I know lots of our '05 babies started K last year, so who is left to start this year?
Nolan is starting and we are soooo excited. It was a hard decision to wait, but i'm glad we did overall. Now we are ready to go!
So how about everyone else that's starting this year? Excited, nervous?
I can't wait to start this chapter of our life. It will be nice to not to have the child care expense too. lol!
Secondly, for those that went last year, any special tips you can give us? Things you learned that could be helpful for us? Things to watch out for?
I think the one thing I'm nervous about is there being bullies or something. Nolan is so outgoing and nice that it will break my heart to have someone being mean to him.
-- Edited by Chickie on Saturday 13th of August 2011 06:43:19 AM
Chickie, Koda is going for the first time this year too. We are really nervous, but just trying to be open-minded. Koda is very excited to meet some new friends, and is mostly just sad we won't let him take the bus. All that said, we too are glad we waited. He's more emotionally ready than this time last fall.
I don't have many tips but here's something to be prepared for (I hope this doesn't scare you, lol)
For us, the first month was pure hell (lmao).
He was completely overwhelmed and we didnt' know the schedule so it was hard to prepare him for it. He was tired. It was overwhelming. He wasn't sure of what was happening.
The hardest part was that he said he liked school. And that school was not his problem. It was.
The good news, it got incredibly better after a month. He figured it all out.
Charlie's been in daycare since he was 3. He knew that routine. He was very very comfortable there.
One thing I'd do differently if I was to do it again is that I would have emailed the teacher in the first week and asked for the schedule. Then at least I could have prepared Charlie for what was coming each day. We didn't have a parent/teacher meet and greet until the third week of school. Until then, we were completely clueless about how their day went.
Anyway, I've heard it from a few parents that the first weeks are really rough but it gets much much better.
Someone had prepared me for it so I wasn't shocked and I didn't take him to the doctor or a priest asking them to see if they could identify the demon that possessed my child. :)
On a positive note, the rest of the year was awesome. He LOVES school. He loves his teacher (who he'll have again this year - he's in a split K/1 class). He has tons of friends. He learned to read which has really changed his life. All good.
Holly had a good K year. I was terrified for her beforehand, tbh, because she's SO freaking sensitive and just expects everyone to instantly be her friend.
I think it's important to be aware of behavior changes, and to press (gently) for answers as to what the cause might be. We only had one real issue and it was toward the end of the year; Holly had a classmate who was talking her out of her lunch money. I was upset, but it worked better for us to keep our solution low-key. We made the teacher aware of what was happening, but not in a "Fix this NOW!" kind of way, and we told Holly that her lunch money was only for her, and rehearsed scenarios to make her feel more prepared to tell the other child no.
Rehearsing things/role-playing seemed to help her a lot with things she was nervous about.
The only other thing I'd say is be a presence; know the teacher. I couldn't volunteer in Holly's classroom because they have a strict no-siblings policy, but I was still on the phone/emailing back and forth with the teacher on a regular basis, just to stay on top of what was going on. As long as there's steady communication, I think the teamwork aspect of the parent-teacher relationship is easier to maintain. Then if there's a problem, you don't have as much tension because you already have a good feel for each other and respect one another.
Mason is starting kindergarten but also went last year - our school district has 2-year program for kids who are just not ready to start kindy but are too old for preschool. So last year he was with other kids his age, with a curriculum geared to that age group, and this year he will just be in regular kindy.
There were bullying issues, because some of the parents used the class as a substitute for getting their kids evaluated for some serious behavioral issues. The biggest problem was not so much that there were bullies but that the principal was ineffectual at dealing with them.
What helped the most, since I couldn't be there in the classroom, was to be friends with some of the other moms, who kept me apprised of what was going on. I also felt comfortable talking to the teacher, which was helpful.
Likely you won't run into any of these issues at all. I think Nolan will have a great year.
One random little thing that we ran across was that there was a little boy in Gavin's class who would laugh at him in the bathroom. I think he did it to others too, not just Gavin. What we finally (I think) figured out is that when Gavin was using the urinal he dropped his pants to the ground, just like he does at home and I think that boy was teasing him about seeing his butt. So, we talked about ideas and Doug tried to show him how to pull his pants down just enough so his bum didn't show but Gavin just came up with the idea to use the stall with the door. No big deal. But, I would have never thought about that kind of thing except that it happened. So, just some food for thought. :)
Elizabeth will be starting kindergarten this year. I really like the school she will be at and I think it should be a good experience. Unfortunately my daughter worries way too much. We have been talking about the positives of kindergarten, but I think her anxiousness over rides any excitement. Someone asked if she was ready to start kindergarten and she sighed, "I sure hope so." She does know a few kids that will be there. There are only two kindergarten classes and they co-teach most of the day. Once she gets there, I think she will be fine. But I have also been warned that she will be exhausted. I am trying to remember, but is she the only ms girl that didn't go to kindergarten last year?
Like Sonya said - they will be hellish the first few weeks. They get so exhausted from the days. I guess it depends if they are full or half day, but Allie was wiped out after school the first few weeks. She was hell on wheels at home, but we got past that.
As far as mean kids. Well, it is just going to happen. We let our little babies out into the world and they learn how to co-exist with the "mean" kids. Just keep an open communication with them and the teachers.
Hope everyone has a wonderful school year. I never thought I would say this, but I am looking forward to getting life back in order and a bit of a schedule.
All I can say is to bring tissues for first day drop off! Do your best to hold your tears until your back in the car, as when I tear up, so did the kids. I was 2/2 as a blubbering mess once I was in the car!
