I don't have any information to report but I'd like to see what you find
from the group. I also wanted to say that I find this attitude in
opposition to what I have done with my own children. I have two sons who
were born in June and a daughter who was born in September. All were able
to attend kindergarten when they had "just turned" or were "about to turn" 5
years old. (The cut-off date was in October or November when we lived in
Oklahoma --when the two older children were 5 years old.) I allowed my two
older children (a son and the daughter) to attend kindergarten, attend first
grade and then repeat the first grade (or in one case, my daughter attended
a "transitional first-grade class") rather than moving into the second
grade. I plan to allow my youngest son who just turned 5 on June 20th, to
attend kindergarten this year and then repeat it. Why?
The results that I found from my older children were that they gained a
"solid" base for beginning reading, as well as understanding math concepts
such as addition and subtraction. They understood directions and gained
confidence in the classroom. They began reading faster (of course, I
realize they had more time) and they also gained the maturity to remain
attentive to the teacher once they were older and in higher grades. I was
also told by every teacher (except the first ones) that they were both very
well-behaved and very cooperative students who volunteered and assisted
others a peer-tutors in class. This increased their self-confidence...and I
have tons of newspaper clippings showing them as "student of the month" when
they attended elementary school.
Both have remained honor students throughout their school years (my oldest
is now a sophomore in high school taking AP courses and my daughter is a
seventh grader who excels in her coursework and has time after school to
devote to her favorite "dramatic activities"--cheerleading, dance, theater.)
How do they feel about repeating first grade or kindergarten? They are the
"leaders" in their class, they are sociable, and they realize that although
they may be older than others in their classes, but they often test higher
than those peers who moved ahead of them earlier in their lives. Both have
been tested for gifted and talented programs and attended them while in
elementary school.
I would encourage this mother to allow her daughter to attend school this
year, but also cite that repeating the coursework will give her a solid
foundation from which to build upon. I also contend that most children at
4-5 are not mature enough to maintain an attention span necessary for the
rigors of the school day. With testing as a priority in Texas (TAAS, TEKS)
and elementary recess, humanities and other cultural activities eliminated
from the curriculum in order to "teach the tests", I'd allow the kid to
learn everything she could before she moved forward to what lies ahead for
her here in Texas.
Just my opinion....
Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley Upper School Librarian
Ft. Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "April McKinney" <April.McKinney@WHITNEY.K12.TX.US>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 10:01 AM
Subject: Off Topic: Need Help Finding Information
> I need help finding articles, statistics or any information on the
> affects of enrolling children in school a year early. I am having
> trouble finding anything on the internet or in our online magazine
> databases. One of our parents is wanting to start her four-year-old
> daughter in kindergarten this year. (The child's birthday does fall
> early in the school year.) The girl was tested at a private school and
> they said she has the skills to begin their kindergarten. Next year she
> will be ready to enter first grade at our public school and she will
> only be five. Does anyone know where I could find some information on
> this topic?
> Thanks!
>
> April McKinney
> Librarian
> Whitney ISD
> Whitney, TX
> april.mckinney@whitney.k12.tx.us
>
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