How is 1st grade going?

How has the transition been to first grade?
Any issues with more structure and less play time than K?
Any changes with behavior at school or home since school began?

Thanks

 

How has the transition been to first grade?

Well, it has been a major reality shock. I had no idea that first graders were already expected to be proficient readers (I guess kindergarten is first grade now?!) The kindergarten teacher did not really explain this. As a result, we didn't practice reading as we should have over the summer. Ds has no problem there - he is self-directed and loves to read - but dd sometimes lacks motivation. Only, the teacher has no patience for this. So we have to really work with her (well, I guess the parents have to do the teaching?! Thanks to our "wonderful" (big time sarcasm here) new governor, who gutted K-12 spending, the elementary teachers at our charter school have lost their assistants and it makes a huge difference if you have one or two teachers for 18 students....


Any issues with more structure and less play time than K?

No, they usually get recess (no more naptime, though) at school and we make sure they get play time at home as well. They do get a significant amount of homework, though (again, some of the teaching seems to be expected by the parents), but I already vented about that in the "homework" post in this forum


Any changes with behavior at school or home since school began?

Not really, as far as I can tell. The biggest problem is getting them to bed at decent time - their school hours are 8:00 to 2:45, the bus picks them up at 7:10 - and if they haven't had enough sleep, we can definitely tell. Other than that, we have good and not so good days (typical 6-year-old behavior).


Overall, I was much happier with their Pre-K and K experience. I sure hope it gets better!

 

Wow! You had two teachers for 18 kids!!


Our 1st class is 22 kids and one teacher and that is a 'low' number, many other classes in the district have 24-27 in 1st. Our classrooms do not have assistants except during Reading (1 hour) : them they bring in two more educational aides (not teachers but support staff that has been trained to assist) across all the 1st class room to help do reading groups (which are made up across all the classrooms).

It does make a big difference,but cuts here did away with such low numbers long ago.

Yes, they are expected to be 'readers' in 1st here too. Though there is a broad range of abilities and I would say from mid K level to mid 2nd. With a kiddo or two on each far ends ( ESL kiddos that are still learning letters and a few reading early 3rd chapter books).

 

How has the transition been to first grade?
For us it has been rocky. No issues with the level of work but the amount of work and lack of free play has caused some behavior issues. It took us some time to get used to how much work we would have to do at home to supplement the work he is doing in school.



Any issues with more structure and less play time than K? Yes, DS complains a lot about not being able to play enough. I tell him that is how school is so he needs to get used to it. He's getting better with time.


Any changes with behavior at school or home since school began? I wouldn't say major changes but he has bouts of not listening and making poor decisions that get him into trouble.

 

Um, chaotic.

They are cranky a lot after school. The time adjustment was HUGE. There seems to be SO much work involved, it's nuts.

They seem to enjoy their friends and they have good teachers. We separated them this year, and they are doing well with that change which I was surprised at!

 

I guess I have company with complaints of too much work and not enough play time. He is 50/50 with doing homework well versus fussing a ton. He is really not liking school very much which is concerning. He does like his teacher (as do I) but it has been a rough fall so far.
Hoping for a smoother course soon!

 

It does get better. Our boys loved K but were miserable at the beginning of 1st. They complained that all they did was math, math, math. 1st was so much more rigorous than K had been. I felt like they had way too much homework. Spelling words, math and reading everyday. But they adjusted and began to enjoy school again. The second half of the year was much better than the first.

 

Mine transitioned to Year 1, which is Primary. They start earlier here. They are doing well, it's a long day. They leave 7.20 am and come back 3.30 pm. It includes a bus ride which is fairly long. They're separated which is fine. Lovely teachers. Making progress with reading, moved up levels already and high frequency words homework. They have some homework over this weekend relating to their unit of inquiry. And they got their Mandarin reader to do. Less playtime, but the IB curriculum is good and it relates well so that helps! Quite happy with the transition!