Kindergartner Blues

Spelling tests in kindergarten? Never heard of anything
like that and a few of my friends teach K!!!!!!!!

My son did the same thing when he was in kindergarten. It used to drive me crazy. He would act like he did not know what I was talking about when I tried to work with him. He would cry and get so frustrated with me. When I asked his teacher about it she would say that he never did that with her and he was doing fine in class. It was all for me. He is now in second grade, at the top of his class and reading at a 4th grade level. He still gives me the same game when it comes to learning somethin new. I've just learned to walk away, let him work on it himself for a little while and then he comes back to me and will ask for help.

I taught Kindergarten at a private boys school in NYC - it was extremely competitive...and we did not have spelling tests until 1st grade. My 5 yo daughter is now in a public school in orange county that I think has ridiculously high expectations for the grade - and even they don't have spelling tests...yet.
1) Parents need to speak up to schools that have set grossly high standards for our children; it is NOT developmentally appropriate to have a 5 yo have a spelling test. Go to the district, the board of ed, the legislators - we are CREATING behavioral and learning issues by setting this sort of inappropriate curriculum. We are not putting our kids at an advantage, we are putting them at a disadvantage.
2) Make it fun. Don't call it studying. Have him make the letters of the word out of blocks, paper, toys, string, shaving cream, paint, etc. Have him write it in the air using his entire arm (not just his finger) - we called it skywriting. Using their bodies and gross muscle movement helps boys remember. Have him jump onto letter cards to spell the word, etc.
3) Even if your child is way ahead of the class and is a strong reader, etc, that STILL does not mean this is appropriate. Curriculum needs to be expanded and enriched for children who are ready, not jumped to the expectations of an older child.

A very easy way for kids to learn anything is to SING it. They learned 26 ABC's by singing and will learn spelling words by singing. Sing the word and then sing the letters and then the word. Do it in the car or while cooking dinner, anywhere he can hear you. I agree that Kindergarten is WAY to early to have the pressure of tests and would question the school about it.

It's so hard to get kids to study at this age. Try only 5-10 minute blocks at a time and then switch to something fun. Do your best to make it fun and try not to worry too much. He's doing well and it will come. Relax, it's important to make learning fun at this age.

Are all the children in this class expected to take spelling tests? Is spelling on the report card?
Many kindergarteners do not understand the concept of the word. We use a spelling program in my school called "Words Their Way". You can get the book in the teaching section in Borders or Barnes and Noble. According to this program, a child who doesn't have the concept of word will have difficulty learning to spell. I taught kdg for 7 years and only had one group of 5 students who were ready for a "spelling" program in the second half of the year.
A conversation with the teacher might be beneficial for all involved. You just want to help meet your child's needs.

He's 5. I'd say that's totally normal. Children should be allowed to learn at their own pace at that age and not be tested.

If you really want him to do this you could get Sidney Ledson's book/s to teach him to read effectively. One is Raising More Intelligent Children and the other is about teaching to read. Sorry I don't know the title off-hand. Check Amazon or Ebay.

Wow! When I went to kindergarten we never had tests. No one read. This is sad because my son will start in two years, and it's all about tests now. I don't think kids are ready for all this. I'd rather they had fun, socialized, etc.

Sorry it's tough on you, too. I wouldn't worry about academics at age 5. Give him lots of love, time, stories, etc., and trust you're being a good mommy. During grade school is when academics really kick in.

Hi R.,

I've never heard of kindergarteners having spelling test. Ususally they are busy learning their letters and how to write their names, towards the end they start learning to read sight words.

Many kids are simply not ready to learn this difficult tasks at such a young age. My advise, continue to spend a set amount of time working with him each day, but don't push to hard. He'll develope on his own schedule.

My son does the same thing...we'll be reading a book and I stop at a word that I know he knows and he claims to not know it. Sometimes it is because he is clearly not in the mood and other times he seems to genuinely not remember the word.

My advice is remain calm and patient...these kids are just gettting used to school, not to mention tests. back up and ask what the beginning suond is and what letter makes that sound, etc. Break the question (word) down into smaller, more easily achieved tasks and you'll get there and it will teach him how to come up with answers on his own when he feels stuck.

good luck,

teacher and mom of a 5 year old

When my kids were younger we use to take the spelling words and write them on pieces of paper. Then I would tape each piece on the sliding glass door by the diningroom table. Every day after school we'd read the words to practice them and after dinner the child would read them to daddy. After a couple days they would turn their back to the slider and I'd say the word for them to spell. When they spelled the word correctly at 3 different sessions they took the word down and moved it to the other glass slider which had a sign that said "All the words I know". We made it fun and by moving a word from one door to another it showed them how much they actually knew.

