So much for private school. Update #103

[swamp]

I sent my kids to a small private school because I thought it was the right thing to do. They tout the more rigorous standards and all.

The school closed, they are now in public school. DD is in 1st grade. She's having some problems with reading. Last year, she was at the top of the class and they were feeding me a line of bull about how advanced she was.

Now she's struggling.

WTF?

She's doing very well in math, though....

[yogiii]

Don't worry, she can still be an engineer

[Angel!]

That sucks. 

She will probably hit a point where it all clicks for her & she will catch up really fast.  DS is also in first grade & I was a little worried in the beginning of the year.  I heard other parents talk about how their kids could read full books.  For the most part DS could just read certain words & if it was out of his reading vocabulary he couldn't figure it out.  Less than 2 months in & he is reading everything - something finally sunk in that hadn't before & he can sound out words he doesn't recognize & does great.

[Peace Of Mind]

Wow, public schools really do suck if they've already unschooled her in reading.  

I guess the teacher was more interested in implying that she was a great teacher and didn't care how her students were really doing.   What a shame.  Your daughter is smart as a whip and she'll catch up.  Are you going to get her a tutor to help or are you guys going to find the time to do it so you know it's being done?

And I'm sorry to hear that.  That has to be hard for her.  I hope it doesn't discourage her and cause her to hate reading because she is behind.  That happened to my brother who they figured out (too late) that he had dyslexia.  To this day he hates even talking about reading.

[Nazgul Girl]

  Swamp, one thing that helped with DD's reading comprehension way back when was to get her picture books or comic books with pictures that interested her.   She liked anything with animals, so the My Little Pony books helped improve her reading skills in the first/second grades ( with Mom ponting at a word and saying things like, " What do you think that word means ?   Can you sound it out ? " ).    Later on, for some reason, StarTrek  anime' type books and Calvin and Hobbs books really expanded her vocabulary.

[giramomma]

Is there something specific she is struggling with?

In first grade, teachers look for reading and comprehension.

At our school, I know in kindy, reading comprehension is not stressed as much. The focus is sounding out words, identifying sight words (our school uses the Dolce list).

[zibazinski]

Certain schools are known for not being academically rigorous. When we got students from there, their parents were shocked at how behind they actually were. Some parents found out when finances dictated no more private school and some parents found out when mom had to get a job and public schools had on site daycare. Unless the student is a total washout, they do catch up. We did, however have one parent who put her son back into the private school because his self esteem was so damaged by him not being able to read. Okay, mom, the kid is in 3rd grade, when do you feel he is ready to read?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Oct 8, 2014 12:45:04 GMT -5 swamp said:

I sent my kids to a small private school because I thought it was the right thing to do. They tout the more rigorous standards and all.

The school closed, they are now in public school. DD is in 1st grade. She's having some problems with reading. Last year, she was at the top of the class and they were feeding me a line of bull about how advanced she was.

Now she's struggling.

WTF?

She's doing very well in math, though....

How are the rest of her classmates from the private school doing?  I know you said it closed so I'm assuming all the kids are now in the public school. 

[ArchietheDragon]

Home school her and she will be valedictorian of her class. 

[ponomo]

All 3 of my older kids were behind the curve in reading in first grade. Was told DD was a light bulb learner and one day she would just get it...and she did, by second grade she was ahead.  Scored a perfect 5 on her English AP.  I think she's turned out okay   DS(14) is dyslexic, figured it out in 2nd grade, but not from his reading, the boy could not write to save his life.  Forming letters just did not compute in his head.  He's now in Honors English and 1 AP class, doing great in both.  DS(7) is just now where he's suppose to be with reading, spent most of last year (first grade) in a reading recovery group that whipped him into shape.

I get that its kinda cool if your kid can read chapter books at 4, but it doesn't make them the genius parents make it out to be.  From my parenting experience, the slow readers and the ones who caught on quick pretty much even out academically by 3rd grade.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 12:59:13 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Oct 8, 2014 12:45:04 GMT -5 swamp said:

I sent my kids to a small private school because I thought it was the right thing to do. They tout the more rigorous standards and all.

The school closed, they are now in public school. DD is in 1st grade. She's having some problems with reading. Last year, she was at the top of the class and they were feeding me a line of bull about how advanced she was.

Now she's struggling.

WTF?

She's doing very well in math, though....

How are the rest of her classmates from the private school doing?  I know you said it closed so I'm assuming all the kids are now in the public school. 

I am told they are all having the same problem.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 12:56:41 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Is there something specific she is struggling with?

In first grade, teachers look for reading and comprehension.

At our school, I know in kindy, reading comprehension is not stressed as much. The focus is sounding out words, identifying sight words (our school uses the Dolce list).

The words you can't sound out, and long vowel sounds with the e on the end of the word.

