Comments on: Kindergarten Testing and School Readiness

By: Packing the Youngest off the School | Dipping into the Blogpond

Packing the Youngest off the School | Dipping into the Blogpond — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:28:35 +0000

[…] And her backpack - about half the size of her. I don’t know why, but I am reminded of an upturned turtle - perhaps be cause she looks like she will topple over from the sheer wait. Not that a lunch box and pair of runners is all that heavy. She just seemed so little, and I was momentarily questioning my decision to send her to school early. […]

By: alyndabear

alyndabear — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:59:37 +0000

I was born on July 31st, the cut off day. My mum sent me to kindy when I was 4.5, and I’ve never had a problem. In fact, I’ve enjoyed being the youngun, all the way up to high school. Just think, I finished uni that little bit earlier than my peers!

Being a primary school teacher now though, you can definitely tell it’s all about the individual kids. Some four year olds are just that bit more socially ready to adapt to school, and learning - and some would benefit from an extra year before they head into school. As a parent, it’s got to be a tough decision to make!

alyndabear’s last blog post..Miss Independent.

By: Bettina

Bettina — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:52:29 +0000

Its one of those things that has to be looked at on a kid by kid basis. My oldest and youngest really benefited from an extra year at home, my middle child just didn’t need it at all.

I think some kind of “school entry” testing would probably be a very helpful tool to teachers for getting all the kids off to a good start for their schooling lives.

I agree with the comment about grouping kids by age……….. One of the things I LOVE about my kids school is that while they have a home room based on their year age groupings, their english and maths class groupings are ability based.

Bettina’s last blog post..Prank Calls

By: Kin

Kin — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:59:32 +0000

I’m really struggling with this at the moment. My 4 year old turns 5 in October next year, and due to the cut off age for Prep (Qld equivalent of Kinder in NSW I believe) being 30 June, she has to wait another year. All her kindy teachers (at daycare) are stunned that she’s not going to school. She is emotionally and academically ready. In fact, she has achieved on her Kindy report this year all the outcomes expected at the END of prep, and still she spends another year in daycare because of an arbitrary cut off age.

I do suspect that when it comes time to look at my now 3 year old, I will be grateful for the age cut off, as I doubt she will be ready, either emotionally or academically, at the same age her sister is. Not because she’s dumber, or not as smart, just because she learns differently (apart from being left-handed) and has such a different personality.

Kin’s last blog post..Christmas Menu Planning

By: Lani

Lani — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:18:05 +0000

I’m nowhere near the stage of worrying about this but I agree with you wholeheartedly about the importance of this early testing. If only we could shift that idea too many people have that testing (IQ, social skills, whatever) provides a measure of a person’s worth.

I, of course, believe that my son is the most “gifted”, wonderful human being to walk the earth. I reserve the right to continue to do so regardless of the stage at which he reaches particular developmental milestones. I’m not concerned about him being behind or in front, I’m concerned about him being given the appropriate experiences and lessons at the appropriate time - for him. And the same for every other child. I hope the program really can help with that.

As for the hot-housing - don’t even get me started. There is more and more research (including neurological studies) coming out that not only does it not speed up development, it is detrimental to it. When we shift the goal of teaching our kids to the goal of getting our kids to pass tests well, that’s when I say, “Count me out”.

By: Kelley

Kelley — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:02:32 +0000

I have 3 kids. The oldest 2 (next year in Yr 9 and the other VCE) were ready socially but not as advanced academically as some of the other kids. Now they are in gifted programs and accelerated.

Boo on the other hand was reading, writing, spelling, counting far beyond his years before kindergarten. Assessed at a 9yr old level at 4. But we held him back. For social reasons.

I truly believe a kid needs to be ready socially and emotionally for school. If that is achieved the academics will follow.

Kelley’s last blog post..Tears.

By: Mike Macgirvin

Mike Macgirvin — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:49:26 +0000

I would’ve thought that standard tests would be a good thing. We had this in the states and for instance I was shuffled around to try and find a good match (was a geek back then too, socially behind but academically ahead). The problem of coaching as you’ve noted seems to put a plug in the works though. Seems like every common human activity these days needs to be engineered to prevent abuse. If the coaches were to get good enough, they’d be forced to go back to age as a meter to prevent abuse.

Mike Macgirvin’s last blog post..Lakota Nation

By: guera

guera — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:25:34 +0000

My eldest was born in early May and I’m sure we will have issues when we go back to Australia (I think the cutoff in WA is 30th June). I think she will be more than ready (she will be 5 next year) as she’s starting to read, writing and counting well and she’s very sociable, but will there be pressure on us to hold her back because she’ll eb one fo the youngest? I don’t agree with holding kids back just because they will be the youngest, unless there really is a good reason to do so. I read about the practice in the states of “redshirting” in kindergarden just so kids will be the oldest in their class and be more likely to be the top students - academically, in sports and socially. Crazy!
I agree that the testing is probably useful for the teachers to determine the level and spread of skills in the class, but the problem is that there is an assumption with any kind of test that your kid needs to be the best performer. Everyone wants their kids ot be above average - but someone’s got to be the average! It seems to bring out the worst in some parents, like with the coaching classes. There’s seems to be so much pressure on the kids (and parents) to come top, and it’s a shame it starts so young.

guera’s last blog post..A Canadian Spanner in the Works

By: Peter McCartney

Peter McCartney — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:07:45 +0000

Hi! In relation to the parent who mentioned it would be “too stressful”, they may be reliving their days at school. Yes, exams were stressful but for a five year old it could only be fun for them. God love’em.

I would image if large numbers of children were found wanting as a result of this new system, it could open up a whole new market for industry to start training the little ones to be smarter - all the best for Christmas!

Peter McCartney’s last blog post..Fallen and Forgotten

By: Marita

Marita — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:01:21 +0000

My oldest daughter is born on the 1st of May and here in Victoria the cut off is 30th April. She was so ready to go to 4 year old Kinder this year, social, emotionally and educationally. But she had to go to 3 year old Kinder.

To get her into 4 year old we would have had to visit a private psychologist to have her assessed (at our own cost). Once that assessment was completed and submitted to the powers that be there was to be another psychological assessment by the council shrink. Plus all the extra paperwork. It was just too many hoops to jump through when we were already going through other dramas with our youngest.

My youngest as we’ve discovered this year has Autism (Aspergers) and she is enrolling in 3 year old kinder but we’ve been told on all fronts that she will be doing two years of 4 year old Kinder prior to starting primary school.

Confusion indeed.

Marita’s last blog post..Annie Camera