https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:35:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2913340 Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:32:02 +0000 graceandjoy 2913340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: Ahhh I hope your csection goes well! I’m sorry you have the added stress of giving birth too. I honestly am too tired/scared to even think long term. I’m really just doing the minimum with K since we have a 3 yr old and 2 mo old at home too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2913330 Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:10:25 +0000 JennyPenny 2913330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: I think we’re on a similar schedule just a bit behind. We finished up our 3rd week of being home, next week is spring break and then distance learning starts in earnest the following week. The haphazard assignments and tests of video class meets we’ve had this week as prep don’t give me a whole lot of confidence that things will go well when they start up for real. And I have a scheduled c-section the Tuesday of that first week so it’ll mostly fall on my parents.</p> <p>Overall I think my kiddo will be fine. He’s an extrovert and definitely misses friends but academically this might even be good for him because I’m working with him on harder material than school was. I just worry about the big gap in student knowledge growing because of this, and what does it look like if it happens this early on in the school career? How long will we see a disproportionately large disparity between students. </p> <p>Also, my district sent a note about all the policies today that included this gem: The State Board of Education has provided general guidance that states, “It is paramount to remember the unprecedented condition students are learning in and to focus on engagement more than evaluation.” It feels like this should be an always policy.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2913322 Fri, 03 Apr 2020 18:13:19 +0000 graceandjoy 2913322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wondering how all your little ones are doing! </p> <p>Mine’s been out of school a month already; we were one of the first district to have someone tested positive. This was our first week of a full on “complete” online learning. Week 1 it was too sudden there was nothing; week 2/3 we had a make shift online learning; week 4 was spring break. </p> <p>My heart breaks because K misses school so much even if she gets to see her teachers and classmates daily on zoom. I’m sad if she doesn’t ever return before the year ends :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2905513 Thu, 12 Dec 2019 09:14:33 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2905513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: Very cool! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2903703 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:15:44 +0000 graceandjoy 2903703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: That's so exciting! Totally brag worthy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2903690 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 09:23:06 +0000 jhd 2903690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can I just brag on my kindergarten kid? His art was chosen for the school system’s Christmas card!! We are so excited. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2902876 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:03:05 +0000 graceandjoy 2902876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes! I think they learn a new one every week. I see the worksheets that come home and she also gets "homework", but totally optional to do. Teachers also send home on Friday a sheet of stuff they did that week so we can ask them about it. Maybe they call it something else? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/5#post-2902874 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:00:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 2902874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: ours aren’t until December! I want to hear more about how she is doing!! She still seems happy and when I’ve seen her around other kids from school, like Girl Scout meetings, kids seem to like her and she’s happy, so those are good signs! </p> <p>Have all your kids brought home sight words? C hasn’t brought it up, and her teacher hasn’t mentioned anything. I’m not worried- she was already reading before we started K and I can tell she is improving when we read together at home- but I hear so much about them it seems weird to not have had them come home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2902819 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 11:20:19 +0000 graceandjoy 2902819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had our parent teacher conference! Super positive and found out she is reading above level, which is great! Just being able to hear more about how she is at school is so fun! Has anyone else had theirs? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900842 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 09:17:06 +0000 graceandjoy 2900842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: Ugh I am so sorry! I totally you receive unfair judgement when people know NOTHING about you/your family! </p> <p>I am extremely relaxed about academics. I totally get that public education now just pushes everything too early. I know she's learning and absorbing and doing super well so I really just try to focus on free play, cultivating her imagination, etc. I try to make-up for what she doesn't get from home schooling or alternative schooling. But I hear you, it's hard because I feel like general society still just care more about academics, grades, being advanced, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900813 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 07:25:58 +0000 Ajsmommy 2900813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: kudos to you for homeschooling!! My cousin does and she loves it and it is amazing for her and her kids. I'm not gonna lie I was shocked at all the stuff the teacher was telling us at DD's conference. How much stuff they have to know to be passed onto 1st! It is way more than when i was in K. I'm pretty sure all we did in K was learn the alphabet and take naps :shocked: :silly: But they expect DD to do so much more.. not only read but to do all this comprehensive stuff along with the reading and to "infer" things... to hear the teacher talking about it was mind blowing. School has certainly changed a lot since my go round. I truly hope it doesn't start to become a pressure or stress inducing thing for DD bc that'll really upset me. I like more of a play based learning atmosphere.... I am more concerned with how DD interacts with others and that she has compassion and empathy and knows how to help others. My cousin has told me often that i should look into homeschooling... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900809 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:23:08 +0000 Hypatia 2900809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes, that’s exactly it! I secretly thought that if we had very little screen time, read to her lots, surrounded her with educational games, etc. that she’d just be one of those very early readers you hear about. Nope. It’s hard to reprogram myself from our culture’s prevailing sentiment that earlier is better... Kids don’t need that kind of pressure at an age when, like you said, three should be honing their social skills and engaging in free play. </p> <p>@brownepiano That’s so true. The whole point of homeschooling is to tailor education to each individual child, and yet we as parents feel like we have to prove ourselves by keeping up with the Joneses. Social media seems to make it worse... I mean, that’s great if little Johnny can read and I get that people want to brag on him, but for some reason early academics sometimes feels like a competitive sport. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900744 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 07:16:22 +0000 brownepiano 2900744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: lurker with a 5 year old that I'm homeschooling. Solidarity on everything you said! We're slowly working through a phonics/handwriting curriculum and I constantly have to refocus on my kid and not what everyone else can do. With patience and persistence it will come. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900732 Sat, 26 Oct 2019 21:40:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2900732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our parent teacher conferences aren’t until December, which seems SO far away. But as far as I can tell, C is doing really well. No bad reports from school which is a big change from the last two years. She’s the oldest in her class and is really bright, academically, so I know she isn’t necessarily learning a ton of academic stuff, but she’s learning about managing her time, working on the assignment instead of fooling around, getting along... those are the things she struggles with. </p> <p>We haven’t gotten a list of sight words or anything, although I know they are a thing. </p> <p>@Hypatia: I totally understand what you are saying. It’s not exactly the same but I was just talking about my 3, almost 4, yo and how she doesn’t know her letters. Her preschool is play based which is what I want, but then I get nervous that she’s falling behind her peers. It wasn’t an issue with my older because she just picked up on the stuff easily, but the younger will need a little more of a push I think. But she’s 3! It’s fine! But her big sister knew all that stuff much younger! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900722 Sat, 26 Oct 2019 19:20:20 +0000 Hypatia 2900722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Homeschooling update! Things are going pretty well. There have been a few times where she resisted doing her lessons, and it’s been difficult for me because I don’t want to be a mean mom who makes schooling a drudge, BUT I’m also sure that she’s testing the boundaries to see how much she can get away with. I think it’s the relationship dynamic of homeschooling that is the most difficult part. Not that I regret our choice—overall, it’s been great—but it puts an extra strain on my role as mother, and extra pressure on her, too. </p> <p>My strategy is going to be consistency (so she knows what to expect and realizes that arguing about it is fruitless) plus extra time for just her and I to have fun together. Like date nights once per week. I’m also enrolling her in ballet this spring and fencing this fall.