tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33862734.post7069536261127877270..comments2023-10-24T05:42:55.427-04:00Comments on FeatherBee: Teaching vs. Parenting.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15799356682776663106noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33862734.post-34084770966878154292007-02-23T20:26:00.000-05:002007-02-23T20:26:00.000-05:00I agree with what you say 100%. I have one studen...I agree with what you say 100%. I have one student right now who is not going to be ready for first grade. This kiddo turned 5 in November, and would have really benefited from an early kindergarten program, which I dearly wish we had in our district. He's just not ready socially or academically. Sometimes it feels like I'm just a place holder for these kids, but then I remember that sometimes the ones who are this young AND are struggling academically have had no prior school experience, so I'm giving them that at least. I have had young kids before who have done fine, you'd never know they weren't the same age as the others. Often this is the result of some kind of preschool or early kindergarten experience. I'd love to see every 4 year old in some kind of early school experience...not so much for the learning as the socializing and being "ready" to learn.<BR/><BR/>As for being honest with the parents, I do try my best to be up front with them concerning their child. I don't want them to end up saying to next year's teacher "But his kindergarten teacher said he was fine, and you're saying he's not!" I do find quite often that the parents know their children, and have an idea of what the areas that need to be worked on are. Sometimes they don't realize however that the level their child is at is not age/developmentally-appropriate, and it's my job to gently point that out.<BR/><BR/>Ok, I need to go work on part 2 of this post!.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15799356682776663106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33862734.post-42331773583215885462007-02-23T00:36:00.000-05:002007-02-23T00:36:00.000-05:00I am enjoying this essay, feather. Mulling over m...I am enjoying this essay, feather. <BR/><BR/>Mulling over my response, but thought I'd start by encouraging you to be honest even as you are tactful with parents. If a child really isn't ready for kindergarten or first grade, encourage the parents to give them more time... too many parents don't understand the correlation between readiness and age. Or, rather, the non-correlation... not all 5 year olds are ready for kindergarten, not all kids are ready for first grade after a single year in kindergarten. As you know.<BR/><BR/>My experience as parent and student has been mixed, watching my brother struggle through school because he moved on in grades when he wasn't ready and never completely recover though he was held back later; watching one of my children bloom when I held him back in an early elementary grade in order to mature a little more. Feeling bored and unmotivated because I was in the proper grade for my age but ready for more... watching one of my children when he was moved ahead a little quicker struggle with material that he was academically ready for but not mature enough for the type of work.<BR/><BR/>As a younger parent (as most kindergarten parents are, no doubt) I would have benefited from some honest communications concerning the children's abilities, needs and potential. That I had to figure it out on my own made it somewhat frustrating... <BR/><BR/>I'll figure out more what I want to say later.Stidmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11619908488058488526noreply@blogger.com