Comments on: From Kindergarten to Therapy http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/ Just another blogs2.startribune.com weblog Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:11:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Becky J. http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5778 Becky J. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:25:03 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5778 I think it's fair to say confidently, as many of you have, that the strongest determinant in a kid's educational success is the involvement of their parents . . . that said, I still felt the anxiety when it was time to choose a school for my kids. I didn't care how FAST they learned how to read, or how EARLY they could master math concepts . . . I wanted their first year at school to show them that learning was fun, and school is cool. I wanted them to learn how to ask a teacher for help, I wanted Kindergarten to reiterate what we had been teaching at home -- that everybody makes mistakes and that's OK, and that you should use that experience to learn; that everybody deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. You want a school that gives them the message that learning is important, and that they (the kids) are capable to handle the challenges and will be successful learners. You want their first exposure to school to be a positive one that they will carry with them for years, even thru the times when the teachers/classes are disappointing. I could go on and on, but you guys know what I mean, and probably had similar/the same wishes. So, in that sense, choosing the right school IS important. I think it’s fair to say confidently, as many of you have, that the strongest determinant in a kid’s educational success is the involvement of their parents . . . that said, I still felt the anxiety when it was time to choose a school for my kids. I didn’t care how FAST they learned how to read, or how EARLY they could master math concepts . . . I wanted their first year at school to show them that learning was fun, and school is cool. I wanted them to learn how to ask a teacher for help, I wanted Kindergarten to reiterate what we had been teaching at home — that everybody makes mistakes and that’s OK, and that you should use that experience to learn; that everybody deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. You want a school that gives them the message that learning is important, and that they (the kids) are capable to handle the challenges and will be successful learners. You want their first exposure to school to be a positive one that they will carry with them for years, even thru the times when the teachers/classes are disappointing. I could go on and on, but you guys know what I mean, and probably had similar/the same wishes. So, in that sense, choosing the right school IS important.

]]> By: Amy http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5777 Amy Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:15:42 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5777 Wow! When did the high-pressure adult work world trickle down to our precious little children's lives? Living in a small town with a great public school I guess I'm not faced with these sorts of problems. Everyone has to do what's best for their kids. What's best for my kids is letting them be kids for as long as they can! Wow! When did the high-pressure adult work world trickle down to our precious little children’s lives? Living in a small town with a great public school I guess I’m not faced with these sorts of problems. Everyone has to do what’s best for their kids. What’s best for my kids is letting them be kids for as long as they can!

]]> By: Katy http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5755 Katy Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:53:31 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5755 Sometimes all the choices do seem overwhelming...I too remember (and miss!) the days of just going to my neighborhood school. To me, it's not so much a question of getting into the right school academically, as I agree with those who say that the home influence is the one that matters most in the long run anyway. I'm concerned more with the social aspects...I want my kid to know the kids he goes to school with, to have his friends from the neighborhood also be his school friends; and I don't want to drive him half-an-hour for a playdate with his school buddies! Also, philosophically, I just support public education...so I'm sure we will just end up going to our neighborhood school. But it does make me wonder...not only in school choice, but in many things in life...can having lots of options ever be a BAD thing...? Sometimes it seems like we just make our lives harder that way, not easier! Sometimes all the choices do seem overwhelming…I too remember (and miss!) the days of just going to my neighborhood school.

To me, it’s not so much a question of getting into the right school academically, as I agree with those who say that the home influence is the one that matters most in the long run anyway. I’m concerned more with the social aspects…I want my kid to know the kids he goes to school with, to have his friends from the neighborhood also be his school friends; and I don’t want to drive him half-an-hour for a playdate with his school buddies! Also, philosophically, I just support public education…so I’m sure we will just end up going to our neighborhood school.

But it does make me wonder…not only in school choice, but in many things in life…can having lots of options ever be a BAD thing…? Sometimes it seems like we just make our lives harder that way, not easier!

