Anyone know about Kindergarten Early Entry?

Re: Anyone know about Kindergarten Early Entry?

• coribecca

  January 2012

  I think it varies from district to district.  One of my neighbors does the early entry testing for Cascade Elementary (in Snoqualmie).  She said that she has never, EVER had a kid pass.  I think that's due, in large part, to the fact that Cascade is at its bursting point as far as the number of students.

  If you go for it, try to see if you can find out what's on the test.  I know a parent whose child failed because she didn't know how to skip.  You don't want your kid to fail over something silly like that.

  
  

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• Mama_v2.0

  January 2012

  I would just call the school district today and ask. Legally schools don't have to allow early entry in WA. In the school district we live you have to show all the skills (behavioral, physical, mental, etc) of a 5.5 year old to be admitted early. I think I would look into a more rigorous preschool (or find a teacher that can challenge your DS) as a back up plan or just supplement the material at home. (I am sure even when you start K you will find the need to supplement at home. K here is learning to read, write a (self created) sentence, tie shoes, add objects, count to 100, throw/kick a ball and hit a target, shape and color ID, finding patterns, etc. We are do a lot of supplementing at home as my daughter is the youngest with a late June birthday but at the top of her class across the board.)

   

  Mama to Z - 5.5 years, G - 3.5 years, & M - 1.5 years.

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• AnnetteWalker

  January 2012

  You could look into private kindergarten to see if they would have more flexible age ranges.

  There are 2 preschools in my area that have private kindergarten and I am sure that they set the ages and or skills needed to get in. Usually they are much smaller class size and more personal to each childs learning.

  
  
  Oct 2011 3 1/2 years old.
  Robert Williams Birth date 5/16/2008

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• WatchPot

  January 2012

  AnnetteWalker:

  You could look into private kindergarten to see if they would have more flexible age ranges.

  There are 2 preschools in my area that have private kindergarten and I am sure that they set the ages and or skills needed to get in. Usually they are much smaller class size and more personal to each childs learning.

  I was going to suggest this.  I know in our school district, if there is room in the class, they are a bit more lenient to how many kids they allow early entry.  One of my neighbors is early entry.  The others that wanted early entry went the private route. 

  BIG Brother born 10/19/07 little Brother born 1/31/12

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• mrssmith717

  January 2012

  As a K teacher, I will not question your choice about early entry, even though I (in general) disagree with it.

  I would say that the best idea is to call your local SD and find out what you need to know.  Most of us are around the Seattle/Tacoma area, but not a lot live in the Gig Harbor/Kitsap Peninsula area (although I did grow up there).  One thing to be prepared for- many school districts have a clause that the first 6 weeks of K for early entry kiddos is on a trial period.  So, your child may pass the early entrance tests but when they get into the classroom, it could be VERY apparent that they are not at the same level of their peers, generally in social/behavioral areas.  While academics are very important, social and behavioral maturity and being ready to become a student are huge aspects of K.  As a K teacher in my district, I have the final decision on if a student should stay or not in the classroom, even if it is NOT for academic reasons.  I'm just putting this out there that it's good to go in with a "let's try it" mindset, but be ready for the possibility of waiting another year or going into private K.

  Good luck!
  

  

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• doublem

  January 2012

  I teach fifth grade in a private school and will say this: we rarely, rarely do early admissions for K.  Often those children end up doing a second year of K so that they are in similar social/emotional skills with other children their age.  One year is a huge developmental leap at that stage of life, no matter how brilliantly academic a child is, or how socially adept they are for a 4-year-old.  You also have to factor in that many families are "red-shirting" their children and putting them in K at 6, so there might be classmates 2 years older, which adds a whole other dynamic to the social skills required for success.  

  I'll also say that a number of children who come to our school in grades above K/1st come to us because they weren't feeling a good fit at their other school, often because of starting K early.  Some of them end up starting over at the same grade when they start here.  I can tell within a week of watching a child if they are one of the youngest in their class based on their behavior.
  

  That said, a few children are ready for kindergarten at 4 years old.
  

  I complete agree with mrssmith.  Go ahead, apply, but be open minded about the process, and trust that the teachers are going to be honest and also want what is going to help your child be happy and successful!  Sometimes that is not being able to be academically challenged every moment they are in the classroom.
  

  

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• santo614

  January 2012

  Thanks Ladies! It's very useful to know about stuff like having to be able to skip, etc. I actually do educational testing as a medical and clinical psychologist, and I used to be a teacher, so I'm well aware of where my son needs to be educationally and behaviorally to be ready. My big concern is motor! He's just as good as kids a couple months older than him who will automatically start K, but like some of you said, he has to be on the average of a 5.5 year old. But, we feel like we have to give it a shot. DH also started school early and did extremely well, and DS can already spell words phonetically and figure out basic math problems. We found the best PS/PK we could this year, but he's already way ahead of the curriculum. It seems unfair to hold him back; he gets so excited when he learns new things. So I contacted the school district here, and they're going to test him this spring. Thanks again!

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• santo614

  January 2012

  Oh! Also, in case anyone else is in the same boat, I looked into private K. There's a list online of approved private schools where a child can start at 4, and still be accepted to public school for first grade if they do well. A lot of the daycare type Ks are ok for 5y/o's, but won't be accepted as a prereq for a 5y/o trying to enter 1st grade. There is one private academy here on the list, so we're checking that out as well.

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