One random little thing that we ran across was that there was a little boy in Gavin's class who would laugh at him in the bathroom. I think he did it to others too, not just Gavin. What we finally (I think) figured out is that when Gavin was using the urinal he dropped his pants to the ground, just like he does at home and I think that boy was teasing him about seeing his butt. So, we talked about ideas and Doug tried to show him how to pull his pants down just enough so his bum didn't show but Gavin just came up with the idea to use the stall with the door. No big deal. But, I would have never thought about that kind of thing except that it happened. So, just some food for thought. :)
Oh my gosh you gave me huge anxiety
the K class had their own private bathroom in each room. He will have to use to the big bathroom for the first time this year and these are some of the areas where Lucas lacks skills. Added to my list of things to talk to the teacher about.
I agree with the others about the exhaustion. Ethan has been in full-day care since he was 3 months old so I was not expecting kindergarten to phase him. It did! It's hard going from mostly play to actual learning and rule following and a new environment. But a couple of weeks in and he was fine.
Sonya, good to know about the schedule. We are actually meeting with his teacher tonight, so I'm hoping to talk to her about some of that stuff and get a better feel for it. He is starting on Wednesday.
I'm also glad to know to be prepared for the moodiness and tiredness. We just got past a horrible, horrible grumpy phase and I'm none too pleased that we will be starting a new one. Hopefully it will be a quick one.
Today is my only day this week I have to work. I thought it would be fun to spend his last summer day with him tomorrow and then take him to school and pick him up for the first 3 days of school. We live close enough to walk and it's super nice weather here, so I'm really excited!!!
-- Edited by Chickie on Monday 15th of August 2011 02:22:57 PM
Christopher is also starting Kindergarten this year. Our first day is on Thursday. I am more nervous than he is.
Those of you who let your kids ride the school bus, did you start them on the bus starting the first day of school or did you drive them during the first 1-2 weeks? I feel that this is such a big change and I wanted to make it easier for him.
We have a meeting with a teacher on Tuesday, I can't wait to meet her and find out more.
I took gavin to school in the morning and he rode the bus home. I think it is perfectly fine to take them the first couple of days but I probably would only do that instead of a couple of weeks just so they can get into the bus routine quickly.
Christopher is also starting Kindergarten this year. Our first day is on Thursday. I am more nervous than he is.
Those of you who let your kids ride the school bus, did you start them on the bus starting the first day of school or did you drive them during the first 1-2 weeks? I feel that this is such a big change and I wanted to make it easier for him.
We have a meeting with a teacher on Tuesday, I can't wait to meet her and find out more.
I had Joe ride the bus the first day, we followed behind all the way to school just to see what happened. He really wanted to do it and I really wanted him to do it the first day cause I figured the first day there would be the most help available for him. At Joe's school they don't let kindergarteners walk alone from anywhere to anywhere. When his bus got there the bus driver let all the kids off except the K'ers, they had to wait a minute or so for an aide to come collect them and walk them to the basketball courts where they met their teachers (they were there with big signs held on poles above their heads with their names). I'm glad we did it like that, I think it made him a little more savvy and ready for now in 1st when they just let them walk from the bus to where they meet the teachers. You should try and remember to ask Christopher's teacher if they have a system like that in place for K'ers.
Christopher is also starting Kindergarten this year. Our first day is on Thursday. I am more nervous than he is.
Those of you who let your kids ride the school bus, did you start them on the bus starting the first day of school or did you drive them during the first 1-2 weeks? I feel that this is such a big change and I wanted to make it easier for him.
We have a meeting with a teacher on Tuesday, I can't wait to meet her and find out more.
I had Joe ride the bus the first day, we followed behind all the way to school just to see what happened. He really wanted to do it and I really wanted him to do it the first day cause I figured the first day there would be the most help available for him. At Joe's school they don't let kindergarteners walk alone from anywhere to anywhere. When his bus got there the bus driver let all the kids off except the K'ers, they had to wait a minute or so for an aide to come collect them and walk them to the basketball courts where they met their teachers (they were there with big signs held on poles above their heads with their names). I'm glad we did it like that, I think it made him a little more savvy and ready for now in 1st when they just let them walk from the bus to where they meet the teachers. You should try and remember to ask Christopher's teacher if they have a system like that in place for K'ers.
Thank you Lucy and Juni for the info. I will definitely ask the teacher about it.
If that's the case, I would feel comfortable him riding the bus the first day.
I think I would too follow behind just to see everything.
-- Edited by gogona on Sunday 21st of August 2011 10:24:39 AM
Hey Chickie! Sarah started Kindergarten last week. I'm sooooooooo happy we waited an extra year. She was NOT ready last year. She adjusted well right away. She loves it and is making new friends. The transition has been super easy. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that the boys go there and she's used to the school. Good luck to Nolan. Kindergarten rocks!
we had a pretty easy transition last year - R is laid back about most things, so besides a little bit of tiredness (which she handled by just playing upstairs for like 20 min after school by herself to decompress), things weren't so bad.
like others have said, just keep open communication with the teacher. i emailed the teacher a lot, just to check in, and was the class mom too, which helped. we had one "bullying" incident (i dont think it was technically bullying - more just like, R was getting forced into this game she didnt want to play, and she wasnt standing up for herself) - so i emailed the teacher, and had her talk to the lunch aide. i think the lunch aide thing is critical. i never met our aide myself, but i did have our teacher make sure that R (being as shy as she is) was being looked after at lunch and not getting pushed around. that was the one area she wasnt quite ready for in K - standing up for herself and having the confidence to say "i dont want to do that." as the end of the year approached, she grew SO much in this area, and i think kids who start at 6 are at a HUGE advantage in this regard. (she was the second youngest in her class, with her july bday, and one of the smallest).
so i think that's my tip - to make sure the lunch aides are aware of any concerns - recess is way different than classroom dynamics. you always want someone watching out for your kid, especially in those unstructured times.
