https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 12:04:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-i-be-doing-something-about-my-kids-terrible-writing#post-2925497 Tue, 16 Nov 2021 12:05:07 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2925497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is 8 (third grade). She's reading at multiple grade levels ahead and is in next-grade-level math but her writing is atrocious. Truly illegible atrocious. Words run together/no spacing, she still flips letters and numbers around, spelling is awful (though she's a voracious reader, but they don't have spelling instruction in school), you name it. Her teachers have told me that they're not worried and that in part because of the pandemic and virtual school last year kids are behind in writing mechanics. Which I get, but I see writing from kids in 1st and 2nd grade that's miles ahead of hers so that's not the only explanation. When she types, rather than handwrites, it's a little better (though we still have to edit for punctuation, capitalization and spelling) but handwriting is just bad. A large issue is that she moves very fast in order to "get it over with" so it does get somewhat better when I force her to slow down (e.g. when she makes a card for a friend) but without that prompting, it doesn't happen and even with it, it's still just not good. </p> <p>This is keeping me up at night and I'm not sure if I should be giving her extra practice or make her do workbooks or something. I really don't want to, in part because her school doesn't do homework so she isn't bringing anything home to practice and I don't want to force something on her, but I'm also worrying that this isn't going to get better and she'll face some harsh feedback as she keeps getting older. </p> <p>Would love some reality checks either way here. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifted-child-resources-and-kinder-advice#post-2924165 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 08:41:45 +0000 Mrs. Starfish 2924165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all - I feel a bit lost and Hellobee has always been my favorite parenting resource... Have any of you been down the path of raising a gifted child? If so, do you have any preferred resources? Facebook groups, books, websites, blogs?</p> <p>As many of you know, we have two girls the same age. One started reading independently around her 4th birthday and the reading took off so fast that we got quickly overwhelmed. We spoke to her PK-4 teacher about it and didn't get much from that. At the same time, the confidence level of our other girl was getting absolutely crushed as she wasn't reading at the same level as her sister.</p> <p>As a result, we opted to have both girls tested (WPPSI-IV). The results just came back, and the daughter who is reading is officially "gifted" while the other is "bright". </p> <p>The school that we had the girls in for preschool is the same that we will be sending for kinder (and this school goes all the way up to 12th grade). Talking to other parents at this school (and the PK-4 teacher last year), it doesn't sound like they do much for gifted children. We are planning to send the test results on to the head of school to better understand what is available and ask for a conversation, but I really don't want to mis-step in any way. </p> <p>Any advice? I don't know what I'm doing, and we're already noticing distracted/bored behavior from our gifted child and definitely feel this needs to be addressed before it spirals... I also have a lot of anxiety and worry about navigating my other child's confidence as all this progresses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-learning-spanish#post-2920530 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:05:12 +0000 SweetCaroline 2920530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is participating in an extracurricular Spanish class, 2x30 minute sessions a week. She's in Kindergarten and has learned her colors and counting to 10 in Spanish so far. She really really enjoys it and I would like to encourage her in a low pressure way.</p> <p>Does anyone have books, DVDs, YouTube, etc. they'd recommend? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/more-school-troubles#post-2918815 Sun, 06 Sep 2020 14:55:44 +0000 cat620 2918815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve posted in here before about remote learning at my son’s elementary school, and how I’ve been on the fence about withdrawing him and homeschooling.</p> <p>We have now done the remote learning for three weeks, and while I don’t think it’s ideal, I feel like we’ve gotten into a groove with things. My 1st grade son has between 2.5 and 3 hours of zoom each day followed by another 2 hours of independent work. But so far, I feel like the zooms have been manageable, because the teacher gives breaks and tries to engage the kids. My son likes his teacher and the other kids in his class. There are 20 of them.</p> <p>His teacher is pregnant, and she will be taking a maternity leave from the middle of September through December, so she won’t come back to teach until January. This whole time we’ve been eagerly waiting to find out who the sub will be.  I received an email today from the school saying that instead of a sub, they are going to disperse our class into the other three 1st grade classes. that means the average number of children in each class will jump to about 26 or 27. I’m concerned about having a larger number of kids in a class, especially because I feel like my son already doesn’t get much one-on-one attention from his teacher. </p> <p>The other concern is that we are signed up for the full remote academy at our school district, which means that our class is committed to doing virtual learning through the school year. The other three classes are remote learning currently, but they could go back to in-person learning if Covid conditions improve in our community. I have no idea how this will play out if the other classes go back to school, and the teacher has to somehow juggle them as well as those of us who are learning from home.