My son will be turning 5 in August and we are considering whether to put him into elementary school this year or leaving him in his preschool to do private kindergarten there. He is a small child and quiet. Academically he is ready, we just are worried that he may not be able to stand up for himself and get swallowed up in a big class.
Have any of your kids attended a private kindergarten to then go to first grade at a public school and how have they adjusted?
May I suggest another alternative? You did not say where you live but Vista Academy is a great school. It is a charter school (thus, free) with a low teacher/student ratio. The school has grades K-6. A public school with a private school education.
I held back both my boys - summer b-days in late May and July. My oldest went to kindergarten at a public school at age 6 and it was the best thing. He was not ready emotionally or socially and academically he needed another year as well. No regrets.
My youngest will start kindergarten this fall and the same public school and he will also be 6. I just think it gives them that extra time and you can't ever get that time back. You can always do the private kindergarten at your preschool and depending how he does decide whether entering kindergarten or 1st grade at the public school is right for him. Kindergarten is completely different than when we were kids and the expectations are increased. What I did in 1st grade is what they are doing in kindergarten now, so keep that in perspective.
Best of luck and go with what your gut tells you.
I agree with the other moms. I am a former junior high and high school teacher. You may not see a big difference academically or socially in elementary school. But, in high school, there will be a huge difference. I know several elementary teachers and they always suggest holding summer birthdays back a year, especially boys. Good luck!
As a counselor and now preschool teacher I recommend giving him that extra year!!!! What a blessing to have him one more year!!!
We did private kindergarten for my oldest and public kindergarten for my youngest. Private kindergarten was better by far. It was better academically and socially. My youngest is in public kindergarten now, and although he is doing fine, he thrived in private school. I thoroughly regret my decision to put him in public school this year. Just to let you know, I teach high school in the public school system, and I am not opposed to public school overall. I just wish I had kept him in private school a little longer. Good luck with your decision.
Well your concern is certainly valid, however children will suprise you! I would like to say that he will be fine. Eventually he will be going to elementary school and if he is ready academically then he probably will do just fine. Preparing him for the transition is most important. Speak to him about the new changes that will occur, take tour of your soon to be elementary school, gather books about Kindergarten and get him excited. I know as parents WE are more hesitant than our children, but the teachers will assist in any trying timea he may have.
We have a similar situation this year. We have our five year old in private kindergarten at Temple Christian Academy in Lewisville. They will be moving their program to FM next year. We have loved the program and all she is learning, but we are planning to put her in public KN next year. This has been a wonderful expierence for our little one. She is very smart and dedicated, but not socially ready for first grade. She still takes naps at school and home, she sucks her thumb and twirls her hair as her comfort and she just wont give up walking on her tippy toes. She is ready academically for first grade, but she will not be bored in KN either. The classes this year are teaching cursive handwritting, Bible stories, math and reading. She is missing techonolgy and nursery rhymes and going all day without a nap. She knows she is repeating KN and is excited to be in "big kid school" like her sister.
My son has an August birthday as well and was academically ready too, but the bottom line for me was that I didn't want to send a 17 year old off to college! We loved having our extra year together and he has thrived in Kindergarten this year (in a private school). We do not plan to move to a public school. His class has 16 in it and I think about 3 of the boys were 6 when Kinder started....definitely a good trend, in my opinion. Best wishes with your decision.
I am a public elementary teacher and can assure you that kindergarten has become much, much more rigorous and much less fun that it once was. Also, new law in Texas requires schools to retain children who have failing grades in any core subject. A retention then puts the child on the state's "At Risk" list. I would rather have a child start late, already be ahead, and never need retention. We all get to be grown-ups for many, many years...what's the rush to have our children grow up so soon?
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content5/kindergarten....
I would definitely hold him back!!!! My son has an end of June birthday and he was academically ready as well. We listen to the advise of his teachers and put him in Kindergarten at 5. Yes, he still continue to do fine academically until high school. Remember, you can't go back once you start. He was always the youngest amongst his friends. He had friends who had b-days in September; therefore, they were almost a year older than my son. If you have doubts....Hold him back. It doesn't matter when they are young. The pressure kids have on them these days are bad enough. Give him every advantage! He'll be one of the oldest; maybe even one of the biggest (if you hold him back, he'll have time to grow). Kindergarten is no big deal; same with elementary school. He'll be more mature to handle what's ahead of him. My son is now 20. Hope this helps.
My son did private Kindergarten (8 kids) and is now doing private 1st grade (10 kids). We are planning on starting him in public school next year for 2nd grade. I am seriously amazed/impressed with how much his maturity level has grown, this year, during 1st grade. He probably would have done fine in public school this year, but I am glad we have had one more year of private school and that he will be starting public next year.
Good luck!
L.
I recommend doing Private Kindergarten first. That way, you can decide whether to repeat kindergarten seamlessly by doing it at public school or going on to first grade. I did this with both my boys (August and July birthdays) and they both thrived. Academically, they were ready for 1st grade but doing the 2 years of kindergarten gave them the self-confidence boost that made all the difference. I'd rather have the two years of kinder than have them repeat 3rd grade when the going gets rough and they're too timid to raise their hands.
Blessings!
M.
WAHM Champion Recruiter
I have several friends with boys who have an August birthday. Two have sent their sons to private K-5 and loved it. The other plans to send her boys when they turn 5.