We go over sight words all the time. She will memorize "Where" in the sight words, but when it's in a story, it's like she's never seen it before. And then on the next page, it's like it's all brand new again.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 12:53:53 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

Wow, public schools really do suck if they've already unschooled her in reading.  

I guess the teacher was more interested in implying that she was a great teacher and didn't care how her students were really doing.   What a shame.  Your daughter is smart as a whip and she'll catch up.  Are you going to get her a tutor to help or are you guys going to find the time to do it so you know it's being done?

And I'm sorry to hear that.  That has to be hard for her.  I hope it doesn't discourage her and cause her to hate reading because she is behind.  That happened to my brother who they figured out (too late) that he had dyslexia.  To this day he hates even talking about reading.

She is getting some extra help at school. We are making a concerted effort to have her read to us. We have always read to her at bedtime.

Gramma has a master's in elementary reading education. She's going to work with her too.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 12:54:32 GMT -5 Nazgul Girl said:

  Swamp, one thing that helped with DD's reading comprehension way back when was to get her picture books or comic books with pictures that interested her.   She liked anything with animals, so the My Little Pony books helped improve her reading skills in the first/second grades ( with Mom ponting at a word and saying things like, " What do you think that word means ?   Can you sound it out ? " ).    Later on, for some reason, StarTrek  anime' type books and Calvin and Hobbs books really expanded her vocabulary.

We have a large selection of Disney, Barbie, and Pinkalicious books.

[The Captain]

Oct 8, 2014 13:38:15 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 8, 2014 12:54:32 GMT -5 Nazgul Girl said:

  Swamp, one thing that helped with DD's reading comprehension way back when was to get her picture books or comic books with pictures that interested her.   She liked anything with animals, so the My Little Pony books helped improve her reading skills in the first/second grades ( with Mom ponting at a word and saying things like, " What do you think that word means ?   Can you sound it out ? " ).    Later on, for some reason, StarTrek  anime' type books and Calvin and Hobbs books really expanded her vocabulary.

We have a large selection of Disney, Barbie, and Pinkalicious books.

THERE's you problem!!!

[zibazinski]

Is she aware that she is behind? If not, whew, but try to not make her aware if possible. I'm afraid that all the unusual emphasis will make her aware.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 13:44:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Is she aware that she is behind? If not, whew, but try to not make her aware if possible. I'm afraid that all the unusual emphasis will make her aware.

I don't think so.

She told me she was going to Mrs. S's class for reading, but she wasn't able to tell me what that meant. Just that they call the group the Owls.

The teacher said she is not flagging her for remedial help yet, but keeping an eye on her. She thinks she is going to catch up with some work.

Adding to the problem is that the records from the private school have not yet been forwarded. They won't be ready until October, or so I'm told. The principal at the old school is useless.

[zibazinski]

Then don't stress it. The records are probably lies anyway and the school will make their own determination.

[zibazinski]

I'm more concerned at this stage with her not feeling behind or worse, dumb.

[giramomma]

Oct 8, 2014 13:36:25 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 8, 2014 12:56:41 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Is there something specific she is struggling with?

In first grade, teachers look for reading and comprehension.

At our school, I know in kindy, reading comprehension is not stressed as much. The focus is sounding out words, identifying sight words (our school uses the Dolce list).

The words you can't sound out, and long vowel sounds with the e on the end of the word.

We go over sight words all the time. She will memorize "Where" in the sight words, but when it's in a story, it's like she's never seen it before. And then on the next page, it's like it's all brand new again.

How do you know she is behind? Who has told you? Have you seen the rubric/criterion for such judgements? Are the curriculums really different?

Honestly, this doesn't sound too far off from my DD. She has issues sometimes with deciding if a vowel is a long or short sound.

She also has a few words, that even though she knows how to pronounce them properly she doesn't. It just doesn't register. "What" always rhymes with "hat." even after being corrected almost daily this entire summer, and a few days a week in this spring and in September.

[Lizard Queen]

It appears to me that the public school focused more on reading in kindergarten, and probably did next to nothing in math, whereas the private school did a little of both.  If you had the public school kids switching over to the private, they probably would have been way behind in math.  I wouldn't assume the private school sucked just because they didn't focus as much on one certain subject in kindergarten.
I'm sure she'll catch up.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 13:51:05 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Oct 8, 2014 13:36:25 GMT -5 swamp said:

The words you can't sound out, and long vowel sounds with the e on the end of the word.

We go over sight words all the time. She will memorize "Where" in the sight words, but when it's in a story, it's like she's never seen it before. And then on the next page, it's like it's all brand new again.

How do you know she is behind? Who has told you? Have you seen the rubric/criterion for such judgements? Are the curriculums really different?

