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It seems to be a pretty smooth transition. I think it really depends on the school. The writing expectations jump at first grade at our school. (LO likes writing so she is ok with that.)

Typically, K-2 are considered lower grades, focusing on literacy and learning to read. At our school, Grades 3-4 are similar-reading to learn -introducing the emphasis on heavy informational text/non-fiction in grade 4. A few kids are still having some basic comprehension issues in grades 3 and 4 but they are considered reading as a second grader. Then 5-6 with advanced academic language. I know for a fact, there is a big jump from 4 to 5.

My son didn’t have any toys in Kinder. The school (both last year and this year) is known for being academically rigorous. The expectations this year are mostly centered on reading and reading comprehension. They have the same math workbooks from last year (just one grade up). I’m not sure when the “jump” is in our system. But the transition, both new school and new grade, seem to be going pretty smoothly. What I really appreciate is that there is a focus on each child’s individual progress and not their progress compared to a standard.

@MamaG: I was surprised at the cardinal directions as well, my son asked me to draw a compass for him and was asking what it means when you are between 2 directions.

@T.H.O.U.: The math is only 2 sessions over the week, not each night. We have no issue doing the reading, but my son is currently on a fast from the ipad, so that means he's not doing the math homework!

I think the parents that complained think there isn't enough homework. We have a large population of immigrant parents where homework is an expectation and I have a feeling they are seeking enrichment ideas, but we'll see.

I am fine with my son's progress so far. He can handle the work and his classroom is very calming, so he's progressing nicely. We still have some attitude battles, though!

@Mamaof2: Do you have experience with Dreambox? It's a math app and it's adaptive. My son loves it, and he normally hates doing "math" when he has to complete it on paper.

@looch: I cant find it.... hmmmm

There has been a significant uptick in the volume of homework this week. Much of it has been writing (both spelling test prep and general writing) and my son is now in the international section, so he has English homework too. It has been a rough adjustment because it seems to take so long now. On Wednesday we had to go over the French spelling words, the French grammar lesson, the French writing work and then do the English spelling words. I’m pretty sure it took 45 minutes, which is too long, in my opinion. There’s a fair amount of homework this weekend and we already did the reading, the first chapter in a new book. I was really impressed at how much progress he has made in reading since the beginning of the school year.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for good English phonics resources? I think I need to work with him on English phonics. My son has just been thrown into the new English section without having any prior English reading/writing and I feel the need to catch him up. I’m sure it will all be fine in the end, but I think it’s a bit ambitious asking him to do spelling tests when he doesn’t know the sounds in English. I saw his test from last week, which was on his first day in the new class, and he basically spelled all the English words phonetically using French as a base, so they were obviously all wrong. One of the spelling words that we practiced for next week was “was” and he took one look at it and pronounced it “vas” like in German (which he learned last year) and didn’t immediately make the connection that it was English. So we have work to do there. .

@looch: thanks for checking in! We worked hard on the spelling words last week and he got them all right this week! Other than that, I haven’t had time to work on English with him. But our container finally arrived over the weekend so at least we now have all of our books again, and we can start reading/practicing more in English.

As for your craft, I’m not terribly crafty but it does sound like they could do it in the allotted amount of time.

Oy! The Halloween festivities were so rushed, but the craft got completed, the kids had a snack, costumes were put on and a parade completed, all in the space of 45 minutes! Now I just have to decide on the possible thanksgiving craft, and there's not a lot of time left! I already know what we're doing for the Christmas one (if it's up to me): toilet paper roll snowmen, using up the white yarn from the ghosts!

I had a long conversation with the literacy teacher at my son's school yesterday and I expressed some frustration about the homework requirement of 20 minutes per night...it's hard to find appropriate content and not rely on the online application alone! So, she mentioned that my son's issue at the moment is answering free form questions after reading a guided reading level G text and suggested that one night, we could use one of these workbooks to complete the 20 minute requirement. In case anyone is looking for something, here they are:

First choice:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545200849/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Second choice: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596730374/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

@Pancakes: They just changed the policy this year, I don't think it was very thought through, so we're muddling through. I am aware that some parents are probably struggling, so I feel the need to raise it to the administration, as not everyone feels empowered to raise things for whatever reason.

Last year, I believe the kids had those leveled reading buckets, but this year, I don't recall having seen them in the classroom. I will ask, for sure.

One thing you could do is ask the teacher for a lexile level once your child reaches a certain comprehension point. If your school is online, chances are their library catalog is online. You can go to refine search according to lexile levels and interests. This works with community libraries online as well. Lexile levels are imperfect but they are a start. I tend to look for books where they are getting exposed to or aquiring one new word a page for my own students.

DD's first grade teacher has assigned a diagnostic test and has been printing out articles weekly for DD using a reading-differentiated program (Achieve3000 or known as Kidbiz) which scores everything and guides them with polls for engagement. This past week she started just having her work on them online. She is an extremely high reader (4th grade level) and she has a veteran teacher who wants to find something at her instructional comprehension level.
Here's one company's lexile grouping but it varies depending on opinion. I find this one pretty challenging. https://doc.achieve3000.com/article/InterpretingStudentsLexiles/InterpretingStudentsLexiles.pdf

@looch: She gets a paper each month with 25 boxes - she checks off 1 box for each 20 mins of reading

@Mrs. High Heels: They use Raz at school. We are supposed to read at least 20 minutes a day, so they can read their two books they bring home daily and then whatever else they want to read. Can be a mix of raz, traditional books, etc.

@Mrs. High Heels: It always takes us longer, but I like that they do check for comprehension and LO enjoys it and asks to read extra usually.

What are you all putting in your 1st graders stocking?

I need ideas!

Anything educational?

Nothing yet...but probably art supplies.

If you wanted an educational game, I really like the Doctor Beaker/Doctor Eureka/Doctor Microbe games, available on amazon. We have all three, lol, we're a little obsessed and I bought them to give as gifts too!

@MamaG: Nothing educational. I'm getting some blind bags from Target, will maybe look at stuff from the dollar spot. She needs new underwear and socks, so probably those too.