Re: Soo torn about what to do re: redshirting/kindergarden?

I live in NC and the cutoff here is August 31st. My boys were born Nov 24th. They can be tested for early admission, but we will most likely be having them go in 2014 when they should. Another option is to do private Kindergarten and then public the year after...or go directly into 1st

Re: Soo torn about what to do re: redshirting/kindergarden?

Our situation is different in that ds1's bday is late Dec, and our cut off is Dec 1 therefore he misses by 20 days. However we decided to push him ahead. He is going to private school this year and willmost likely enrool in public school next year as a first grader. We knew he was ready. Prior to entering k this year, he was reading and doing k level math, he would always say how boring preschool was. He was behind at the start of the year in terms of his fine motor skills but now I think he is middle of the pack there.

I volunteer weekly at his school, so every few weeks I poke my head in to ask his teacher how he is doing. So far he is doing great. Academically he is excelling, but teacher says he is a little immature, but doesn't feel its posing any real issues.

Our feeling was always that if need be we would simply move him to public school next year and he would just repeat k there. He would really never know the difference, and someone in his class with a mid-nov bday is doing just that.

Also DS has a boy in his class who turned 6 in Sept (DS just turned 5 before Christmas) I was talking to his mom a few weeks ago and she said he is having a hard time associating with the kids BC he says they are "4year old babies" so I think redshirting could present a different set of social issues to deal with.

Personally I would send you child, keep the lines of communication open with the teacher and if Ned be let her repeat k instead of never giving her the chance!

Gl

Re: Soo torn about what to do re: redshirting/kindergarden?

DD is 8 days from the cut off in our district and I sent her. She is doing GREAT. I would have never considered holding her back.

Unless you have a real, strong concern, I would let her go. No need to hold her back for no real reason. She will be fine.

Re: Soo torn about what to do re: redshirting/kindergarden?

I'm in the same exact boat, DS bday is 11/04/08 and I have been going back and forth for a year now about this. He is extremely outgoing etc and I've spoken to so many about it and we've decided to hold him. This is his first year in school and he's doing great right where he is (I put him with the younger group because of his bday) and his teachers think I'm making the right decision in holding him even though he is bright and outgoing. Kindergarten is more like first grade now. I can go on and on but I see that extra year of holding him back as a gift and so do a lot of others. Go with your gut and guidance of teachers.

Re: Soo torn about what to do re: redshirting/kindergarden?

I started kindergarden at 4, my bday is 12/7, I was ready, I always did well, was an honors student.

My son has an Oct birthday, he is only 15 months but I cannot imagine holding him back unless I really felt he was not ready academically and then I would probably prefer he went to Kindergarden and repeated the grade if need be.

My feeling is that, in NYC at least, the cutoff is the end of Dec, I do not feel anyone but late Nov/Dec bdays should even consider or be allowed to, it is not fair to the Aug kids then bc then they are the "youngest", right? I mean someone has to be the youngest.

And honestly I am not convinced it really is the advantage people make it out to be. Sure the first few weeks in Kindergarden it might be but kids learn quick, IQ it is what it is, a smart kid will do well and starting a kid with learning disabilities later will not make those defecits go away,in this case a repeat of the grade would be preferable.