Honestly, this doesn't sound too far off from my DD. She has issues sometimes with deciding if a vowel is a long or short sound.

She also has a few words, that even though she knows how to pronounce them properly she doesn't. It just doesn't register. "What" always rhymes with "hat." even after being corrected almost daily this entire summer, and a few days a week in this spring and in September.

The teacher told me, and I think she is not where she should be, that's why I asked.   I'm told the curicculums are really different.  I have no idea.   But the fact that all of the kids in her class that came from the same school seems telling. 

[ArchietheDragon]

The world needs people to work at Dunkin Donuts, too. 

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 13:57:42 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

The world needs people to work at Dunkin Donuts, too. 

Yes, they do. But not my kids.

OK, they can in HS and college.  But not after that. 

[tloonya]

Friend's dd 8 y/old in public school.
Math is zero! Mom said kid can't add 10 and 10.
Teachers are saying kid is fine. What is going on

Verdict: her Mom had the same issue in school. Hated math. Like loathed it. Became an accountant.

My almost 20 y/old thinks she has ADD because she is having problem to concentrate.
She had just passed 2 anatomy exams in college. When I had called her doctor's office they were laughing their butts off.

Verdict: her Mom was never able to concentrate, however until middle school was an straight A student. Always thought
avoided to read any manuals. If anything needs to be done - manuals just not helping. Struggled in music school.
Wasn't able to memorize notes. However was able to memorize tons of text. Became...you know

[tloonya]

Oct 8, 2014 14:00:28 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 8, 2014 13:57:42 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

The world needs people to work at Dunkin Donuts, too. 

Yes, they do. But not my kids.

OK, they can in HS and college.  But not after that. 

Because their mom is a lawyer?

[raeoflyte]

Oct 8, 2014 13:56:31 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 8, 2014 13:51:05 GMT -5 giramomma said:

How do you know she is behind? Who has told you? Have you seen the rubric/criterion for such judgements? Are the curriculums really different?

Honestly, this doesn't sound too far off from my DD. She has issues sometimes with deciding if a vowel is a long or short sound.

She also has a few words, that even though she knows how to pronounce them properly she doesn't. It just doesn't register. "What" always rhymes with "hat." even after being corrected almost daily this entire summer, and a few days a week in this spring and in September.

The teacher told me, and I think she is not where she should be, that's why I asked.   I'm told the curicculums are really different.  I have no idea.   But the fact that all of the kids in her class that came from the same school seems telling. 

I agree I'd be concerned, but I think Milizard has a good point that it could just be that the curriculums didn't sync up.  

When did we start requiring reading IN kindergarten?  I'm not *that* old and we learned to read in first grade--and she's only a few weeks in.  I wouldn't think that is long enough to be behind from what your talking about.  

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 14:03:06 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Oct 8, 2014 14:00:28 GMT -5 swamp said:

Yes, they do. But not my kids.

OK, they can in HS and college.  But not after that. 

Because their mom is a lawyer?

No, because I want them to have a better life than working for minimum wage provides.

I came from a blue collar family. I have no problem with manual labor, but it's a horrible thing to have to do your entire life.

[raeoflyte]

Oct 8, 2014 14:06:56 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

When did we start requiring reading IN kindergarten? I'm not *that* old and we learned to read in first grade--and she's only a few weeks in. I wouldn't think that is long enough to be behind from what your talking about.

Around the same time kindergarten became mandatory instead of optional, and most kids had two years of preschool before that.  Puclic schools cover a LOT more in kindergarten and first grade now.

Has any of that shown to have a positive effect on test scores, or graduation rates, or anything for that matter?  

[giramomma]

Oct 8, 2014 14:04:36 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Oct 8, 2014 13:56:31 GMT -5 swamp said:

The teacher told me, and I think she is not where she should be, that's why I asked.   I'm told the curicculums are really different.  I have no idea.   But the fact that all of the kids in her class that came from the same school seems telling. 

I agree I'd be concerned, but I think Milizard has a good point that it could just be that the curriculums didn't sync up.  

When did we start requiring reading IN kindergarten?  I'm not *that* old and we learned to read in first grade--and she's only a few weeks in.  I wouldn't think that is long enough to be behind from what your talking about.  

My Oldest is 10, and he was reading in Kindy.

Actually, it's very interesting to see the changes in 1st grade from him to my DD. They are only 4 years apart. Some of the work that DS did in kindy and first grade seems easier than what DD is doing now.

Could it be that your DD just needs to get used to reading outloud?  In kindy, the kids were not asked to read outloud until spring. I had DD reading outloud a little bit between 4K and K (she has a fall birthday, so she's quite a bit older (6-9+ months) than everyone else in her class.)

I made DD read out loud to me this past summer almost daily. Now, we take turns simply because there isn't enough time in the day.