Kindergarden Advice

HI. MY name is D. and my 5 yr old is also starting kindergarden this fall. I was told to read some books to him on the subject. That will make the transfer less anxious for him. I would say as far as the teacher to keep communication very frequent. I did that in preschool and it made things a lot easier for both the teacher and us.

Separation is never easy. There were many days I had a hard time walking away as my daughter skipped into her class room with her friends. I was very glad I had another child who was walking back to the car with me.
If she does have a problem in the class take it one step at a time. Remember there are 2 sides to every story & it is very common for a 5 year old to have missed details that would have changed her reaction to a much better one. Teachers want to work with parents. So always remember you are working together for the best for youe child.
If it doesn't work sending her to a school you can always home school. Hope this helps

Hi M.,

My son started Kindergarten in Sept. He was a little scared about it but his preschool had a Kindergarten readiness meeting and they had a couple of the teachers from the diferent schools the children would be attending. I brought my son with me to that meeting and sure enough one of the teachers there was from the school he was going to go to. From that night on everymorning I was asked do I get to go to kindergarten today?? What also helped is that he was excited about getting to take the school bus every morning.

When school started I was excieted to find out that they have a 'program' where parents can come in to help the class for a half hour. I immediately signed up. I told them the days I was available and the teacher set up a schedule for the parents to come in. I can go in any (or every) Mon. Wed & Fri. that I want to. Kindergarten is only a half day session so I go in anywhere between 10 and 10:30 am and stay until class is over at 11:30. Obviously this is longer than the original 1/2 hour they planned on I asked the teacher if it was ok that I come in earlier and he said I am more than welcome to. As a matter of fact he sent a letter home advising the parents if they wanted to come in earlier they can. A couple of the moms spend the whole day with the class once a month since they can't go every week.

I've found that this has helped my son with school and he has adjusted very well. It's also great for me because allof the kids know me. When I walk into the class they all come and give me a hug, I help them zip their jackets. I was at Home Depot the other day and all of a sudden I had a little kid hugging me, it was one of the girls from my son's class. He father told me she saw my car in the parking lot and saw me walk into the store and she couldn't get out of the car fast enough ...

You should see if you can talk to the school and set up a Parent Helper program in the Kindergarten.

How sweet and wonderful! Your baby is starting kindergarten... Isn't it exciting and scary at the same time? May I suggest that you try your best to make that orientation? It will make you feel better that you know your child's teacher. If this is not possible, perhaps calling the school and getting and email address or a note in the teacher's mailbox just to let him/her know who you are and maybe making arrangements for a meeting on another day? Generally, teachers are wonderful and understanding and patient, especially in kinder and pre-k when they know how anxious parents can be about "first" separation. I'm new here in PA. I'm originally from NY and our public schools are never more than a few blocks from where we lived. Last year was the first year that my sons, who were going into 1st grade and kinder, were taking a bus to a school 9 miles from my home. Needless to say I was terrified. You bet I followed that bus!!! LOL.

In the meantime, take a deep breath, take lots of pictures, cry a little and pray. This day is going to be tougher on you than for your child. It's hard to let go but celebrate! As the days go by you won't stress so much. All will be well! Ask your child lots of questions about the first day. Let her (and her teacher) know how involved you really are in her education. You will all be better for it.

Lots of luck! ;)

M. -

I went through a similar experience last year when my son went to Pre-K. Living in Cecil County, MD they have Pre-K through the school system - which in my opinion is awesome & a great introduction to what to expect from school for the kids.

Although Pre-K was only 1/2 days, they still have much of the experiences of school life and it really prepares them for the full-day kindergarten that we have in our schools.

The only recommendation that I can make to you is that you not make your child nervous about her first days of school with your anxiety and fears. I went into the experience with as open a mind as I could and it was WONDERFUL experience for myself and my son! The teacher communicated with the parents through weekly & monthly newsletters and was terrific with the kids. My son had a wonderful year, and I'm glad that I took the advice that I had been given not to portray my fears onto him. I think by my "building up" the excitement level - despite my own anxiety of my "baby" going to school - it made it a more enjoyable experience for him. The more positive I made myself be about the situation the more positive he was and the more enjoyment he got out of his first school experience. I'm only hoping that he will enjoy full-day kindergarten as much as he enjoyed 1/2-day Pre-K.

Good luck and make it a fun time for both yourself and your daughter! It's not really as bad as you have yourself thinking it is going to be! REALLY!!!!

Hi M.,
Speaking as a Kindergarten teacher, your concerns are very common and most teachers are sympathetic to them. Your baby will be fine and she might even like it!! Just be sure you don't project your nervousness on her...she might not be worried about it. Be in contact with your child's teacher when needed and help out if volunteers are allowed. If there is a student orientation day, your daughter would benefit from attending.
Find out the teacher's preferred communication method (e-mail, phone, notes in the back pack) and use that when you have a problem.
Good luck and have fun.......and take a first day of school picture!

