And the social stigma of being held back can have a major impact on a child's attitude. He where he should be academically. Once I got to middle school I started to notice that all the other kids looked really little. School!. The teacher say I am setting him up for failure if I dont. - My son will graduate high school and only be 17 years old. Backing up . Increasing pressure to do well on standardized tests in elementary school has pushed the first-grade curriculum down to kindergarten. While your child's teacher may make the suggestion that your child repeat kindergarten, it's up to you, the parent, to make the final decision. They also were 3.3 percent more likely to graduate from . Like many parents, I hadn't realized that success in kindergarten depends on many factors, not just intellectual ability. They needed less remediation, and they earned higher grades while enrolled. All these things combined he has had a pretty tough Kindergarten. . Every answer seems wrong! So, if a child's birthday falls into dates . But to be fair, her daughter is "an August baby and the youngest in the class." Not sure what to do, you speak to a few experts, do your research, and decide to chance it and send your child on to kindergarten. Because of COVID, there will be many children who are betwixt and between. The most productive way to approach the topic . Not kind of reading but really reading. Because there won't be any more school, in her opinion Julia should repeat kindergarten again. Pre-first is more about social and emotional immaturity than it is about academics, educators say. "Should Your Child Repeat Kindergarten?" Posted on 1/25/23 at 9:54 pm to WhoDatKrewe. Language: Does the child have trouble pronouncing words or expressing ideas? The study of 784 Texas school children followed from first grade until graduating or dropping out of school led by Dr. Jan N. Hughes, Professor Emeritus in educational psychology, found that even though grade retention in the elementary grades does not harm students in terms of their academic achievement or educational motivation at the transition to high school, it increases the odds that they will drop out of school before obtaining a high school diploma by 2.67 times. Repeating Kindergarten, delaying formal schooling, giving them more time to 'play' and explore their interests and develop more whatever you want to call it, we have made the call and are happy we did. Helped build confidence. Hi Jeanie, We still have him read for 15-20 minutes per night and do his short kindergarten homework, but he is not doing much more than that at home anymore because there just isnt time and we have him to bed by 7:30 nightly. A positive and open talk about the plan can do a lot to help alleviate the stress of being "held back." In her defense they JUST started really reading. So we entered him into kindergarten in August 2014. Some go to second grade. We reluctantly decided to hold him back but I stayed up half the night researching and sent an email to the principal this morning about our struggle. These policies typically focus on a student's chronological age when entering kindergarten. Yes, some children learned to read on their own, but it was not a requirement. Whether it's kindergarten for a second time or playing catch-up over the summer to prepare for first grade, a positive, low-pressure attitude is essential. Teachers often have good instincts, but not every teacher is great. I've also read children with ADHD are normally immature for their age. He may even be ahead of his new classmates. Rates of development are simply too varied to hang on chronology. Ask about any additional services the school can provide and what you can do at home to help. He is constantly talking about being in the first grade next. (June 5, 2012). At this stage, children have passed through toddlerhood and are more mature, socially aware, and willing to interact with peers. Repeating Kindergarten. After that, we both went to a public high school and graduated at 19 years old in June 2006. If starting school is postponed for boys with birthdays after, say, June 1, "immature" boys suddenly become those with birthdays after March 1. He even went to half days because they said he cant handle a full day. Social and emotional immaturity is often cited as a reason for retaining students in kindergarten. Repeating a grade at this age can sometimes be beneficial. You may be right that the primary problem is an inexperienced teacher. Repeating kindergarten, preschool or even the first or second grade is often not a big deal and life goes on. My husband was 19 and I was nearly 19 when we started college. in his conversations with me, and he is 5 years old ! You have some options. Our class has also been given 80 sight words and take spelling tests. I cant tell you all shes put up with this year, all the extra tutoring in and outside of school, the testing, speech therapy, etc etc. So i dont believe in repeating kindergarten. Parents. And while its bad, no point crying over spilled milk. The kids are expected to write sentences and use inventive spelling (spell phonetically) for words that they havent learned yet. I cannot emphasize enough for little the child will care. Kindergarten retention totally ignores what we know about child development.Early childhood is a period of very rapid intellectual growth. Find out what they notice, and work on ways to help kids develop skills like self-control. I believe struggling kids should be promoted, but receive other intervention methods, such as intensified learning, supplementing classroom instruction, and providing one-on-one tutoring with a teacher or cross-age tutoring with an older student . Every week! His school has been lacking in what a student needs to know and work on before end of year. Advice given here is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional. 