]]> By: Rach http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5752 Rach Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:17:47 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5752 Wow, we just went through this last month - I can relate. My husband and I grew up in small towns - there was one school and you went to it! However, we now live in Eden Prairie, and we had to decide between 1/2 day kindergarten, whole day kindergarten (with a hefty price tag), Spanish immersion or the downtown interdistrict school. All these choices are fantastic, but a little overwhelming! After some informational sessions and lots of research, we have opted for Spanish immersion - I am just relieved that we have decided! I know all the options are great, and our support at home is going to make a big difference, but you do feel like if you make a wrong choice your kid won't go to college and get a decent job someday! Silly, I know. Glad I'm not the only one to obsess about this! Wow, we just went through this last month - I can relate. My husband and I grew up in small towns - there was one school and you went to it! However, we now live in Eden Prairie, and we had to decide between 1/2 day kindergarten, whole day kindergarten (with a hefty price tag), Spanish immersion or the downtown interdistrict school. All these choices are fantastic, but a little overwhelming! After some informational sessions and lots of research, we have opted for Spanish immersion - I am just relieved that we have decided! I know all the options are great, and our support at home is going to make a big difference, but you do feel like if you make a wrong choice your kid won’t go to college and get a decent job someday! Silly, I know. Glad I’m not the only one to obsess about this!

]]> By: Emily http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5751 Emily Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:19:39 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5751 Like Erin, I'm inclined to leave my son (only a year old) at KinderCare at least through preschool. Then into the public system in St. Louis Park where we live. I'm using the next few years to watch how the city develops its elementary-level International Baccalaureate program before I decide if we need to move before he starts kindergarten. It's a tough choice -- I love KinderCare, but I went to a private Montessori school as a kid and don't think it can be beat for quality. I just am not sure I can stomach the price tag! Like Erin, I’m inclined to leave my son (only a year old) at KinderCare at least through preschool. Then into the public system in St. Louis Park where we live. I’m using the next few years to watch how the city develops its elementary-level International Baccalaureate program before I decide if we need to move before he starts kindergarten. It’s a tough choice — I love KinderCare, but I went to a private Montessori school as a kid and don’t think it can be beat for quality. I just am not sure I can stomach the price tag!

]]> By: Erin http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5750 Erin Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:24:16 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5750 When we moved 2 years ago, we specifically moved into a district that we would be happy with. Both my husband and I were/are teachers and have our Masters in Education. We know that student success comes more from parent involvement than the classroom, no matter how great, or poor, a program claims to be. My son will go to our neighborhood school for elementary school, which happens to be a good school, and we are confident he will do well. For preschool, he will stay at Kindercare until he goes to Kindergarten. I've never even thought of moving him for preschool. He has such a connection with the staff and students that would hurt him to move him, not help him. When we moved 2 years ago, we specifically moved into a district that we would be happy with. Both my husband and I were/are teachers and have our Masters in Education. We know that student success comes more from parent involvement than the classroom, no matter how great, or poor, a program claims to be. My son will go to our neighborhood school for elementary school, which happens to be a good school, and we are confident he will do well. For preschool, he will stay at Kindercare until he goes to Kindergarten. I’ve never even thought of moving him for preschool. He has such a connection with the staff and students that would hurt him to move him, not help him.

]]> By: SJ http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5749 SJ Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:20:28 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5749 I have to agree with a few other posters, I am really not that stressed with pre-school and kindegarten issues. I think it is great that we look at all the options, but the reality is that home matters the most in regards to student success. I really want my child to go to pre-school mostly for the structure of it, so that when she gets to kindegarten she will understand sitting at a desk/table, not talking out of turn etc. I have not investigated pre-schools but know when we are ready we will find something. In my life I really have to watch the control of what I should be freaking out about, and I don't think this is one that I should. That being said, we need to watch our kiddos too and if they are not doing well/fitting in in the school situation we chose, we should do everything we can to find a better "fit". I think I would be a little more crazy about it if I didn't think our district/neighborhhod schools were good. I have to agree with a few other posters, I am really not that stressed with pre-school and kindegarten issues. I think it is great that we look at all the options, but the reality is that home matters the most in regards to student success. I really want my child to go to pre-school mostly for the structure of it, so that when she gets to kindegarten she will understand sitting at a desk/table, not talking out of turn etc. I have not investigated pre-schools but know when we are ready we will find something. In my life I really have to watch the control of what I should be freaking out about, and I don’t think this is one that I should. That being said, we need to watch our kiddos too and if they are not doing well/fitting in in the school situation we chose, we should do everything we can to find a better “fit”. I think I would be a little more crazy about it if I didn’t think our district/neighborhhod schools were good.