</p> <p>I emailed our teacher to find out more information, and her reply was that she doesn’t have any answers and will forward my questions to the principal. I feel like this wasn’t a well thought out plan, and I’m annoyed by the lack of information they are giving us. My husband thinks this is our final push to do homeschooling, but I’m not sure what to do at this point. Just felt like sharing and seeing if anyone has advice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thoughts-on-the-2020-2021-school-year#post-2913981 Wed, 15 Apr 2020 00:03:04 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2913981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anybody re-thinking their child’s educational plan for the 2020-2021 school year?</p> <p>My first is in k this year and we decided to homeschool him. I was always always on the fence though- I love homeschooling but I also loved school and it pained me to think about him missing out on traditional school. But I knew it would also pain me to put him in school and know I could be teaching him and going on lots of adventures.</p> <p>We were really torn about the next school year- whether to keep homeschooling, put him in public, or even pull off this private school I really love, but with recent events we are definitely going to homeschool him. Decision made easy this time around...</p> <p>I know we are so lucky to even have a choice in how to educate him since I am a SAHM.</p> <p>I homeschool through a public charter and I am wondering if enrollment is going to skyrocket this next school year due to people anticipating shelter-in-place and wanting support for homeschooling during that time. Our homeschool charter provides an educational specialist to help guide you with curriculum/ideas/state requirements, provides educational funds, etc...</p> <p>What are your thoughts on the 2020-2021 school year for your kids? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917981 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:42:16 +0000 cat620 2917981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is anyone else considering pulling their child out of school and doing homeschool this year? </p> <p>Our school district decided to do remote learning indefinitely instead of in-person learning, which I think was a wise choice. However, their remote learning plan for elementary school is going to consist of 4 hours of live video streams with their teacher and 2 hours of work done at your own pace (mostly worksheets and reading) daily. They are attempting to recreate a school day at home with set times for everything. I think this is way too much, especially the amount of screen time they expect. We did similar (although less intensive) remote learning in the spring through the school, and my child hated it! During the Zoom calls, he was constantly fidgeting, not paying attention and would often try to leave and go do something else. I had to sit next to him through all the calls to make sure he was doing what he was supposed to.</p> <p>Our school is saying the live streams this time around will be more engaging and they are expecting the children to be able to follow along and do the work without needing parental help, but I don't see how that's possible, especially for a 1st grader like my son. </p> <p>It sounds like there's no flexibility in the proposed plan, because it's required to attend the live streams to be counted present for attendance, and they want you to turn in work daily. I am considering homeschool, so I could make our own schedule, which would be significantly shorter, and teach my child the way he learns best. I would follow a homeschool curriculum, so I'm confident he could learn what he needs to. </p> <p>My big struggle right now is that I really want to homeschool him and pull him out of his public school, but I feel a large amount of guilt about it. One reason is because I like the idea of supporting public schools and being part of the school community. The other larger reason is that I am currently VP of our PTA, and I feel like I would be abandoning the board if I leave the school. I take my commitments seriously, and I honestly can't tell what would make me feel worse at this point - dealing with my child who will probably be miserable during remote learning or dealing with my feelings of letting people down who are depending on me. </p> <p>Does anyone have advice or is going through something similar? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/app-or-game-for-multiplicationtimes-tables#post-2916338 Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:07:13 +0000 Anagram 2916338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like there was a thread recently about this, but now I can’t find it. Is there a great app/website/game out there that teaches the times tables and doesn’t just quiz kids that already know their times tables (if that makes sense)?</p> <p>We’ve checked out multiplication.com and a few other sites and those games are more for testing/refreshing kids who have already learned their times tables. </p> <p>Right now, she knows the easy ones like the 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, and 11s. She needs to learn all the rest and I don’t want to sit and do flash cards with her (I need something she can do while I work). </p> <p>Suggestions? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplemental-or-homeschool-reading-programs#post-2917492 Mon, 20 Jul 2020 23:37:11 +0000 LemonJack 2917492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m a teacher, but I teach older kids, so I’m out of my element with this question. I’m preparing for the possibility of virtual/hybrid school with my soon to be 1st grader. She’s considered a little behind on reading (at a level B in March). She’s improved a little since then, but I notice that she seems to struggle with combining sounds while reading. For instance, she’ll try to sound out each part of “ing” rather than understanding that it goes together. She also struggles a lot with whether a sound is a short or long vowel, and sounding out a word that way. </p> <p>Knowing this, I’ve been having her work through a phonics book, and we talk through the pages together. I’ve also been having her read to me, and I help her sound out words she’s unsure of. She’s in an online summer school course, but the additional reading zoom she has each week is really more about making predictions, comprehension, and vocabulary, which are areas she excels in. She loves books and loves to be read to, and is happy to discuss them. It’s just the reading on her own that she’s struggling with.</p> <p>I want to help her without pushing too much or ruining her love of reading. Are there specific reading programs (supplemental or homeschool) that any of you would recommend? I’d ideally start this with her in the next few weeks, so we could get a head start before school begins in September. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/delay-kindergarten#post-2915162 Sat, 09 May 2020 19:41:32 +0000 castilrm 2915162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter turns 5 at the end of the month and is currently in a T-K program. She is set to go to kindergarten this fall but we’re considering holding her back a year so we can hopefully avoid disruption to her first year of formal schooling especially bc if the schools shut down again (and they likely will), I’ll likely be working remotely again while trying to facilitate distance learning (and it’s been hard enough working remotely while having a 4 and 2 year old here but at least there was no formal class work to do too). She’d be on the younger side if she starts kindergarten now but she’d likely be the oldest (or one of) if she starts kindergarten when she’s over 6 years old. Thoughts on pros/cons of making the decision to hold her back? Would it disadvantage her to stay behind another year (she would still have some friends at her TK staying behind and her teacher is great)? I also like the idea of staying with our current community and system during this crazy time rather than starting a new school and trying to meet new teachers and parents (and new friends for my daughter) while we’re stuck on Zoom classes.... Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-zoom-or-not-to-zoom#post-2913961 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:59:58 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2913961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This part venting, part advice request. My kids, 2.5 and 5, were in a montessori preschool 3 full time days per week. My daughter will be returning in the fall and my son will be headed to public K. Their school is doing distance learning via daily work plans and zoom meetings. They were doing daily circle time and stepped it up to 3-4 subject specific lessons daily which seems crazy to me! I feel for the teachers trying to do this with kids at home but I do know they are trying to keep paying as many teachers as possible and therefore giving them work (and asking us to continue paying tuition as able). </p> <p>For a little context and general comment about my parenting style (or lack there of :silly: ), I have never really been much of a schedule mom. I want to be because I hear how beneficial it is for kids, but it just never has worked for me. We tend to have relaxing slow mornings and then do some type of family activity activity outside, it's the kids' time to see my husband since he works evenings 1pm-10pm. </p> <p>Basically, how important or beneficial do you think these distance learning preschool activities are? I feel better about my daughter since she has finally become a great independent player and does lots of creative self directed activities. Plus, she's 2! My almost kindergartener has me more worried! He's not into the zoom meetings at all, and I don't love trying to pull off montessori style activities at home. Are we ok if we just read together every day, draw and color and do art, play outside, that kind of stuff? I think I feel guilty not pulling off the distance learning and a more structured day since I can't work from home. Plus I feel bad that they have their teachers doing all this work and my kids are just not doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-find-zoom-activities-or-classes#post-2913717 Fri, 10 Apr 2020 12:46:19 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2913717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What’s a good resource for Zoom activities or classes for pre-k? Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-public-school-with-homeschooling#post-2872360 Sat, 16 Feb 2019 11:17:54 +0000 HappyBaker 2872360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone send their kid to public school but also work through some type of homeschooling plan after school? My DD is in K but due to issues with her school building it’s been closed the past 2 weeks, next week is vacation, and though they will be open after that it will be mostly babysitting and not full learning for a few more weeks at least because of issues with the building / teachers needing time to set up new classrooms. DD is super bright, reading at a 2nd grade level and was doing awesome at school. Her teacher was doing an awesome job keeping her interested, but now with all the school craziness things are going to be different. In an ideal world I’d just pull her out and homeschool her the rest of the year, but we can’t afford for me to not work. Is it crazy to send her to school and then work through some kind of curriculum ourselves after school? We get her off the bus at 3 everyday so have 2 hours alone with her before her siblings get home! Any suggestions on what type of things to do are much appreciated! