Moms of twins..HELP!

momoftwinsplusone

Ok..here is the problem! My twins are 5! I kept them together in preschool, I registered them for kindergarten yesterday and they screened them and two problems have arose

1. To keep together or seperate and

2. Should I let them go on to kindergarten or keep them in preschool one more year, one twin is able and ready and one in delayed in motor skills! We mommy's of twins and especially preemies know to expect this.

Their dad says work with them all summer and send them both ahead and keep them together! I don't know what to do. I got them each some work books and have been working with them each on a one on one basis and reading to them. They are improving by tracing letter and numbers and so on....input anyone hope this isnt confusing

jalaiaa

I wouldn't separate them That would be so hard to be the twin that was a year behind. 

lisa&andy

If it was me, I would work with them over the summer and see how it goes. If things improve then send them to kindergarten and keep them together. My twins are only 9.5months so this is just based on what I have experienced as an educator.

 

momoftwinsplusone

I def want to continue working with them. They have been attending speech all year which has really helped them with their slurs and impetiments. I have planned on not splitting them until I had to. They have never been split and when they are they get great anxiety.

Temp159135562506975

i would send them both - i used to teach K and know how much they change that first year- and even the ones (usually boys) who are still really immature at the end of K come back after the summer to 1st grade totally at grade level with the other kids.

to put in the same class or not is dependent on their personalities- only you can know how they wuold do in the same class or apart... for some kids it's better to be apart- some together.

don't drill them on skills - they'll end up hating it... a child going into K does not need to be able to write letters yet- they'll learn that in K... just keep reading, encouraging writing and drawing (for fun), counting things, etc.

momoftwinsplusone

Thanks for the helpful info..I never thought of wearing them out. Tonight we just worked on going thru and tracing letters I had dotted out and matching colors and saying them out loud. They have a lack of confidence. I did it one on one. They loved it. My oldest twin at one point told me he missed me! It broke my heart, I realized I should do little things like that with them more. They had fun and I know they enjoyed me encouraging them and doing it with them. I think we have def decided to send them.

Sweets2005

I used to be a Kindergarten teacher and my suggestion is to send them to K together in the fall. They will be fine! If they need extra help, they will get it. Keeping one behind will cause him to be bored and frustrated and it is not fair to him. Sending one to K and keeping the other in pre-K is not fair to either one. I am a twin and if my twin was a year ahead of me in school, I cannot even imagine the embarrassment! So my opinion is to send them off to K in the fall. I had students of all capabilities and the fact that they had pre-K is a huge help academically and the motor skills will not hold him back at all. Even if it does, the school will get him the help he needs. They are required to. He may even be written an IEP so you are guaranteed services. If you are really concernced, put him in PT for the summer. Good luck!

Sweets2005

P.S. Just the fact that they know their letters, and try to write them is HUGE in my eyes. I had many students not know this so I definitely think both are ready and able!

ougrad1

I have my masters in elementary ed and can tell you that if there is any question at all, hold them back.  You'd rather them be ahead of the game than trying to keep afloat.

I'm not sure about separating them.   That's going to have to be your call.

 

tmbuchmann

momoftwinsplusone:

I def want to continue working with them. They have been attending speech all year which has really helped them with their slurs and impetiments. I have planned on not splitting them until I had to. They have never been split and when they are they get great anxiety.

I wouldn't split them, when I was in school we had a set of twins that were in different grades and they were always asked why? And they had to explain that one got held back.

4everlove

I teach Kindergarten.  It is ultimatley up to you.  Our school offers a transitional Kindergrten class which is great. However, if it is just fine motor skills your one twin is having trouble with I would send them both ahead. 

 We have three kindergarten classes and depending on the twins we recommend different things.  If they are very competitive or compare themselves all the time then you may want to consider two different Kindergarten classes.  If they are laid back and you don't think there would be any issues then keep them in the same K-class. 

 One fun activity to do...if you are working on letters...is to have them roll out  play-dough letters or put shaving cream on a table and let them write letters and draw shapes.  This really helps with fine motor skills and the kids love it!