Fluently Reading P-K Girl

Hi Jen-

There is a book called "Everything I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten"...By robert fullerton ( I could be wrong)...

BUT...my recollection is, from this easy read...if WE ALL had learned these things well in K...we would ALL be happier!!

And they have little to do with reading and math...

Let her go...so much to learn from peers...

Just MY opinion
Best Luck!
Michele/cat

They still do things like learn time, money concepts, arts and crafts, science experiments, music and learn in social skills and play. Things that even educationally advanced pre-schoolers can still enjoy. Often times, kids like that are teacher's helpers and can go around helping other kids. I think now, with so many parents doing preschool at home or in a preschool setting, more and more kindergartners are starting school already knowing a lot of these things.

We had a few children that could read on a 3rd grade level or above in our daughters kindergarten class. These children still had math, science, Writing, Grammar, Spanish, Texas History and other subjects they learned along with the rest of the class.

Also they had to be able to handle the participating in class, PE, Music and other "school social skills" they were going to need for their future classroom years to come.

During Reading they were each reading from books at their level. One boy was actually reading on a 5th grade level! by the end of K he was reading even higher.. the problem was finding books that the subject matter was interesting and also age appropriate for him.

You should have a conference with your child's teacher before school starts if possible, if not as soon as you can once school begins. You may be very surprised how many other children (especially the ones turning 6 or older) that will be in the kinder classes also..

No because kindergarten is so much more than the math and reading. Even if the child did preschool there is so much socialization that it will help if they don't have to worry about developing the educational skills and concepts. I think it makes their experience more enjoyable.

Nope. There's so much more to kindergarten than learning how to read. But make sure you discuss with the school how they'll handle challenging your daughter. She may be put in a class with a teacher who's used to kids coming in already reading, or maybe there will be extra "work" for her to do while others are learning letters. If she skips K, she'll miss out on all of the great social and emotional learning that takes place.

Find her a charter school. But chances are, as happens to a lot of kids that are taught these things early, by the time she reaches jr high or high school she will no longer be ahead, it is just she was started earlier then most.

My son was sent to first grade for reading time his kinder year. His teachers have allowed him to read books to the class each year. He has loved it.

He loved Kindergarten. He still talks about memories from that year and he is now going into 6th. I wouldn't push to skip or homeschool. Just take it one day at a time and work in the classroom so you can observe. They level reading groups once they enter first grade.

My son read fluently and beyond at three - but his writing and math, etc were still in need of major honing - so she won't be bored, she will just be given different books to read, or extra work

Nope. But then at my children's school, there is SO much more to learn than reading and math.

And I would hope there is at his school, also.

I went to a private school. I could do all those things in kindergarten, and my teacher would let me stay up while the rest of the class was napping and teach me even more things. I remember her teaching me how to add and carry and subtract and borrow during naptime. At the end of the year, when everyone else received little learn-to-read books as presents from the teachers, they gave me a big chapter book filled with stories. I still have it.

I don't recall ever being bored in kindergarten. As others have said, there was much more to do than just learning the Rs. Of course, this was a different time and, again, a private school.

I read fluently at age three and my parents were told to send me to kindergarten, but at the time no kindergarten would take me. I waited until age five and I still enjoyed it! I have fond memories! The teacher would let me read to the class and I enjoyed everything else. It's important to remember no matter how advanced in a particular area your child is -they're still a child. She will probably love it!

I think a lot of kids are reading by this time. I know of 3 myself. I think they understand they have to make things more interesting at that point.

Let her read at home where she has time for it. Kindergarten is about so much more than reading. It's about being away from home, learning how to get along with peers, figuring out how to make friends, follow rules, make decisions, etc.

Let her go, and let her figure it out for awhile. Don't go in looking for things for her to do. There are plenty of things she doesn't know how to do yet. Reading is one of those great things you can always do at home.

Yes, at least in my experience.

I'm not saying she didn't have fun and that it wasn't a valuable experience, but during classwork time she was bored.

I read fluently at 2 and I didn't feel bored in Kindergarten. But then, I went to Montessori. When I started public school in 1st grade, they just let me read ahead at my own pace.

My daughter also read fluently in late preschool but wasn't bored at all in K. Continue to encourage her to read during this last year of preschool that's ahead and then talk to her elementary school about what they offer. Remember, K is about MUCH more than academics -- it is a critical year for socialization and learning how to navigate the much larger, more complex, less coddling (sorry but it's true) world of "big kid" school. Preschool is a fantastic preparation for K but the K year introduces a new place, a new system, having to follow instructions with less direction, new kids -- so I would not skip it. A good K teaching team will work with you to ensure she is not bored. As another person pointed out, too, reading fluently does not mean she will be doing math and writing perfectly by K as well!

One thing to check out: Does the elementary school have a "reading specialist" on staff, someone dedicated to improving kids' reading? Our school did (mostly because it was a school with a lot of kids who needed remedial reading help) but that teacher also wanted to work with kids whose reading was ABOVE grade level. The reading specialist organized a weekly group where she pulled out advanced readers from K classes and challenged them with poetry, had them work on a very short skit, had them reading more advanced material and telliing her about it, etc. Reading specialists might embrace the chance to work with advanced readers, not just remedial readers, so see if there is such a staffer in your daughter's K school and what that person can suggest. And be prepared to help her at home and challenge her yourself.

I would not have her tested "out" of K and see if she can go right into first grade. That would make her a very young first grader. Those age differences may not seem like much with a smart five-year-old in a class with six-year-olds but the age difference will be tougher as she gets older. Generally it's better to be the older kid in a class than the youngest one. I'd take the K year as a time to work at her pace and wouldn't shove her into first grade a year early. Let her have that K year of being her age with peers who are at her same level, if not academically, then in terms of their interests and social abilities.

