]

I think times have changed since I was a kid. I had a friend whose family didn't watch TV and she did seem a little out of the loop on the playground at times. But back there weren't so many channels so in the evenings there were only two or three kid friendly things to watch. So many kids tended to watch the same shows. Now with the YouTube, cable TV, DirecTV, Netflix kids are watching a variety of things on TV, so there isn't only one or two things kids are watching. I don't think it is an issue for kids who don't watch TV. My husband's car has Sirius Radio and has a KidzBop music channel. My kids love it and it seems like they talk more about music than a particular TV show. Like last year when everyone was singing the "whip/Nae Nae" song. I think they would have been out of it if they had never heard it before. You can buy the current CD at Target.

I never listen to music at home either. They seem to catch on quickly enough at school.

[Dmmetler]

If you have Amazon Prime, kidz bop is available in the free prime music. I did "front load" DD with popular music when she was younger (then she started taking high school classes and got introduced to SoundCloud. I kind of miss the Kidz Bop days...)

[Terabith]

Did you guys decide about school?  How is the summer program going?

[nature girl]

I'm so sorry, I completely forgot about this thread!

 

Thank you for the TV show recommendations...She actually did used to watch Wild Kratts and Dinosaur Train a couple of years ago, and I like those shows, we may browse through a few since they're on Prime. Dmmetler, looking for related books is a GREAT idea...We'll have to take a bookstore trip, I'm guessing our library will have some too. We do have Prime, so I'll look for Kidz Bop. The only music we listen to at home is classical and classic rock. (Her favorite song for some reason is Maxwell Silverhammer, a Beatles song about murder. Yeah.) I grew up in a household that only listened to classical music as well, so I did always feel somewhat out of place at school...Guess I'd better get her caught up on music written after the 1970's, lol.

 

Did you guys decide about school?  How is the summer program going?

 

School starts in the second week of September, and as of now we're still going. Thinking about it I have a strange mix of excitement for her, fear and sadness. I think it'll be good for everybody, though. And if it turns out that it's not, at least we'll know what the other side of the fence looks like.

 

She did great at her summer program (it ended last week), very few problems and she absolutely loved it. She was the only girl, but still made good friends and was sad to leave. The study team (I think a behaviorist and an OT) observed her during the day, and they'll give us a report within the next month. I guess they'll be observing her at the beginning of the school year as well, and whatever they see will help to inform the IEP. I do know she'll start the year with an aide, and a behavior plan with a daily communication log. ESY was very different from the typical school day, but the fact she did so well really helps me feel more comfortable with this decision, and it's made her very excited to start school in the fall. :)

Edited August 10, 2016 by nature girl

[Tanikit]

Hope it all goes well. There is so much about school and children that is hard to predict. Just like with homeschooling where we have to constantly adjust, I think the same is true for schooling.

 

My DD8 is now struggling more at school than she was initially - the first term it was new and fun, she was making new friends, finding her way around, adapting to class and lessons - but she learns fast and now school is boring and dull and she says she wastes too much time there and does not get to make the type of friendships she could as a homeschooler. My DD5 who started school when everyone else did is loving school even despite having no challenges - she is learning to give the teachers what they want and get ticks all over her pages without any effort. The teachers are expecting me to teach her at home, but why send her to school for hours and waste her best learning time and then have to actually school her in the afternoon?

 

I have tried to keep an open mind, tried to look for the good in it, but this week have seen a teacher correct my child's work incorrectly (hospitle - really that is what the correction said), send home a comprehension about science that is scientifically inaccurate, not mark a large percentage of work which did contain errors (why are they doing it if no one ever hears what is correct?) and keep my child doing endless pages of the 3x table which she has known for a few years already... so now I am fed up and so is my child. I am hoping to find a way to persuade my husband to bring them home again but we might need to sit it out til the end of the year. 

[nature girl]

I have tried to keep an open mind, tried to look for the good in it, but this week have seen a teacher correct my child's work incorrectly (hospitle - really that is what the correction said), send home a comprehension about science that is scientifically inaccurate, not mark a large percentage of work which did contain errors (why are they doing it if no one ever hears what is correct?) and keep my child doing endless pages of the 3x table which she has known for a few years already... so now I am fed up and so is my child. I am hoping to find a way to persuade my husband to bring them home again but we might need to sit it out til the end of the year. 

 

Well ugh, that's discouraging. I guess we know ps will never educate our children as well as we can, it's just something to come to terms with, hoping the benefits justify. (DD's ESY teacher was sending home emails with misspellings...I just had to keep telling myself it didn't matter, that she wasn't, for example, trying to teach 6 year olds the difference between "affect" and "effect.")

 

I do hope your family can come to agreement on what's best.

[kiwik]

Hospitle? I had trouble getting that through the auto correct. I grit my teeth when I read school newsletters.