I Feel Like I'm Making A Life-Altering Decision

My 5yo has been in preschool (3 mornings/week) and pre-k (5 mornings/week) over the past two years, and heads to kindergarten this fall, but I'm VERRRRRY conflicted as to where to send him. In the 3 hours that he is in pre-k, he is bored with the (minimal) amount of work sheets that they do and it's getting to the point where he's crying that school isn't any fun and he doesn't want to go. He did the same thing at about this time last year (well, it started in Jan/Feb, both last year & this year); I attributed it to burn-out, but my husband just says that maybe he thinks things are more fun at home (with his newly-found Wii). Anyway, I figured that hte best place for him would be the new charter school, which as a "free-er" style of learning that would allow him to move around a bit more - except that we didn't make it in using hte lottery system. So, our other options are the public schools, which it seems like he's also likely to burn out at, or Montessori, which seems a bit "cold" to me, or religious, which isn't for us at all...I'm at a loss I'm concerned that, especially since he is a boy and my DH was not all that successful in school (despite being very bright) he's going to come to hate school - and it will only be kindergarten

Has anyone else been in the same boat? My husband thinks I'm making too big a deal of it, but then he says that he wants the kids to follow in my footsteps (straight-A student who LOVED school) and not his...and I think that, in order for that to happen, DS needs to WANT to be in school.

 

My kids never did worksheets in preschool, and preschool shouldn't be academic--it should be about socialization and playing.

A good Kindergarten teacher will keep the kids involved and excited about learning. Jonathan went to K, already reading (started on his own at 3 1/2), knowing math facts, counting money, telling time, etc. So academically, the only concern was keeping him challenged. That said, he LOVED K! I would send him to the public K, you will probably be surprised at how he does!

 

I've been going to visit various schools and have seen some interesting options. Your son may be better suited for the Montessori program since it is a more hands on learning experience. I agree that you want a positive experience early on.

I was wondering if there are more than one Montessori school in the area that you would consider? There are two different certifications...AMI is the one typically sought after from what I have read. I went to visit four different schools and I have found that despite certifications, each school is very different. One was "cold" and extremely academic...all 24 children were on task in a structured activity. It was incredible to see what the children were doing. Another was more nurturing with a LOT more freedom in the classroom activities. Hours were different at each one as well as tuition. The other noticeable difference was the materials in the classroom and the facilities.

So, if you have other options, you might want to visit other Montessori schools.

Good Luck!

Sharon

 

I'm curious as to why you feel he will burn out in kindergarten in the public schools? I'm not sure where you are in MD, but all public schools in MD are all day K, and I can tell you there is plenty that they do each day, that I highly doubt any child, unless they were truly gifted would burn out. K is very academic now in MD (at least in the county I am in) and there is not a lot of free time, so I wouldn't think your DS would be bored. There is enough with reading groups, centers, math, social studies and science, not to mention the specials (art, music, PE, library and computer lab) that he will go to, there should be plenty that will keep him challenged. And the teacher will be sure to make sure he is challenged if he does seem bored.

 

One of my twins has already been tested for the Talented and Gifted program and was tagged in both reading and math. He also learned to read at age 3, walks around with his nose in a book about "Caves" or "Volcanos" at home half the time, knows how to tell time, counts money, can borrow and carry, and multiplies. I was worried about what they were going to do with this child in public kinder too, although socially and emotionally, he's right where he should be.

I shouldn't have been worried--he loves it! The teacher is a bit too frazzled to challenge him much academically, so we continue to do that at home. What he does love is all the other stuff! Art projects, learning about Martin Luther King, having a "big buddy" from 3rd grade, recess, and all of his friends. He's never bored because they really don't do much academically in kinder. Plus, he's a helper to everyone at his table and that makes him feel good.

I think I'd send him to public school if it's a good school and watch and see what happens.

 

QUOTE(sharongl @ Mar 27 2009, 09:16 PM) [snapback]1247772[/snapback]
My kids never did worksheets in preschool, and preschool shouldn't be academic--it should be about socialization and playing.

A good Kindergarten teacher will keep the kids involved and excited about learning. Jonathan went to K, already reading (started on his own at 3 1/2), knowing math facts, counting money, telling time, etc. So academically, the only concern was keeping him challenged. That said, he LOVED K! I would send him to the public K, you will probably be surprised at how he does!

I agree with Sharon. My girls went to K reading as well, and knew their math and many other aspects of K as well. Their teachers really kept them busy with extra work. They loved K and their teachers always were able to keep them busy. Try public school. Since it is free, it's worth a shot.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Mar 28 2009, 03:07 AM) [snapback]1247845[/snapback]
I'm curious as to why you feel he will burn out in kindergarten in the public schools? I'm not sure where you are in MD, but all public schools in MD are all day K, and I can tell you there is plenty that they do each day, that I highly doubt any child, unless they were truly gifted would burn out. K is very academic now in MD (at least in the county I am in) and there is not a lot of free time, so I wouldn't think your DS would be bored. There is enough with reading groups, centers, math, social studies and science, not to mention the specials (art, music, PE, library and computer lab) that he will go to, there should be plenty that will keep him challenged. And the teacher will be sure to make sure he is challenged if he does seem bored.


Okay, maybe I'm mis-reading his complaints. If he is saying he's bored...is that the opposite of burn-out? I read it as him being tired of school, which, since it's only part-day, I would think would get worse once he is in full-day K. He says he hates doing worksheets and just wants to keep playing in centers. He's not really big on the art stuff. He'd like to gp outside and play more often. I guess I just get the sense that he's more of a mover than a sitter and I envision K as the start of "desk-schooling" and I'm worried that he's going to go stir-crazy. He's in a very highly rated pre-K right now, and he will have a great basis for K - starting to read, can write well, count to 100, working on telling time, etc. But, if he's saying he's bored - does that mean that's not enough? Or that he needs to be taught in a different way (not worksheets)?

I hate how I feel like this is SUCH a big decision...and it's ONLY kindergarten

 

We just went and toured our public school kindergarten rooms and it looked to be the exact opposite of desk sitting. There were 3 different tables which the teacher said that they use with parent volunteers doing hands-on stuff and her doing more serious stuff and they rotate through all the tables. There were so many activities they had in there it wasn't even funny. We only have 1/2 day (3 hours) but they still get a recess and a milk break. There were blocks and different building stuff. One room had a toy work bench. There were 5 computers that they used within the classroom. They do gingerbread house building and tshirt painting.

My advice, go tour all the programs. Talk to the teachers. Look in the rooms. In our district and some of the others around here they let the kids come into the classroom for an hour or two to get the kids used to the idea. Go find out what will happen.

Marissa

 

I definitely agree w/ the pp. I think Kindergarten is a totally different world than pre-k. My son has been in daycare and preschool since he was one, and he is very bright and I think he is going to LOVE Kindergarten this fall. It does sound like maybe your son doesnt like school work, since he doesnt like the worksheets and wants to stay in centers. . .Sounds like he just wants to play all day. But its time for him to go to school and I think talking to the teachers and checking the programs, etc will help you decide whats best for him. I have confidence in the teachers that they will keep him 'entertained' with the learning program/curriculum and all of the other activities that go on. The day will probably fly by.

Maybe its just me, but I really think of Kindergarten as a whole new experience for my son, as opposed to preschool.