Mine could do everything. I talked to the teacher prior tho and made sure she kney not to let my sons get bored. I worked in their classroom as well and always made sure when their work was finished (usually WAY before the other students) they had something else to work on right away so they wouldnt get distracted. They were also taught to help others out that were struggling. They were both always "teachers helpers" all through elementary school.

Homeschool her! :-) One of the many things I love about homeschooling is that they can work at their own pace; they can go beyond what is done in school, and they can pursue their own interests. My son is technically in first grade if you go by his age, but he is doing second grade work and has been reading independently since he was four. I'm not saying he's a genius, and our purpose of homeschooling him is not to make him a genius, but it is nice that they are able to do so much that they aren't able to do in a regular school, just because they have more time to work at home. And socialization is easy when you are homeschooling; just join a homeschooling group in your area and arrange play dates and field trips and you've got it taken care of. For example, we spent four hours at the park today with other homeschoolers, and the kids had a lot of fun.

Plus, I want them to keep their love of learning for as long as possible. I went to public school all of my life, and was considered "gifted" (I was reading at a third grade level in kindergarten), but you know how it is--it's not "cool" to be smart in school. You are quickly taught that what's important is not real learning, but getting straight A's and rote memorization. Lots of busy work, lots of waiting around for everyone else to be finished with what they are doing....homeschooling is definitely an ideal situation if you are interested in doing it. Good luck with your decision!

I would ask the school to have her tested, they may want to start her in kindergarten early or move her right into 1st. Both can be very risky socially, especially when she gets older, but some find it a good decision.

My eldest son was the same way and now my youngest son is starting kindergarten adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers in his head. I chose to put them in kindergarten with their peers. I learned that although they are off the charts academically, they have a lot to learn in kindergarten - A LOT. The only regret I had was my oldest started in public school. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great teachers and great public schools out there, I just learned that in the schools we had they tried to accommodate the advanced child but did a lot more discouraging and holding him back, even lowering his self-esteem. By third grade I realized my error and put him in private school.

This school moves kids out of their regular class and into upper grades for certain subjects when necessary but keeps their homeroom with their peers. There is one kid in his class that started kindergarten a year early and by 5th grade took the 8th/9th grade math class, but he is the only one I know of that actually jumped into kindergarten early.

In that situation I would definitely homeschool. I'm making that choice for my kindergartner who is not as advanced as yours, but she would still be bored in kindergarten (actually, I think she would have fun with all the other kids, but wouldn't learn anything she doesn't already know).

Homeschool for kindergarten is only a couple of hours per day, and the curriculum is more complete than most public schools (and ours is a low rated one) this way, my daughter will still have time in her day for music lessons, French lessons, she spends tons of time per day painting, and something social like gymnastics or dance without losing the full day to the public kindergarten. It was a hard choice, but we feel she'll be better off this time next year if that's what we do. The challenge will be keeping myself organized so she doesn't lose the benefit of a structured schedule she would have in school. Good luck!

Many years ago my oldest daughter could read anything (often first children can) long before Kindergarten. She loved Kindergarten and never once said she was bored. They did take her out during letter/reading time in K and she went with a very small group of other kindergarten children to the reading specialist and did reading at her ability level. She did get pulled out all the way through elementary but as you get into the 3rd, 4th, etc., there are quite a few advanced readers so they had a class with them and the reading specialist. There really is no need to approach the teacher, this is their job to see what the children can do and group them accordingly. Send her to Kindergarten and let her be social with her friends. It is not just about Kindergarten but fitting in and having friends for all of her school years. Don't underestimate the social part of going to school.

Yes, she will be bored in Kindergarten..& every grade after that. I know, my oldest was reading to her preschool class @ 3 (teacher's helper)....by Kinder she was reading on an 4-6th grade level & they were sending her into the RSP groups to help the 6th graders read. By 1st grade she was tested by the reading specialist at her school & tested with full comprehesion as a 19 yr. old. (2nd year of college)! They recommended that we skip her into 3rd grade & her life became HELL because she wasn't able to cope SOCIALLY. And she was bored to tears & getting in trouble for reading her Harry Potter novels during class.

So, depending on YOUR temperment, family situation & local school....home schooling might be best. My girl & I are BOTH ADHD Queens & I KNEW from day 1 that I couldn't home school her. So far she has had a very up & down school career, just because she is SO far ahead academically but she lacks just about all social skills. In hindsight (always 20-20) we wish we hadn't skipped her up a grade, however, when we've talked to her about starting high school in her proper grade, she decided to just tough out the social problems. Girls, in particular, are VERY savage to the "odd" girl, all behind the teacher's back, of course.

Anyway, my girl just said that she wishes we could've home schooled, that trying to fit in is super stressful, but she understands why we don't.

If you can find a school that is for gifted kids...not just giving lip service to the title GATE--so that they can collect the funds & not do anything--then that could be just as good as home schooling. Check out that the school is actually DOING GATE instruction before you decide to send your girl there. Unfortunately, even though our neighborhood school kept promising to implement a true GATE program @ their school, they NEVER did. Of course, they took the $ for the GATE program! By law, the district has to test & identify all GATE students & each school gets a budget for it. I finally figured out that I was barking up the wrong tree & took my children out of their home school & switched districts.

There are some great home schooling programs in SD County that meet & do projects & field trips together so that the kids learn social skills also. My girl did her middle school with Mountain Peak Learning Academy Charter is a non-religious home schooling program that also has several school sites around the county & she really did well @ the Chula Vista Learning Academy. We both wish they would open a high school down here, too.

Good Luck & don't worry, you'll find the best solution for your family...