He is too young for studying and tests. My kids are 10 and 14, and they did not have spelling tests or anything they needed to study for in kindergarten. Is this private school? Sounds like it because I work in a public elementary building and there are no tests or studying for kindergartners, nor is there a "top class" - all classes have students of mixed levels and all learn the same curriculum. While it may sound great to have him in the "top class," 5 year olds don't have the emotional or academic maturity to study - most of them can't even read yet. Kindergarten should focus on literacy, they should be reading before spelling correctly. Some kindies can't even form all of their letters accurately yet.
Good luck

Where does your son go to Kindergarten? I have never heard of tests in Kindergarten. I own a Montessori preschool with a full day kindergarten and although my kids are learning to read and spell we do not do tests. My kids didn't even get tests in public school until first grade. I still remember my son getting his first test he went to the nurse with a stomach ache. There is so much pressure on children today. Unless it is bothering your son let him be. He will have plenty of time to take tests. Unfortunately my son was a perfectionist and drove me crazy with always wanting perfect grades so I would help him study. If your son is fine with how he is doing then realize it is just kindergarten and let him have fun. I find with boys in my kindergarten its not that they can't do it they don't want to do it. We all know boy's mature later in girls so it can be a challenge in school. I have a kindergarten of 11 boys and 3 girls and believe me it is a challenge to get the boys to work. Most of them have just made the cut-off so they are young five year olds. I think it is so unfortunate that schools have become so high pressure for kids. As a preschool I try to make the program fun, however if I do not have a good curriculum they will not be prepared for elementary school. Try to have a balance and he will be fine. Good luck!!

Aside from having a little bit of concern surrounding a spelling test in K... what is the test format? Is it a dictation-style list? Does he have to write a sentence? Whatever style the teacher is using to test is how you should have him practice, at least the night before. You want the study method to match the assessment method. If he were older, you wouldn't have him do an essay to practice for a multiple choice test!

I would suggest trying to make the studying experience as interactive and multisensory as possible.
- Put some shaving cream on a cookie sheet and have him use his finger to "write" the words. You can use large grain rice in a large bin as well.
- Letter magnets are great b/c his "options" are in front of him and he can rearrange them until they "look right". This is great practice for later editing tasks.
- Use a "tune" to spell out loud and then teach him the rhythm so he can "talk" himself through the words.
- I love using pipe cleaners or wicky-sticks with my struggling students. They are bright and fun to play with. You can use them over and over again and will come in handy when learning graphing, early geometry and map skills.

Please don't stress over this. He's little and this is Kindergarten. He will eventually learn how to study and get his work done, but try to keep it positive and avoid punishing the bad test scores. He has the rest of his academic career to worry about the number at the top of the page.

You should also schedule a meeting with the teacher and find out how she is administering the test. I can only speak for my Kindergarten teachers, but they don't start doing spelling tests until March at the earliest. The "test" are administered individually and are usually 5 words or less. Some students write the words, dication style; some students point to the word using a word bank; and some spell out loud. They all develop at different rates, but most of them get there within the range of typical.

I was having the same problem, with my son, he knew all the words the night before and would get a terrible grade on the test(constantly) his wonderful teacher wasnt as worried as i was, she told us they are very new at taking tests and he needs to relax. We did flash cards, writing them several times, and practice tests. now hes doing great he just had to get used to the idea of taking tests. his school has the stories that go with the words so they can recognize the words. Dont pull your hair out its only kindergarden, he'll get it sooner than later. hope that helps a little.

Hi:) Your little guy is in Kindergarten - school should be a game right now where learning is an indirect result of having fun. Most kids (especially boys) don't have the mental bandwidth to "study" the way the word really means. Learning at this point in the game should really by like "osmosis." Try not to be too disappointed, and just do his homework in small doses. :)

My daughter also gets tested every Friday on the week's spelling words and sight words. Aside from that she is tested in Math and reading comprehension. I don't agree with the pressure that is put on Kindergartener because it is essentially robbing them of their childhood. Nowadays kids are competing for grades right out of preschool. I am all for the learning part but think the tests are a little excessive. That being said, I put the words on index cards and post them on the pantry dour in my kitchen and we go over them every morning. I try other ways to make it fun so she will be interested in learning it and being able to keep up.

R.,
Don't test him to study.

Studies show that we need to see/hear/say/touch/think/do and more with things before we'll remember them.

Another says you don't remember something until you've dealt with it 47 times. No joke!

My thoughts:

Read them to him - and spell them right after

Make a sentence yourself - and have him repeat it

Ask him if the word makes a sound or color or feeling or (whatever fits the word) Frog - ribbit, desk - flat/tan, etc.

Print his words out twice - hand or computer - and play memory (doesn't have to be every time) (Have him do it if he enjoys the game!)

Do the word -- drive - hands on steering wheel. bake - roll it out. clap - <||>

Make up a story/sentence with all the words (not as hard as you think). The Steam Roller Carved big Holes in the Truck and Danced Along the Grassy Trees with a Friend.

Use sign language - and learn the alphabet - finger spelling is a GREAT way to add another dimension to remembering :D

I don't remember spelling in Kindergarten, but things have been moved up so much, kids are overwhelmed these days (OPINION ALERT!)

Mostly, Read more to him. I know you are full-time, but you can incorporate the rest of your children in this activity. Story before dinner! Story before bed! Get ready in time for school and you can have another story!

Flylady.com is a time-saver help for you, so you aren't so overwhelmed with the house as well as helping your children.

Good luck,
M.

Krista's post has some excellent ideas. You also need to teach your child phonics to help with spelling out the words. I used to have bathtub letters that my son loved to make words out of them and "shoot" them down with a water gun. The key is it has to be fun and game like.