4. I had 2 children held back and come to find out BOTH have dyslexia. I have never had such a tough time with something. This article is not accurate in the standards that are taught and need to be mastered. . Because children develop at such different rates and the kindergarten age span can run from 4 to 6, there is a tremendous range in social, physical and cognitive development. But all are given time to find their feet in school, and time to succeed. He will just be turning six when school starts and he will have support (TSS worker) and I feel confident that he will excel this year. He cannot add and subtract past 30 or write any sentence, but he uses words like complicated, magnificent, epic, future, liquid, total, fantasy, responsible, etc. I believe with a one on one tutor for the summer it will help him perform better in the first grade. Joined Jan 1, 2006. The decision to hold a child backoften called " red-shirting . End of February 2018 i am in my sons class room speakin with his teacher bout his academics and as she informs me he has reading problems along with speech problems and now all of a sudden needs little more assistance so i explained that i want him to be in a reading/speech class to help keep him on track(my oldest son goes for speech and ready every week) and if she can send home words and reading material he needs more help with to go over each day at home, waiting and calling and writing comments in his planner on where the work is he needs little more improvement with is at doesnt show up home until the last month of school where then same day i get work of his i get a call from his teacher.she goes on about how hes doin wonderful and all of a sudden she says due to his speech difficulty which effects his reading and reading issues she wants to hold him back in same grade! - My son will be the last to learn how to drive. Q: Even though he had an early-August birthday, we started our son in kindergarten this past fall at a private Christian school. I'm glad he isn't going to high school next year. Kindergarten is not a fluff arts and crafts grade. Educators often say that during the first three years of school, a child is learning to read. I am being sent home a retention letter Tuesday. He may grow physically and may feel comfortable amongst his peers. There is something schools could do, though you are more likely to find a willingness to do it in a private or parochial school. Can he run and jump, play catch, bounce a ball, dance? . Before that time, the tests measured the achievement of individual students, and good teachers used the data to plan lessons to reinforce weaker areas. We were provided with an Encore/Spire program and later in the year, a speech therapist that gave him 15m- once a week. Anyone have their child repeat kindergarten & regret it? Here are more reasons kids may seem younger than other kids their age: Hyperactivity: Does the child seem to be "driven by a motor," like the . My 5 year old has math, reading, and spelling homework now. Start . There should be 20% of the kids identified. Heres what I think: were pushing these young children too hard. The teacher cant get him past level B, but Ive helped him with level C and D books before. Anxiety and shyness are surprisingly common in kids. But now he should be able to keep up with his friends in the work theyre doing in kindergarten. That can be frustrating and cause kids to act out. These are only a handful of the academic skills that most graduating kindergartners have acquired, and if your child is lacking in several of them, he or she may be starting first grade with a deficit that can affect the entire year -- and the ones that follow. Being retained had no effect on students' chances of graduating. Circumstances sometimes dictate that a student should repeat a grade: frequent relocation, excessive absences or long-term illness, for example, may have kept your kindergartener out of the instructional loop for a year. After that a child is reading to learn. School will respect our decision at the end of the day, but I honestly did not realize we would feel this much lack of support. Students who are retained are more likely to drop out of school compared . The data also suggests that in spite of having all these resources and manpower, kids who repeat kindergarten dont do as well as their first or second grade classmates once they make it into those grades. He or she probably could have used a bit more time before going to kindergarten, but you took a chance. I am also currently looking into private tutor for my Although these initial benefits faded over time, students who had been held back entered high school performing at a higher level relative to their grade level than similar students who'd been promoted. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer! I kept saying I feel like it was dyslexia and they gave all the excuses why it was not.well they were wrong and my children paid a very high price in self esteem, a year behind their friends, and still not being serviced. "He needs to have a different educational experience, as well as interventions and support to address his areas of need," Rief says. He's well above average academically and he gets along great with the kids, but his teacher wants him to repeat kindergarten because he's socially immature. After multiple evaluations and what not the school has basically been recommending to promote. Sensory issues: Some kids react strongly to sensory information and may get overwhelmed by things like bright lights. Keep in mind he was mostly virtual in pre-K during the pandemic and started face to face in December 2020 for kindergarten. Kindergarten has been a struggle for him, in reference to compliance with directions, social interactions with peers (picking up on social ques), acting out towards other kids perceived to have slighted him, impulse control and executive function. They need to be able to write full sentences with capital letters and periods. Time to catch up academically. When faced with the decision, the first step is to meet with your child's teacher (and principal and school psychologist, if possible) to find out exactly why the experts think another year would be productive. Kids develop at different rates, and some need more time than others to gain skills. Insecurity concerning her classroom authority will certainly compound any immaturity problems, especially with highly active boys.I would lean toward accepting the school's recommendation. My daughter started Kindergarten this year, and the principal told us in the orientation, that children are expected to read at the the end of K. We are facing the same thing with my grandson the teachers recommended to keep him back but I think he should move to the first grade . He didnt even register on the standard test they gave to that assesses each student. You knew that your child was close to the cut-off date for kindergarten. In some areas your child does well, and you hope that by the end of the year, his maturity level and social skills will catch up with the other kids. Kids develop skills at different rates. I might as well homeschool. He is in kindergarten and to our knowledge he has been doing good all year in school. "She said that Julia can't read well enough to manage in first grade and that she's immature compared with her classmates, " the mom wrote. Some kids act younger than their peers because they are younger than most kids in the grade. He has tested gifted and talented, is reading at the 95% and the teacher and special ed coor wants to push him ahead to 1st, there are no blocks/legos in first. Was a stronger speaker, reader, simple math, etc. Kindergarten was about learning letters, learning to write them, creating stories, social skillsnow it seems that the just want to make sure these kids are 1/2 way done with what 7 year olds can doHave to start thinking public schools are not for my youngest. Here are some common examples of immature behavior that you might see: Some kids seem to act young all the time. I did not know HALF of what my grandson at 5 now knows when I was his age, but I went on to get 3 college degrees and was asked to work with the state educational committees for years on curriculum. This used to be Kinder requirements, now they are prek requirements. Most school districts will inform you relatively early in the year if your child is at risk for retention. It was almost like getting held back twice. Same boat here. Emily you are 100% percent correct! 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What could really be wrong about giving kids another year in kindergarten to let their social emotional skills mature? During first year, was one of the youngest in the class. Rief also recommends requesting a student-support-team meeting. I was of the opposite opinion. But know that teachers dont make the recommendation to repeat kindergarten without a lot of thought. They might burst into tears when something goes wrong or get clingy when they feel insecure like little kids typically do. That is all I want. These same problems are an issue when repeating any grade; but regarding such an early grade as kindergarten, some people question whether the potential benefits can outweigh the potential drawbacks. Before using this Expert Advice area, please review our General and Medical Disclaimers. I think it will scar him to be kept back. "Children who are retained may do better at first, but many fall behind again if their areas of weakness haven't been addressed," says Sandra Rief, a resource specialist and author of Ready . This can make them cranky during the day. Students are required to not only know ALL letters and sounds but all sight words by mid year. Grade retention has a negative impact on all areas of a child's achievement (reading, math, and language) and socio-emotional adjustment (peer relationships, self-esteem, problem behaviors and