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So, I am little confused.  My son just started kindergarten this year, the youngest in the class.  He was very against this in the days leading up to his first day.  He would say, "But mommy, I like being little; I don't want to be a big boy." And I would say, "But honey, me and daddy can't afford the 700 a month it would cost for daycare!"  So after convincing him more or less, he finally was geared up for kindergarten.  His first day was probably a cue of what was to come.



The first day I picked him up like a good mommy does and asked, "How was your day honey?" He looked so sad; one of the boys pulled his arm (a bully in the making).  So we talked to the teacher (needless to say) and rectified the situation. In the weeks to come he started to really get excited about school, saying he had a lot of fun. Yay!!!  Then I started checking his folder, and he had some assignments in there for the week.  On each page, his teacher had written a comment in BIG BLUE LETTERS about how he is not listening, not following directions, and doesn't pay attention (so on and so forth).  He tells me his teacher yells at him to do his work. Nobody should be yelling at my son.  How is he supposed to love school like this?  My son is still four; he is not even five yet!


I asked him, "Honey, how come you are not paying attention in school?"


He replied, "Because it's boring mom.  I just want to play."


What do I say to that?  His teacher continues to tell me that he doesn't know math, that he is not ready to read yet, and according to them he needs "special help in these areas."  What do they expect from a four and a half year old?  They actually are teaching them graphs at this age. Graphs people!  I still don't get graphs, and I am almost thirty.


I just think the expectations for kindergarteners is ridiculous.  I want my son to be happy and love school, not be stressed out.  That comes soon enough in life.  Besides, when I start to ask if he knows this letter or that he says, "Mom, can we talk about this later?"  He is so cute!  I mean I love my son, and he is very smart, but I am not about to yell and scream when the grading system is stars and not an A or a B.  Are these teachers expecting too much from our kids?  Why do I feel like I failed at pushing my four year old to be prepared?


Araina Crans blogs at Lucid Chatter.




Showing the Latest of 3 Comments

3Sparrows
2 yearss ago
Sounds like you need to find a new kindergarten. They can learn and will through play! They can learn numbers and easy math and letters and so much more, through play! Strange teacher. Maybe you can report her to the head master. The only preperation needed is him being able to be in a foriegn place without mommy. Otherwise it should all come naturally. Seriously, that poor sweetie pea, school should be fun. Have a talk with the teacher.
 
brsmommy
2 yearss ago
Poor pumpkin! Where we are (in Maryland), you have to be 5 years old by September 1st to get into Kindergarten. I think that's probably because "Kindergarten is the new First Grade". The things my DD learned last year in Kindergarten were things my DH and I learned in 1st and 2nd grade--reading, charting, mini-book reports, etc. Four and a half seems awfully young to be required to sit still, listen, pay attention, etc., much less all the academics. I totally agree with your DS that that is "boring" and that he just wants to play--that's totally age appropriate. Is there any chance you could get him into another year of Pre-K or a kindergarten for "young fives" (that's what we call the wee-ones who are the youngest in K). Good luck--I totally empathize with you. This will probably be me in two years when my DS will be one of the youngest in his Kindergarten.
 
Lucid
2 yearss ago
Thanks for the response. I have spoken with the teacher on several occasions and contacted the principal. I have even considered switching teachers. I just hope this doesn't ruin his first year in school. He has 12 more years I don't wan't this to be his first impression of things. The sad part is we fought so hard to get him in this school because it was supposed to be a great school system.