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/computer-math-games#post-2910187 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 19:46:37 +0000 JCCovi 2910187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are on their 2nd week off school due to a Coronavirus scare in our area. I've been going a little crazy trying to get my work done and entertain them since I work from home. </p> <p>My daughter mentioned to me that everyone in her class knows their multiplication tables except her and 2 other girls. So we've been working on that during our time together. She understands the concepts really well after a few days, but now just needs to go to work memorizing. </p> <p>I found an online game that she loves and is perfect for practicing, but I'd prefer something that is off-line but still on the computer. Any ideas? Happy to pay for it, especially if it can be used for concepts past multiplication. When I was a kid we had Treasure Math Storm and Math Blasters which I loooved. Surely something like that exists? Every time I google I just ended up with the online flash games though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-a-child-to-readspell#post-2892520 Sat, 27 Jul 2019 06:51:45 +0000 LadyDi 2892520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is newly 4 and is really interested in learning how to spell and read. He knows all of his letters and mostly knows the sounds they make. He asks me all of the time how to spell things and yesterday I found some sight word flash cards that we were looking at. What else could I do to encourage him or teach him? I have a brain quest workbook thing and we have the star fall app, but I think he’s ready for something a little more advanced than the app. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-world-language-start-in-your-district#post-2880382 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:41:22 +0000 Alba4 2880382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m curious when your district starts a second language. (I’m a language teacher).</p> <p>In the district where I live, my kids start Spanish in K. Where I teach, kids can choose Spanish, French, or Latin starting in 5th grade. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873141 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:01:03 +0000 bees_knees 2873141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What is your district's age cutoff for kindergarten? DS1 turns 5 at the end of March ( :crying: ) so kindergarten is on our radar...turns out *technically* the district cutoff is Sept 5. BUT, if they are 5 before March 1 they go to full day K, if they turn 5 after March 1 they go to half day. IF they go to half day K, they have to do full day K the next year before they go on to 1st grade. </p> <p>Doesn't this seem weird? Like...if we do half day K (which is technically just like preschool?), he will turn 7 during his full day K year. Isn't that old for a kindergartener? What if we moved districts? Would he be the oldest person in his grade forever? Do other districts do this? </p> <p>Help! I'm freaking out! Most of this can be attributed to anxiety over my first leaving the nest but... :crying: :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/repeating-kindergarten-pros-and-cons#post-2870676 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 14:37:15 +0000 Becky 2870676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Let me start by saying I'm asking so many questions about this on here because I'm the first of my friends/family to have kids!</p> <p>My daughter has a late bday--10/31 and the cutoff is 12/1. We went back and forth about whether or not to hold her back, but ultimately decided to send her on time. The big factors were that she was very excited to go, and we would have had to find a new daycare to put her in twice per week and didn't have great options. While she is now doing very well academically, she is very obviously the youngest in the class (second youngest in the entire grade). She is exhausted and as her teacher put it, she just doesn't have the stamina of the other students. She is struggling with confidence and making friends which breaks my heart. </p> <p>I majorly regret not holding her back, and everyone keeps saying "You could always have her repeat Kindergarten." Has anyone had a child repeat Kindergarten? Was it for academic or social reasons? I'm obviously very concerned about how it could potentially negatively impact her. Would she be mortified? She doesn't really have close friends so I don't know if that would help. I'm also wondering how much to involve her in the decision. She's expressed hating being the youngest--should I let her have input? Teacher input would be fantastic! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-kids-about-martin-luther-king-jr#post-2867799 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:17:16 +0000 magnolia 2867799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do you or will you teach your kids about MLK jr. and civil rights? </p> <p>My son is 4. I mentioned to him last night that we will be off from school and work today to honor the life of MLK. I told him he fought for what he believed in and wanted everyone to have equal rights. I don’t know how much that registered with him but I’d love others ideas on teaching our kids about anti racism, equity and civil rights . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/6-year-old-doesnt-want-to-practice-reading#post-2857467 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 12:00:37 +0000 hummusgirl 2857467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 6-year-old is in kindergarten and starting to learn to read, but it's a struggle. His teacher says he needs to read for a few minutes a day but it's hard - we both work so we don't get home until 6 and bedtime is at 8, not to mention none of us are at our best at that time of day. He loves for us to read to him (Who Was series, Captain Underpants, picture books). But he whines and gets easily discouraged when we ask him to read to us. </p> <p>Any suggestions on books or games or anything that might make this more enjoyable for all involved? I think he'll be really into reading once he really knows how. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-begin-private-music-lessons#post-2835635 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 23:38:07 +0000 Hypatia 2835635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD will be turning five in about six months. Her best friend is six, and she plays the fiddle, so of course DD is asking if she can learn to play the fiddle, too. Her friend comes from a musical family, and her dad began teaching her fiddle at age four, so they've encouraged us to start with DD. </p> <p>Three things make me hesitate:</p> <p>1. The fiddle is a difficult instrument to play. It's not like a piano where you push a key and it plays the note. It requires a lot of dexterity and music theory to understand how notes are made. It will take a lot of practice just to get past the nails on a chalkboard stage. </p> <p>2. I had planned on our kids learning the harp, because that's what I know how to play. It's not that I want her to be a mini me, but I love the harp, I own a harp she can play already, and I could help her at home since I play it. Plus, the harp is like a vertical piano in that the strings are already tuned to specific notes and all you have to do is pluck them. I know nothing about the fiddle, by comparison. </p> <p>3. She's probably just expressing interest in the fiddle because her friend plays it. At age four, she doesn't have a lot of discernment, so I don't know if I'm willing to jump into all the expenses of fiddle lessons just because her friend plays. </p> <p>How did you decide what instrument to teach your kids? What age were they when they began lessons? </p> <p>I can't decide whether to ignore her pleas to learn fiddle and then start the harp at age 6 or 7, or start harp right away so she has a creative outlet, or give in and do fiddle instead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-graduating-high-school-a-big-deal#post-2823226 Thu, 17 May 2018 14:07:19 +0000 Mamaof2 2823226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everyone has these huge parties and stuff and I just don't get it - Its high school - no big deal - I found this online that sums up how I feel.</p> <p>"For the majority of America, graduating high school is just something we do. Kind of like putting on deodorant. It is just another task to cross out of the long lists of tasks we must do. It is not an accomplishment. Graduating college? That's big. Getting your masters? That's huge. Getting your doctorate? That is freaking amazing. But High School? Well, do you have a party every time you put on deodorant?"</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Big deal or no? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-decide-to-redshirt#post-2815836 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 08:52:03 +0000 cat620 2815836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a son who will be 5 at the end of June and our cutoff for kindergarten is the middle of August. I have spoken to his preschool teacher, and she thinks sending him to TK instead of kindergarten in the fall would be beneficial for him since he is still struggling with some fine motor skills (like pencil grip) and learning to sit still and pay attention for longer periods of time. I know kindergarten is more demanding than it was when I was in school, but I feel like a good teacher would work with the child and we would do what we can at home to help him succeed as well. My husband is pro redshirting, and we have several friends who are redshirting their kids (mostly sons) who are born around the same time. It seems common in this area, but I'm still concerned about him being the oldest/largest kid in his class and potentially being bored if we wait a year. How did you decide to redshirt? If you did, are you glad you decided to do it? If you didn't, do you wish you had? Also, how do you handle criticism from family/friends? My FIL has been giving us a hard time for even considering it and thinks my son will grow up thinking he's not smart or wondering why he had to go to TK. He doesn't want him to get labeled as unintelligent because of us redshirting him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/private-school-and-summer-birthdays#post-2796019 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:13:17 +0000 cat620 2796019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm feeling frustrated right now with the private school system, and I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this or has any advice. We have three top private schools in our city that are very competitive when it comes to admissions. My son has a late June birthday, so he will be 5 years and 2 months when he starts school in the fall. Part of the private school admissions process includes cognitive assessments, which they did and found my son to be developmentally at his current age. That sounds like it would be a good thing, but then I was told that their kindergarten is academically rigorous, so it's designed for students who are developmentally at 5.5 to 6 year range when they start school. That doesn't seem fair to me, since our public schools accept kids who are 5 before the start of school. The private schools are telling us we need to apply for their TK (transitional kindergarten) program, which is designed for the younger 5s. However, their TK program only has between 15 and 20 spots (depending on the school) compared to 100 or more for kindergarten. Our chances of getting into TK are even less than kindergarten. The admissions counselor told us that if we don't get in this year, we should hold our son back and enroll him in another TK program at a preschool and then apply for kindergarten next year. </p> <p>I'm so conflicted about this. I feel like kids with summer birthdays are at a disadvantage when it comes to applying to private schools. I'm not sure I want to enroll him in a preschool TK program and have him be 6 when he enters kindergarten. I know some people are pro redshirting, but I've always been on the fence about it. And then even if we do that, there is no guarantee he would be accepted at the kindergarten entrance point, so we could still not get in. Our back-up option would be to send him to public school, but if he will ultimately end up there, I would rather send him at 5 vs 6. We won't find out if he's accepted to the private school's TK program until the end of Feb, but in the meantime I'm feeling stressed about this whole thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-all-lefties-or-those-closely-affiliated-with-a-lefty#post-2801476 Thu, 01 Feb 2018 19:26:14 +0000 Ajsmommy 2801476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that dd is in preschool and they are learning to write she is clearly a lefty. </p> <p>Poor girl comes home with marker all over her hand....