I am more then thrilled to sign Carleigh up for Kindergarten this year. She has been attending preschool now for two years, and has learned quite a lot.
She is now starting to spell, read, add and subtract numbers, and more.
Some of our friends were over last weekend and mentioned that she seems to know even more then what they teach in Kindergarten. She asked if I had thought about getting her tested into first grade instead.
Honestly, I never even thought about it.
I mean, do they even do that?
Well, I talked to her preschool teacher and she even said, that if Carleigh had been going into a full day Kindergarten it might not be a big deal. But since her school is only half day, it might be a good idea to ask the school about getting her tested.
So my plan is to go at the end of this month (after her five year check up with the doctor) to register her and ask about testing.
We don’t even know yet if we can, or if she would pass, or if I even want her to skip Kindergarten…but it’s something that is on my mind now.
Have you ever tested your child to skip a grade? Would you?
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I think if she already knows it, give her the best of her education! (no pressure for her of course, just opportunity) And agreed on half day vs full day of school effecting the decision. Good luck!
Amanda recent post: The Museum of Glass
I struggled with this very thing last fall. My youngest child, a girl, started kindergarten and turned 6 shortly after. Our cut-off, age wise, is Sept 30 and her birthday is Oct 15. In addition to her age, she had been in preschool for two years and obviously bright. She was reading above age level and emotionally mature. Part of me wanted to let her skip on to first grade. I didn’t want her to be bored through elementary school. I ultimately decided to leave her where she was. Kindergarten is such a fun experience that I wanted her to have. Plus? In the long run, I liked the idea of her graduating high school at 18 and starting college at near 19.
Natalie recent post: House Cleaning
Natalie, this is me exactly! Thank you!! I needed to hear this.
My son taught himself to read before he was three. He ended up skipping second grade after a very horribly boring year in first grade. He was testing at a 5th grade level (by the way, they don’t like them to skip unless they are testing several years ahead). Academically, it’s been a good decision. He is in a gifted program where he continues to excel. However, there have been years where he has definitely struggled with maturity levels and friendships with his peers, including being physically bullied in 4th grade. He has a summer birthday and is nearly 2 years younger than many of his classmates. Next year I will be sending him to junior high at 11 years old (7th grade). He’s excited and has many friends now but I’m scared to death. And the thoughts of sending a 16 year old off to college are frightening. I would probably do it again but it is definitely something that you should consider carefully. I wish you the best with your little girl.
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Thank you for sharing this! I would be scared to send my 16 year old off to college too…but it sounds like he is a very smart kid.
My recommendation is to NOT let her skip. Not only did I skip kindergarten, but I have a May birthday, so I was SO MUCH younger than everyone in my class. I remember seeing all the fun my brother was having when he was in kindergarten and I feel like I was robbed of that experience. I was also in gifted classes which separated my from my peers even more. All of my friends were driving (and dating) in our sophomore year, and I didn’t get my license until just a few weeks before our junior year was over. I turned 17 a few weeks before graduation and I was 17 through my whole first year of college. Overall, I definitely think it affected my social life, which was pretty non-existent. I think the social aspect of life is just as important as the academic.
Bryce will miss the kindergarten cut off by 12 days, and while I think he will definitely be intellectually able to skip kindergarten, knowing what I experienced, I would never even think about doing that to him. He will be one of the oldest kids in his class, one of the first to drive, etc. I think that will be great for him!
If your daughter gets good teachers, they will continue to challenge her, and she won’t be bored.
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Thank you for this!
We had that option with our son, it was suggested my several friends, family members and even the Kindergarten teacher. We chose NOT to move our son ahead one year. Kindergarten is such a wonderful experience that all children should get to experience.
Kindergarten is so much more than just learning how to spell, count to 100 and learning the ABC’s… it’s about learning social skills, structure and so much more.
My son is in 5th grade now and in all the advanced classes, getting straight A’s!
My “mom advice” is to NOT let her skip.
A very interesting read from the post & comments both.
My daughter has a summer birthday (4 yrs on 7/28) and I’ve really struggled in seeing if I want her in preschool this year. I hadn’t planned on it, but I loath the idea of her attending a full-day Kindergarten without some sort of prep beforehand. Honestly, I don’t mind the Kindergarten aspect, I just disagree with it being a full day/full week at such a young age.
What is interesting is that I’m considering homeschooling and the preschool/private school that she’s been accepted to, has a defined hybrid arts program for home-schoolers starting with 1st grade. So I’ve been looking into whether I want her to attend Kindergarten at all or just skip it and go straight to 1st.
I don’t remember Kindergarten, so I don’t see the big deal. And the private school won’t bus her so that one aspect is gone anyhow. Plus, I was so bored that I hated school; so I’m thrilled the homeschool wouldn’t clip her wings to conformity or squash her focused efforts. My husband was like another who commented, he was in gifted classes and wants her to experience more in “regular” classes, environments, and experiences.
So I really want to ask. Does a child need 2 years of preschool? We technically have the option to red-shirt her a year for Kindergarten if we wanted. Frankly, I was thinking she could go to Preschool this fall; Begindergarten (red-shirt/young 5 program) next year; Skip Kindergarten and head straight to 1st grade Homeschool program.
Am I being silly to maintain that she spends more time with her family on a 2/3 day schedule then she does at school? We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to stay home with her while she’s younger; I just don’t want her to be as miserable as I was.
I don’t think they NEED two years of “preschool”. I choose to put my daughter into preschool after she turned three, mainly because I was pregnant with her sister and wanted to give her some play time outside the home. I’m not interested in homeschooling, so for us it really prepared her for regular school. She has learned so much that I feel more comfortable now about her starting kindergarten. Now, my middle child…she has a December birthday, so I’m going to wait until AFTER she turns four to send her to preschool. So that we don’t do two years of preschool again. One year, is plenty of time!