The Kindergarten Screening...

So we went today... and they have yet to realize that my son's a genius kidding!

But I thought some of the questions were so silly. It's not to rate their intelligence, it's more to detect any areas of weakness where may possibly need services.

The other day one mom told me that her daughter didnt know her knuckles, so I just told my boys yesterday what their knuckles were. They asked a few parts of the body.

Well at the screening, my son pointed to his palm today when asked

another question I thought was silly was "What do you do if something is broken" and the "right answer" was FIX IT. HE said "tell somebody" which I was very shocked and impressed that he'd give that answer (Id expect the opposite )
But how can they expect a 4yr old to respond "fix it" ? They are visualizing something they have broken and how they tell mommy and daddy that something is broken. Not that FIX IT is a crazy answer, it's definitely a good answer, but to count "tell somebody" as "wrong" for a 4yr old..

I dont think they understand the generalzation of "what do you do with something broken" they take it personally, as in what do YOU do.

Also she goes "He doesnt know that a clock tells time" Later on I said to him "why do we look at the clock?" and he goes "to see what time it is !"

and I can picture the question phrased as "what does a clock do" well literally and physically a clock doesnt "do" anything the way a 4yr old might visualize us running/walking, etc.

HE even knows to to read simple times (but of course wasnt tested for that
)

Then another question "what do you do in a dark room" one mom said her daughter said "I CRY" AWWWWWWWWWWWW

My son said turn the light on. yay! brilliant so silly

He did excellent on most of it though, she said esp being that he's still 4 1/2. identifying shapes, numbers, writing his name, following a pattern of stocking blocks 4 different ways. copying something.

She also told me they would have asked a bunch of other questions (which he knows ) but since he's on the younger side (oct baby) they dont ask 4yr olds those questions.

WEll thats the scoop for any kindergarten moms.

any teachers or moms have opinions?

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

I totally agree, children are so literal!

I don't know how the school can judge right or wrong on these tests. I think if they answer correctly, but not the "right" answer they should still be given credit for being creative!

See I would have thought the answer for what do you do in a dark room? would be sleep! I bet Aidan would say the same!

Message edited 6/6/2007 1:53:29 PM.

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

I don't think they put much weight on the test. If there are bizarre answers, then they probably do something.

They asked Joseph if he could read, he said no. Hello...sounding out words is reading!

They also asked him to count the fire engines. He did but missed one. They asked him about it & said, "That's a pumper car, not an engine"

I love hearing the answers. Very cute. She cries in a dark room....

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

I would have totally said "Go to sleep" in a dark room. Guess its back to pre-school for me!

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

Thanks for the info. I'm taking my son on Tuesday morning.

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

Anna, I see your point, but since I do kindergarten screening in the district JA was screened in, I know that there is a lot to the test that isn't obvious. Those questions asked may seem silly to you and me, but for a child with receptive or expressive language issues or auditory processing problems, the answers are very telling!

Also, those tests are a tool used in placements. We can see who seperates easily (or doesn't seperate at all), who talks back, who fidgets, who refuses to comply, who is shy and hard to draw out, etc and balance our classes as best as we can.

It may seem silly to the mom of a kid like JA who is obviously ready for school, but there are many, many, many kids who who struggle pitifully with this. I'm very glad it's not something YOU have to worry about!!

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

Posted by PatsBrat

Anna, I see your point, but since I do kindergarten screening in the district JA was screened in, I know that there is a lot to the test that isn't obvious. Those questions asked may seem silly to you and me, but for a child with receptive or expressive language issues or auditory processing problems, the answers are very telling!

Also, those tests are a tool used in placements. We can see who seperates easily (or doesn't seperate at all), who talks back, who fidgets, who refuses to comply, who is shy and hard to draw out, etc and balance our classes as best as we can.

It may seem silly to the mom of a kid like JA who is obviously ready for school, but there are many, many, many kids who who struggle pitifully with this. I'm very glad it's not something YOU have to worry about!!

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

Posted by PatsBrat

Anna, I see your point, but since I do kindergarten screening in the district JA was screened in, I know that there is a lot to the test that isn't obvious. Those questions asked may seem silly to you and me, but for a child with receptive or expressive language issues or auditory processing problems, the answers are very telling!

Also, those tests are a tool used in placements. We can see who seperates easily (or doesn't seperate at all), who talks back, who fidgets, who refuses to comply, who is shy and hard to draw out, etc and balance our classes as best as we can.

It may seem silly to the mom of a kid like JA who is obviously ready for school, but there are many, many, many kids who who struggle pitifully with this. I'm very glad it's not something YOU have to worry about!!

Re: The Kindergarten Screening...

Emma was sitting here while I read this. I ask Emma your questions (her screening is 6/27)

I asked her where her knuckles were and she pointed to her head

Asked her what to do if something was broken and she said "fix it"

Asked her what does a clock do, she said "tells time"

Asked her what to do in a dark room, and she said "go to sleep"

I cant wait for screening day I want to see where they think she is. Emma is, as I speak, in the other room reading "the fuzzy lamb", she is so smart!