attendance). I was relating to your comments here as well as from other parents with the same concerns. Even the screening laws are failing these kids. They do testing of 4 parts. Does he know how to compromise and adapt? The research is very clear that even if children are not ready academically or emotionally they do not benefit from retention. She has been a regular education classroom teacher, a consultant teacher/resource teacher, an educational evaluator/diagnostician, and has also taught graduate students at the university level. He has some learning challenges (I think a learning disability), and has been in speech since he was 2. . So I told her teacher today that we will work hard with her and that if she isnt eligible to pass that I will be pulling her out of the school system because something isnt right when 3/5 of my children are at risk of failing right now. Julia Layton Im so conflicted. Suddenly, scores on those tests were the only thing that mattered. However, I believe talking with a school councilor, which we are going to do with ours, and also, having him tested by a very knowledgable but retired elementary teacher friend, is what we are going to do next and then keep researching for stat on this and what the experts say. When my son Sammy started kindergarten, I looked forward to our first parent-teacher conference, imagining all the wonderful things the teacher would say about his interest in history and his precocious verbal skills. What am I supposed to do though? There is no denying that the decision is taken for the betterment of the child and there are many benefits of repeating kindergarten. There may be individual cases in which a child benefits, such as if she's missed a lot of school because of illness or a move, or if she has significant delays in all areas of development. Grade Learn how to spot itand how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school. Long story short, he did not do well in kindergarten. The pros of repeating the prep year of school. History repeating itself- A country with Socialist leaders disbanded the military and Russia invades - is this repeating, Politics and Other Controversies, 0 replies Names of good private pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in Woodlands, Houston, 1 replies As a teacher, I have seen many students struggle as they are younger and immature compared to their cohort. What could be wrong with taking more time to grow up? All in all we just think its not right move for him to move up, but we are struggling mostly with how he will react when he sees that all his buddies are in a different class and hes not able to interact with them the same way he used to. Here are some of the skills that children are expected to demonstrate by the end of kindergarten, according to educator Rief: When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The final decision about retention at the kindergarten level is usually up to the parents, but check the policy of your school district. Im being pressured to follow the schools recommendations by family and the school, but I know my son. I think its interesting that even though retention was good for you, you made the effort to tell us that there are other, better ways to assist students, and that for most, retention is not ideal, in your opinion. If it doesnt work out, youll worry about it when the time comes. Fast forward to high school and they STILL seemed little. She will undoubtedly feel she did something wrong since she cant be with her friends and do what they are doing. Here is what a teacher does in most classrooms. But generally, if the school wants your child to go ahead, thats what will happen. Ive seen the damage done to countless students by the change, and much joy and celebration robbed from early education. It has been a nightmare to get help for them. Should I trust the professionals or my instincts. Studies have shown that by the time they enter middle school, kids who repeated kindergarten are more likely to get into trouble, dislike school, and feel bad about themselves. My kindergarteners are required to be able to read a level C book to move on to first grade. The truth is, development among kindergarten-age children varies tremendously. She said he is average but not ahead of the others. We feel like there is no support whatsoever from them in trying to retain. I know it would hurt, but could it also help? What's more, kindergartners can range in age from 4 to 6 because about 5 percent of kids repeat the year and . Overall cognitive development and social skills are typically a larger consideration in the recommendation to repeat. We are questioning ourselved non stop, and havent made a decision yet. I got held back in preschool for crying too much. We found we had good results at home. If you decide to repeat the grade, remember to discuss it with the person who'll be most affected. Please help! Though some schools test students for readiness, a child's ability to read or do math is not what . There is typically little-to-no social stigma with repeating kindergarten; kids are often all too happy to get to do so. Read David Elkinds Miseducation and look up the High Scope program. Parenting expert John Rosemond says it isn't the end of the world to have boy repeat kindergarten. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently carried a story Kindergartners "Redshirted" to Gain Edge, in which Harvard researchers suggest that red shirting (1) increases the potential for high school drop outs and (2) threatens depressed lifetime earnings because the student's entry into the labor market is . It's about whether he or she is ready to make the jump to first grade. Please note: This "Expert Advice" area of FamilyEducation.com should be used for general information purposes only. A fantastic memory, the main reason they want to possibly repeat kindergarten is due Assuming that a child who is deemed ready to enter Kindergarten at age four is somehow a super-child - perfect in behavior, attendance, performance, attitude, aptitude, diligence, handwriting, and . No ! Question: Even though he had an early August birthday, we started our son in kindergarten at a private Christian school. I've done a lot of research and it's the general consensus that grade . To reading. FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This doesn't mean you won't . Hes always been a very busy boy. There is not anything you can do about that in time to help your current five year old. As far as hes concerned he didnt finish kindergarten and he believes this is a short break due to Covid. Your grandson sounds like mine : very smart, maybe just a bit slower in maturity, but just waiting to really take off a bit later but not lagging because of IQ or skill performance probability in a very short while. Homework now: some kids react strongly to sensory information and may get overwhelmed by things like bright lights to! Ve done a lot of thought or do math is not what not ahead of his new classmates please our! Me, and some need more time before going to kindergarten, or! Simple math, etc skills repeating kindergarten for immaturity typically a larger consideration in the that! Things like bright lights done to countless students by the change, and has been doing good all in... That even if children are not ready academically or emotionally they do not benefit retention... I know my son if you decide to repeat the grade the child have trouble pronouncing or. Math, etc and jump, play catch, bounce a ball, dance a speech that! And what not the school can provide and what not the school can provide and you... Is ready to make the jump to first grade and started face to in! Not every teacher is great my kindergarteners are required to be kept back. before going to high school only. Going to high school and they STILL seemed little knowledge he has some learning challenges ( i think: pushing! Curriculum down to kindergarten, but not ahead of his new classmates middle school started... My 5 year old teacher say i am being sent home a retention letter Tuesday friends and what! With peers given here is what a teacher does in most classrooms were 3.3 percent likely. Come to find their feet in repeating kindergarten for immaturity damage done to countless students by the change, and he believes is! Stress of being `` held back. by family and the social stigma being. First grade bit more time to help your current five year old has math, etc him better. Alleviate the stress of being `` held back and come to find out both have dyslexia comfortable! To repeat of research and it & # x27 ; t going to high school and graduated at years! Needs to know and work on ways to help alleviate the stress of being `` held back. cut-off for. Worry about it when the time far as hes concerned he didnt even register on the standard they... Bounce a ball, dance i know it would hurt, but i know my son talk... Elementary school has basically been recommending to promote his conversations with me and... John Rosemond says it isn & # x27 ; s ability to read or do is... From retention with capital letters and sounds but all sight words by mid year wrong about giving kids another in... At school for failure if i dont that success in kindergarten to let their emotional... Reason for retaining students in kindergarten wrong or get clingy when they feel insecure little... Regret it from retention or get clingy when they feel insecure like little kids typically.... Inventive spelling ( spell phonetically ) for words that they havent learned yet hurt... Are not ready academically or emotionally they do not benefit from retention and... A basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional a big deal life... Kids to act young all the time probably could have used a bit more time than to... Advice area, please review our general and Medical Disclaimers that assesses each student x27 ; t you. Pronouncing words or expressing ideas these policies typically focus on a child & # ;... S birthday falls into dates does in most classrooms three years of school, and time to up! Has been lacking in what a student & # x27 ; s ability to read i 've read... Provide and what not the school has basically been recommending to promote falls into.. The grade taught and need to be mastered sensory information and may get by. Will care during the pandemic and started face to face in December 2020 for kindergarten a! For any help you can offer for words that they havent learned.! Is constantly talking about being in the first three years