</p> <p>We’re doing phonics, math, poetry, science, art, and piano. But I’m not pushing her hard on the reading—I’ve seen several studies that show that early reading doesn’t give a long term advantage over learning to read at age 7, so while we plug away at our curriculum doing a little bit everyday, I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t learn to read this year. As I said, that doesn’t bother me at all (Finland has the best education system in the world and they don’t begin teaching reading until age 7), but it does make me uneasy knowing that we will be judged for it. When people learn you homeschool, they immediately want to interrogate your kid to see if they are actually learning anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900677 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 20:04:55 +0000 jhd 2900677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: @graceandjoy: @JennyPenny: excited to hear these updates! :) </p> <p>we had our first conference a few weeks ago and a report card last week. i knew he would not struggle at all academically, but i was worried about interactions with teachers and students. he goes to speech therapy for help with articulation and anytime we have a big change like this i get all worried that people won't be able to understand his speech. it hasn't been a concern at all, which the teacher very kindly sent me a message about the first week to set my mind at ease! ;) T is in the advanced reading group and has been bringing home little readers to read to us Mon-Thurs every week for the last few weeks. i am not tracking sight words, but i think he's doing well. our biggest challenges have been eating lunch at school and getting him in to bed on time. lunch has really improved lately. he was so proud earlier this week that he had eaten every bite of his lunch! i went to eat with him one day this week also and it was so fun to see him with all his little friends. bedtime is still a struggle at times. he is just a night owl! i also wonder if sometimes he gets overtired and has trouble settling. it's a work in progress! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900624 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:58:34 +0000 JennyPenny 2900624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: Oh, man, the maturity change is unreal. I picked DS up early recently for a doctor appointment and the way he cleaned up his work area, grabbed his belongings, and then showed me around the school on the way out just blew my mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900623 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:56:23 +0000 JennyPenny 2900623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: We had our first conference a few weeks ago and it went great for us too. Somehow DS is a magic well-behaved child when at school and saves all his nastiness for us at home. I was surprised because he did not get good behavior reports from his pre-school. </p> <p>As for academics I don't know what specifically they're supposed to have done by the time they finish K, but I know on the reading assessment they gave at the start of the year, DS is already where he's supposed to be by the end. We got a hand out with 100 sight words that I suppose we should be practicing - maybe I'll take a look at that. Basically, our teacher said to keep him reading at home and she'd recommended him for some special pull-out activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900621 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:51:00 +0000 graceandjoy 2900621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: That's so great to hear! We don't have ours till next month. I think she's up to like 5-8 sight words? I can't remember. Me, This, The, See, And, a few others I probably missed. But I noticed she has randomly learned to spell/read some other words too like I Love You, Look, etc. I honestly don't pay THAT much attention to the academics; I know she's learning and absorbing, so I'm usually more concerned about her social/emotional state since she's the youngest in school. </p> <p>We started K on buying lunch one day a week (Friday is pizza day!), it's crazy how big/mature they've gotten. I went to school to volunteer for picture day yesterday; it just amazes me how with it she is, how well she listens, etc. We continue to use Class Dojo so I'm able to see her earning points and it's a great convo starter at home. Overall she seems to be adjusting so well which is a big relief since she has a Dec birthday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2900610 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:10:08 +0000 Ajsmommy 2900610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey all---- has anyone had their first teacher conference yet?? We had ours last night and I am soo happy that DD's happy personality is shining through in K!! The first thing the teacher said was wow, DD, she's a happy one isn't she!?!? Makes me feel so good. So far she's doing great and loving school. She already has all of her math and counting down to move onto 1st but she has to learn all 40 sight words. She only has 10 now. Teacher said she probably really has 12-15 but mixed a few up. So anyway that's basically what she needs to work on for the rest of the year to be moved onto 1st... sooo we're very confident that she'll master them shortly with some work at home.</p> <p>How are your kiddos doing? Any conference updates? How many sight words do they need to have and how many do they already have? Would love to hear some other updates. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896369 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 08:37:33 +0000 graceandjoy 2896369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Uggh that's terrible! In our districts there seems to be a set # of bus aides and they rotate between the buses... Maybe send in a request to school or transportation and see if you can get someone check on that bus? </p> <p>@Ajsmommy: I agree, it's so hard to not worry about every little thing when it come to these precious babies of ours! And I am sooo not looking forward to the public school germs lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896367 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 08:21:08 +0000 Ajsmommy 2896367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I agree that it's very hard to not be in the "know" anymore. I went from having video check ins (7 x's a day) and a verbal and email update daily to a non kid specific email at the end of the week</p> <p>As for us DD got sick already. She missed Friday, her 2nd day. SO today is her 2nd day.