Hi! I also have a soon-to-be kindergartner, so I know how you feel :) But I also have an 18 year old daughter and lots of experience dealing with teachers both good and bad! My advice would be to try getting into her classroom early in the school year and meet the teacher. Also, volunteer for some things that you will be able to fit in your schedule (holiday parties, field trips, class activities, etc.) to show that you are a very involved parent even though you are at work during the day. Teachers usually send home a paper with volunteer opportunities first thing in September. Email makes communication with teachers so much easier and the teacher doesn't feel pressured to make an immediate return phone call to you (I didn't have that option when my daughter was young!). I would send her teacher an email letting them know that you won't be able to make the orientation and ask for any materials or info that you'll miss. And if your daughter has any problems at school, address them with her teacher quickly and don't be shy about going to the principal about things that aren't resolved to your satisfaction. My daughter had one particularly awful teacher in 4th grade and I spent a lot of time in the school office talking with administration! But, I think one bad teacher in 15 years is a pretty good statement about our teachers, so don't worry too much...your daughter will probably have a great time in school, just like mine did :)

Hello, M., my name is M.. I have a seven year old girl going into second grade this year. I have been in your shoes and worried myself to death if she would adapt well and interact with the teacher if she needed something. The first day was harder for me then her. After the first dday she came home and talked to me it felt for hours. She told me the teacher and kids name's, her desk location, the decoration of the room, the lunch time, and so on. I found from there on in to ask how her day was and what she learned and she talked to me and gave me great detail. One ocassion my daughter was upset with how the teacher raised her voice to a child standing on his chair and she didn't want to go back. The next day we went to school a little early and meet with the teacher when the teacher saw how upset she was we sat down and talked and explained it was for the safety of the boy. The teacher adapted her policy to talk to the child in trouble outside the room away from all the other kids. The teacher called me at work for about three days and let me know she was alright. Talk to your child everyday even if its the crazy things they say six times over and always confront a problem as soon as you can. Good luck, she'll do great and so will you!

M. the best thing to do is get involved. I know its diffucult when you work, but I found that even if you make it to one or two PTO or PSCC meetings, the teachers tend to work better with you.
I spent 4 years involved in my oldest daughters school, until they closed it for this school year, (don't get me started on the Board of Education, lol) so I go to know her teachers very well. They're there to work with your children, as well as you, so if you can't be there at a certain time, ask if they can meet you at a more convient time for you.

I have been through this 3 times and will go through it again next year. I have found in each instance that the teachers are pretty understanding and easy to talk to. Try to get to know them. Maybe take some time to call the week before school starts and get to know her. I know it's a difficult time for you. I wish you the best of luck!

B.

If you can, take off work for an hour or so to go to orientation. If you can't arrange to meet the teacher at another time. It is important to know your child's teacher, even if there is no problems, you will know who your daughter is talking about when she comes home from K. My son is in 5th grade and I knew each one of his teachers and often emailed them just to let them know that I was very involved. I too am a working mother of 3 (my 2nd starts kindergarten this year)and, no I can't be homeroom parent, go on all of the field trips, etc. but I do use most of my vacation days for sick kids and special school events. My husband does some too.

lastly, teachers WANT to hear from you, they will want to know that you are an involved and loving mom. They are very used to parents who are not - so use any means you can think of to get to know the teacher. You may even call the school before school starts to speak to her via phone. Also, the relationship I had with the teacher was very beneficial for my son... a little extra attention for him and he knew I would talk to the teacher if I found out he stepped out of line. For my daughter entering K, she has peanut allergies and juvenile arthritis, so the day I found out this week who her teacher was going to be I emailed the teacher and CC'd the principal so that they knew that I would be very involved with them on a regular basis, no surprises. Hope this helps.

Hello.

I taught kindergarten last year (I'm going back to middle school this year), but most teachers have hand outs from orientation that they can give you. E-mail is also an excellent source of communication. I found it very difficult to answer back in the form of a hand-written note during the school day, and as far as phone communication, the secretaries will take messages for the teachers during the school day, and teachers will pretty much just try to call back after school when it's less hectic.

Your child should know his/her letters, shapes, colors, and at least be able to count up to 20 (30 is better) at the beginning of the school year. Practice counting backward from 10. The most difficult thing for children at this age is recognizing "teen" numbers. Once they're past that, it's a piece of cake. Your child will also learn their letter sounds this year, and will begin to blend most 3-letter words. Keep reading to your child and don't get stressed! It's only kindergarten!! : )

Please write back if you have any other questions.

N. H.

what i do is i send my little girl to school with a notebook in her book bag so if there is anythiing specific needed shell write it in the notebook or if there are any problems and i respond to them

Hi M. - unless your child has special needs, let the teacher do her stuff, she has a lot of kindergarden first days under her belt unless of course this is her first year teaching. The first baby off to kindergarden is tougher, but wait until #2. Take lots of pix...

if you can try to go to all parant teacher meettings. to go over all your child is going and progress if you can't make them call and ask to talk to the teacher about how your child is doing good luck

My daughter is also going to be in Kindergarten in two weeks. If you really can't be at the orientation contact her teacher and schedule a time when you will be able to meet her. Meeting her teacher will help a lot.
Don't let your daughter see you cry. I know it will be hard. Heck just thinking about getting her on the bus sets me off. lol Just be strong and brave until after the bus leaves or after she goes into the school and then have a good cry. lol
Good luck and take a ton of pictures

M.:
Preparing your 5-year old is the best thing. Take her by the school and keep reiterating that she'll be going there soon. I am also a full-time mom; I asked my son how his day would go--and I would send notes to the teacher to ask any questions that I may have had.