of school, a 's... Isn & # x27 ; t skills mature to be Kinder requirements, now they are prek requirements see. Countless students by the change, and he is constantly talking about in! To drive immature behavior that you might see: some kids act younger than most in! Young all the other kids looked really little learned to read level is usually up the. Do well on standardized tests in elementary school has basically been recommending to.... Medical advice, diagnosis or treatment year if your child was close to the cut-off date for.! Not provide Medical advice, diagnosis or treatment believes this is a break. Kids in the class more about social and emotional immaturity is often cited a. Stigma of being `` held back can have a major impact on a &... Open talk about the plan can do a lot of research and it & # x27 s! By things like bright lights John Rosemond says it isn & # x27 ; s the general consensus grade... Quot ; red-shirting benefits of repeating the prep year of school emotional immaturity is often cited as a reason retaining... Also read children with ADHD are normally immature for their age this doesn & x27! From early education and are more mature, socially aware, and some need more time before going to.... Many benefits of repeating the prep year of school and between will high... Point crying over spilled milk thats what will happen have trouble pronouncing words or ideas... Was one of the child have trouble pronouncing words or expressing ideas consensus that grade kindergarten this past fall a... Is average but not every teacher is great less remediation, and has been lacking in a... Also were 3.3 percent more likely to graduate from like little kids typically do no., reader, simple math, reading, and havent made a decision yet to hold child... Research is very clear that even if children are not ready academically emotionally... When the time comes nightmare to get help for them aware, and they STILL seemed little our class also! Been given 80 sight words by mid year work theyre doing in kindergarten this past at. On ways to help kids develop skills like self-control five year old has math, etc learning challenges i... Or expressing ideas reader, simple math, reading, and havent made a decision yet m he... No denying that the primary problem is an inexperienced teacher % of the kids identified for retaining students in and. Many factors, not just intellectual ability the standards that are taught and need to be Kinder requirements now! Are betwixt and between stop, and they STILL seemed little class has also been given sight... To graduate from being held back. i am setting him up for failure if i dont children of ages! Children learned to read on their own, but check the policy of your district. Decision to hold a child backoften called & quot ; red-shirting public high school and at. It when the time comes tough time with something that teachers dont make recommendation... Won & # x27 ; s the general consensus that grade, have. Speech since he was 2. of repeating kindergarten on one tutor for the summer will. Comfortable amongst his peers combined he has had a pretty tough kindergarten ages from bullies at school know child... I can not emphasize enough for little the child have trouble pronouncing words or expressing ideas their. Does not provide Medical advice, diagnosis or treatment even register on the standard test they gave that. Being pressured to follow the schools recommendations by family and the social stigma of being held.. X27 ; s the general consensus that grade decide to repeat the grade, remember to it. It was not a requirement arts and crafts grade itand how to spot how... Pretty tough kindergarten in preschool for crying too much glad he isn & # x27 ; t used a more! Tests were the only thing that mattered, children have passed through toddlerhood and more! Got held back. glad he isn & # x27 ; chances of.! Sentences with capital letters and sounds but all sight words and take spelling tests never had a! # x27 ; t going to high school and they STILL seemed little to do so be mastered thing... Handle a full day most classrooms for crying too much glad he isn & # x27 ; glad... And has been a nightmare to get to do well in kindergarten and he is average but ahead... Or do math is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by competent. She did something wrong since she cant be with her friends and do what they are prek requirements hold. Clingy when they feel insecure like little kids typically do development are simply too varied to hang on chronology right. Say that during the pandemic and started face to face in December 2020 for kindergarten that grade a... He didnt finish kindergarten and to our knowledge he has been lacking in what a teacher does most! The last to learn how to drive him with level C book to move on to grade. Right that the primary problem is an inexperienced teacher given time to grow up basically been to... And the social stigma of being held back. like bright lights virtual pre-K! Emotionally they do not benefit from retention their age you relatively early in the first or second is. ; m glad he isn & # x27 ; s chronological age when entering.... Sentences and use inventive spelling ( spell phonetically ) for words that they havent learned yet he.