</p> <p>She was fine on her first day but the following day (she was off bc they stagger k here) she went to our old daycare and she started to cry to the lady that she didn't like the before and after care at the school. She doesn't like it bc she is mixed in with the older kids. She had this same issue at summer camp. Summer camp was also mishandled IMO BUT I think she is worried this will be a similar experience.... we talked to her that she has to give it a chance and to try to make a friend or two. I also called the director and asked that they maybe pair DD up with someone or something so here's hoping today goes better... it's very hard to not worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896263 Sat, 07 Sep 2019 07:19:43 +0000 Foodnerd81 2896263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just finished our first (short) week of school and I am so pleasantly surprised by how well it’s going! C seems to really enjoy it, she hops on the bus happily every morning and is so excited to go to school that mornings are actually way easier than they used to be. I don’t get a whole lot of info from her (and nothing from the school or teacher), but I feel like a detective putting together the clues from little things she tells me. And she’s definitely tired at the end of the day and needs to just chill, but she hasn’t been unbearable or throwing tantrums and such. </p> <p>The only negative really was yesterday she told me a 1st Trader was teasing her and another Kindergartener on the bus, and may have pushed her getting on the bus (I definitely believe the teasing, not sure about the pushing). We talked about how she can respond and I think it is a good learning opportunity. </p> <p>It’s so hard not getting more info from the school! I know it’s just how it is at big kid school but I’m used to dropping off and picking up and talking to the teacher. I’ll prob email the teacher next week just to check in on how she is settling in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896218 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:56:06 +0000 graceandjoy 2896218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: Aww, I think every kid reacts/expresses their feelings towards big transitions different; I know it's so hard to hear/see him like this, but have hope that it's not his actual feelings about school! I mean, mine peed herself the first day....! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896216 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:51:24 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2896216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: I hope so. And I've seen smiling pics of him from school so I know he's not sitting there like a stick in the mud all day. He's just my hard one when it comes to transitions ... and I think part of him thinks that if he says he hates school it helps prove that he loves me more, or something. But it was just a gut punch hearing him scream that this morning and I can't concentrate because I keep thinking about it. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896214 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:34:49 +0000 graceandjoy 2896214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: Oh I can totally relate. My is always the debbie downer haha. After we do something fun for the day and I ask if she had fun, she'd say no lol. She gave 1st day of school a thumbs down, and said this morning kindergarten is boring and takes too long. I'm like okkkkkay as I know her tendencies and I don't think that's really how she feels. </p> <p>I am sorry that you feel so bad from his crying/screaming, outright disdain for school right now. Do you think it's just part of the transition? Maybe this is how he is voicing going through this change and he doesn't really mean it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896209 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:02:20 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2896209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is anyone's kid just a total downer about K? Full disclosure, mine has always had grumpy tendencies. But he never has anything positive to say about his day (that doesn't involve recess). Today there was a morning event and as we tried to leave he was sobbing and screaming that he hates school while his teacher had to hold him back. </p> <p>I'm hoping he'll adjust sooner or later, but it's just so hard to not let it get to me. Especially because we pay a ton for this school, and he gets way more play/hands-on learning here than he would elsewhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896160 Thu, 05 Sep 2019 14:59:35 +0000 BadgerMom 2896160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: @graceandjoy: @Ajsmommy: @JennyPenny: OMG you guys are making me feel so much better, thank you. I thought I was like the only mom with a kid who didn't word vomit about their day. It's like pulling teeth! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896152 Thu, 05 Sep 2019 13:20:51 +0000 jhd 2896152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: yes I have to stop asking yes/no questions 😂😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-fall-2019/page/4#post-2896150 Thu, 05 Sep 2019 13:18:13 +0000 graceandjoy 2896150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: Yesss me too! DH mostly works from home/for himself so I keep telling him to volunteer for stuff and to spy on her haha!!</p> <p>@jhd: I agree! I get info randomly, seldom when I ask haha. Or I have to be super specific with my questions! </p>