</p> <p>Are there any products / school supplies that are specifically made for lefties or anything that will help her as she goes to school?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-to-enroll-your-child-in-second-language-school#post-853017 Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:32:38 +0000 DisneyBee 853017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to Japanese school as a kid on Saturdays, and my DH went to Chinese school. We'll probably enroll DS when he's 5. </p> <p>Did you go to Saturday school as a kid? Are you planning to enroll your child? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nervous-about-private-school-admissions#post-2783076 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 15:37:24 +0000 cat620 2783076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you who have sent your kids to private school or have experience with the process, can you give me any words of encouragement or advice? We live in a good-sized city and there are three top private schools in the area, but they are all very competitive to get in. They won't say what their admissions rate is, but I've seen numbers that say anything from 50% to only 30% acceptance rate. The acceptance is based on a cognitive assessment, classroom observation, letter of recommendation and talking to the parents, so there are a lot of steps involved. I'm so nervous about my son getting in, and it's stressing me out! </p> <p>I was talking to a mom at my son's preschool, and the subject of schools came up. I told the mom where we are applying, and she told me a story about a family she knew who had three kids. The oldest kid is already at the school in 3rd grade, and the youngest two are twins and they applied for kindergarten at the same school. They each had to go through the admissions process, and the school ended up only accepting one of the twins!! So one twin got to go to the school with her sibling and the other one had to go to a different school, and the parents are going to keep applying every year hoping the other twin will eventually get in. Hearing that made me more nervous than I already am! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-reading#post-2782586 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:58:04 +0000 pinkcupcake 2782586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you have a child that's currently in kindergarten, what is their reading level? Sight words? Independent reading? If so, at what level? </p> <p>And, what is expected of them, in terms of reading, from school? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/enrichment-ideas-for-a-25-year-old#post-2778676 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 14:35:27 +0000 macintosh 2778676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is almost 2.5 and we've had some challenges with his daycare lately. One of my concerns is that he isn't getting enough learning opportunities due to the unstructured environment at his center. It looks like moving him is not in the cards right now, so I'm looking for ways to enhance what I feel is lacking at "school" with more enrichment at home until he's eligible for 3s preschool.</p> <p>I'm not a teacher, but I work with many teachers and I'm interested to learn more about age appropriate curriculum. I enrolled DS in a weekend music class that we've done before and enjoyed and I'm looking for other resources.</p> <p>Any suggestions for parent-focused guide to Montessori, Reggio-Emilia, or art enrichment that is age-appropriate? I don't have a ton of time to search blogs and pinterest, but I'd like to incorporate some social-emotional skills, self-care, and definitely more art and creativity into our daily lives. </p> <p>Feel free to tell me if it sounds like I'm helicoptering. I've been somewhat laid back up til now - he walked late and talked late and I just tried not to worry about it. He has turned into a very bright little boy and I want to give him every opportunity that I can :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-page-article#post-2776948 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:06:16 +0000 gotkimchi 2776948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did anyone read the front page article about by 3 kids who aren't in school are falling behind? I thought the current thought was let kids be kids and they have plenty of time to learn and in other countries kids don't learn to read until 6 etc. Does anyone have any thoughts on this and why we're hearing different things? I only have my child in part time preschool basically for fun and socialization and this made me feel like I need to worry about academics!! I feel like I'm just doomed to be doing the wrong thing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-grade-skipping#post-2775107 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 03:42:55 +0000 808love 2775107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was it positive or negative? Just read this article that leans toward positive effects. <a href="http://www.salon.com/2016/10/22/here-are-reasons-why-your-child-may-need-to-skip-a-grade_partner/" rel="nofollow">http://www.salon.com/2016/10/22/here-are-reasons-why-your-child-may-need-to-skip-a-grade_partner/</a> </p>