Here is the biggest question I have to ask everyone. The corona virus has been the biggest thing in our history since WW2. Separating families, friends, and kids from School.
The school Districts tried to come up with a way for the kids to be safe. With Four ways of learning this year, everyone was entitled to choose which one would be best for their families.
I wrote in another blog about this ad. That their are kids out their that are falling behind because this school year was just a MESS.
I don’t ever want to say that can be possible, but it is. There are so many types of kids out there that learn differently, and to find the best way for them to learn is always going to be hard.
I have said that I am thankful that my children are not school age ( technically Livi was, but I am keeping her back, and ill explain later) and that I was very happy to do Preschool and PRE K work with them at home. While my mother in law is teaching my daughter how to read and Will will be next, and I am doing mostly math and Social Studies at home. I am happy to report that my daughter and my other student will be ready for Kinder next year, and may even be ahead of the game when it comes to math and reading, but emotionally and mentally they are Kinder level. I am okay with that.
However what about all of you who have School age kiddos who went to school this year and now are home again.
There are articles everywhere, that kids are falling behind, even the kids that were ahead before. That’s saying something.
There is of course the other small portion of the population that chose that 4th option. HOMESCHOOLING.
When you are a stay at home parent who is homeschooling their kids, you have to decide a few things. Now for some, you have bought a curriculum and it comes with just about everything you will ever need. According to my friends who have been doing this, they are doing well. However there is no sure way to tell, until the kids take their tests and return to school to see where they are.
I know someone who bought only one set of curriculum for both her school age kiddos. One is in third grade and the other is in 1st. I am not sure the exact grade she bought, but she is dialing it up for her third grader and dialing it down for her 1st grader. I find that to be extremely challenging. For math they have their own workbooks and a separate teacher for that. However its for the other subjects she is splitting her lessons. I believe she is doing a great job, but only time will tell if they are on track, ahead, or behind their classmates next year.
Where is this all going you might ask? Well, I was sitting with my mother the other day talking about it. Now that the Vaccine is out and its making its way to everyone, the world should ( and I say Should) get back to normal by the end of May.
The big question is…….. Should this year be cut out and everyone just start school this next year where they are now? Or should everyone be tested in May to see at what level they will start the following year. I know that would suck for most, but we have to do what is right by our kids. So for our high school seniors, that would mean they would have to wait another year to graduate. I think it would be worth it in the end. If they need it, its better to do it now than them going into college unprepared.
Same goes for the other kids. Kinder’s would repeat Kinder, 1st would repeat 1st. And yes I know that everyone that is GOING to start Kinder, that would become a bigger class, but it is what it is. Which is why I think a HUGE Standardized Test in May would be the best way to see where everyone is.
For example: Livi is 5 and will be 6 when she starts Kinder. Technically she was supposed to start Kinder this year, but I held her back due to covid, and the fact that she is a JULY birthday and it is a trick age to start a kid. I started Kinder at 6 and I turned out find. When her preschool teacher she had with the District and her IEP told me that means she would be starting at 1st grade age, I corrected her and said NO, she will be starting at age 6. Most kids start the Kinder year at age 5 and turn 6 within the year. Livi will start and end her year 6. So what’s the difference.
Back to the example. In May, the districts should send out a testing or have the kids come to the schools or district office to test to find out where she belongs. (As they should with everyone after this year) Currently due to the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT. Kids start in their classroom at age level and if they are higher or lower in any subject ( mostly English and Math) the kids are rotated to the other teachers in their section of grade and do those levels with the other kids that are at the same level.
I hope I Explained that right. There are usually 3-4 classrooms per grade at each school. So if their are kids who are higher at math, they all go into one classroom, the kids who are behind go into another, and the other one to two classrooms usually fill with the kids who are on track with their subject.
Back to Livi. If she tests into 1st grade level subjects, and Kinder emotions, then she should be put into the Kinder classroom like she is supposed to and rotate the same as it was. If she shows higher levels for everything and they recommend her going into 1st right away, then that will be what will be. I wouldn’t consider it “Skipping a grade” its she’s placed in the right level.
For everyone else the same applies. Another example. If a 1st grade friend tests into Second next year, he goes into second. However if he is testing still 1st grade level, he has to repeat 1st grade again.
I know that sucks again, and some kids might loose their friends, but it needs to be done. We can’t pass these kids just cuz they are the right age to move up. We need to figure this out and soon.
It should be done because the kids need to be learning on their level. This year just wasn’t the best year. We can just erase it from history and just begin anew next year.
What do you think?
The TAWL Mom 