]]> By: Busy Mom http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5748 Busy Mom Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:03:50 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5748 I went to the schools we lived nearest to. And managed to get a PhD level education despite it! :) That being said, I was horrified to learn that public schools still don't really know what to do with a 5 year old that's a little more advanced than the others. (My parents were chastised because I entered kindergarten as a fluent reader...had to spend half my days with a special teacher or off on my own working on workbooks. FUN.) So I started looking into options. We absolutely can't afford private schools, and I'd LOVE to home-school for a few years but gotta pay for that higher education somehow! So I found a charter school in our town with private school values. HOPEFULLY it will still be there in three years. And HOPEFULLY we can get in because you can't reserve a spot. But if that doesn't work, I'm prepared (and content) to send him to the school district we live in. It's not the fancy school you go to. It's what you do with the education you get. And I agree that a bright kid with involved parents will do great no matter where you go! I'm not used to the burocracy that goes with the school system here. Maybe I'm niave and things have changed back home too. :) I went to the schools we lived nearest to. And managed to get a PhD level education despite it! :)

That being said, I was horrified to learn that public schools still don’t really know what to do with a 5 year old that’s a little more advanced than the others. (My parents were chastised because I entered kindergarten as a fluent reader…had to spend half my days with a special teacher or off on my own working on workbooks. FUN.) So I started looking into options. We absolutely can’t afford private schools, and I’d LOVE to home-school for a few years but gotta pay for that higher education somehow! So I found a charter school in our town with private school values. HOPEFULLY it will still be there in three years. And HOPEFULLY we can get in because you can’t reserve a spot. But if that doesn’t work, I’m prepared (and content) to send him to the school district we live in. It’s not the fancy school you go to. It’s what you do with the education you get. And I agree that a bright kid with involved parents will do great no matter where you go!

I’m not used to the burocracy that goes with the school system here. Maybe I’m niave and things have changed back home too. :)

]]> By: Lija http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5747 Lija Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:46:01 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5747 Now don't think I'm not a big supporter of high-quality education (I'm getting my PhD in educational evaluation for god's sake). But does it really matter so much? Especially at the level of pre-school??? Again, I'm a big supporter of the importance of formal education, but I do think a lot of it comes from home. I'm not too worried about my 2 year old's future education too much because 1) she's a bright inquisitive kid and 2) my husband and I care and will be involved in her education. I guess I just think there are a lot of good options out there and if it isn't one particular school there will be another where she will have a different, but not necessarily better experience. Now don’t think I’m not a big supporter of high-quality education (I’m getting my PhD in educational evaluation for god’s sake). But does it really matter so much? Especially at the level of pre-school???

Again, I’m a big supporter of the importance of formal education, but I do think a lot of it comes from home. I’m not too worried about my 2 year old’s future education too much because 1) she’s a bright inquisitive kid and 2) my husband and I care and will be involved in her education. I guess I just think there are a lot of good options out there and if it isn’t one particular school there will be another where she will have a different, but not necessarily better experience.

]]> By: Dawn http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5746 Dawn Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:13:34 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/cribsheet/2008/03/12/from-kindergarten-to-therapy/#comment-5746 I can relate! We recently moved and I am stalking, yes stalking several preschools so that my daughter gets in on the registration day because things fill up that fast around here. It's amazing how I see her entire life crumbling if she doesn't get in to a preschool. She won't go to college, won't make a 6 figure salary and most importantly, won't be able to support me when I'm entered into the nuthouse at the tender age of 50. I can relate! We recently moved and I am stalking, yes stalking several preschools so that my daughter gets in on the registration day because things fill up that fast around here. It’s amazing how I see her entire life crumbling if she doesn’t get in to a preschool. She won’t go to college, won’t make a 6 figure salary and most importantly, won’t be able to support me when I’m entered into the nuthouse at the tender age of 50.

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