I have a feeling

mckayleesmom wrote: they are going to want Mckaylee to repeat Kindergarten. She is having a tough time learning to read. This week we got a note home saying that they were going to test them again on their site words and letters this week to see if they would be able to participate in a reading group they are starting. Personally I think that they should also have a group for the kids that are struggling too. She is also having trouble with her writing.

We usually do her sight words at night and sometimes in the morning before school. We did them this morning and she got all the numbers to 20 right, all the abc's except she confuses the little n and h. She struggle with most of her sight words.

I have done everything I could think of. Using the word in a sentence, concentrating on only that word for the day, having her say the word when we read a book and nothing is working.

I also think part of it is her not wanting to cooperate. This morning I tested her and told her that she would have to do some practicing right after school before any play or tv time and all the sudden her sight words improved. I do know that she does genuinly struggle with some of them though.

I don't know what else to do. Sure enough her teacher wants a conference with me tomorow. She is just going to tell me what I already know and I'm doing everything I can. She spoke with me in December and told me that sometimes a "miracle" happens in January....which I thought was a little rude....Well she didn't give January much of a chance before giving up on her since its still early.

I know that most of you said not to worry about Kindergarten, but its kind of hard not to when her teacher keeps pointing out her flaws. Leithan is angry because he thinks that they expect to much from them and that if she is having problems, then they should try to help her more instead of having her go to dance class during the day. I think that would be punishing her and make her hate school. We practice with her tons at home, but it just doesn't seem to stick. There is only so much I can do at home also since she doesn't get off the bus till almost 4 everyday.

It seems like she did so much better in pre school and I think it had alot to do with the love she had for her teacher.

Although I think her teacher is a good teacher..I have been in her class before and she seems to frustrate easily it seems and I know Mckaylee likes her, but I don't think she is over the moon for her. I have a feeling she also puts her on the spot and Mckaylee doesn't respond to that, even with me and I'm her mom.

I just don't know what to do...I could cry.

mckayleesmom replied: I also have a feeling that maybe she has a learning disability, but I don't know what kind.

When I was in Kindergarten we really only concentrated on socialization, abc, 123's and crafts. I didn't learn to read till 1st grade.. That was just how it went.

CantWait replied:
I'm in the same boat here Bri, and really were you in Moscow in December sitting with me, cause Anthony's teacher said nearly the same thing, except she didn't use the word "miracle"

lovemy2 replied: That is a tough call - I wouldn't "ignore" Kindy - I think it is important - it does begin to lay a foundation of learning how they learn if that makes any sense - Olivia couldn't "read" when she left Kindy - she did know her sight words though - how is she doing on the standardized testing, evaluation type stuff they do - do you get any feedback on that?

mckayleesmom replied:
She did ok on them, but her sight words were a concern. It seems like one week she knows a certain set and then she doesn't.

An example...Her teacher will send home a note saying to practice letters 1-10 and I hand her the cards and she can tell me what they are and what order they go in...to 20. That is where the playing games thing comes in with her. I have asked the teacher not to put her on the spot...and even if its just the 2 of them, this teacher has a way of being intimidating I think..so she just says whatever.

mckayleesmom replied: I also have to say that I am ok if she does have to repeat kindy....although its a little heartbreaking to know that I couldn't help her.

If she does have to repeat..I want her to have a different teacher though and its the teacher that I origionally wanted her to have. She was really young and bubbly and Mack took to her really well at Orientation and I was really disapointed when she didn't get her.

cameragirl21 replied: you could get her a tutor...I know that is expensive but maybe even an older child, like a sixth grader that wants to make some extra money? I know it sounds bizarre but younger kids usually love older kids and that may get M's attention and a few extra bucks would encourage a sixth grader or even a junior high school student...?
Another option is putting her in summer school like camp, a good friend of mine did that with her son when they wanted him to repeat 1st grade. They refused to repeat him so they put him in a summer camp that was half a day of school type stuff and then half a day of fun, summer camp type stuff. It really worked well for them.
One thing you could try to get her to read is put a cut out shape, like a circle made out of construction paper with the name of the book she read (or the list of sight words she got right or whatever) on her wall and make it like a caterpillar around the room, connecting each circle of construction paper for each task done. Once the caterpillar gets all the way around the room, she can choose a big present or a small present for each time she completes a wall, for a total of four small presents. Seeing the caterpillar get bigger will likely encourage her and get her excited.
Hang in there, it's too soon to really worry, I think. I'd also ask her teacher what sorts of things she's doing to encourage her in class.

mckayleesmom replied:
That catepiller thing is a great Idea Jen...I will have to get some construction paper tonight.

The young tutor thing might work well for her too. I will have to look into it. I know alot of the kids in her class go to after school programs that help them, but the state pays for it I think and we don't qualify and I can't afford for her to go to a program right now.

mckayleesmom replied:
Oh..she used the word miracle....I'm not exaggerating...I could have died right there.

MommyToAshley replied: Is it just her sight words or is she struggling in other areas too? If it is just her sight words, then I can't see them having her repeat kindergarten over just one area. When Ashley had sight words, we played concentration. She had to say the words as she turned them over. It was a lot more fun to make it a game rather than just showing a bunch of flash cards. I know Ashley loses interest pretty quickly if it comes to straight out memorization. She is in the process of memorizing her math facts and I looked for a way to make it a game -- instead of reviewing her flash cards every night, we play math war. I can tell she is getting much quicker and has some math facts memorized already.

If you do decide to play concentration, you can have Mckaylee be the one to make the cards. This way, she is practicing writing her letters (she will be writing each word twice, once on each card) and I think writing them down helps them to remember them better.

Does McKaylee like music? Maybe you can come up with some creative songs that use the sight words in the songs and when she says the word, she has to hold up that flashcard. McKaylee seems pretty inventive and creative, let her help to creat the songs.

All kids learn differently, some are more visual than others. I would ask the teacher for other ideas. Don't give up or go into your conference feeling defeated. You are not a failure and try not to feel guilty or second guess what you did or didn't do in the past. I know it's hard not to feel that way, but you should think of this conference as an opportunity for additional resources ... ask the teacher if she has any additional ideas. Some schools do provide extra help in the form of aids or tutors for kids are struggling. Ask her what resources are available.

Also, if it does turn out that it is best for her to repeat Kindergarten, then it's better that she does it now than struggle through school and have to repeat a grade in the later years.

Hang in there... let us know how the conference goes.

mckayleesmom replied:
We worked on her sight words tonight...Instead of showing them to her and letting her tell me what they were...I layed them out on the table and asked her to give me a specific one...Like..give me the word THE...and she was able to do that, but when it came back to knowing the word...she only knew a select few. She also wrote the word as she found it on her coloring pad.

As far as her writing, I don't think its that bad, but we are working on making it look a little neater and less crooked....Also..she gets some letters and numbers mixed up...h and n and she writes some things backwards which I try to help her with. She also still has trouble holding her pencil right.

Honestly...if it wasn't for the sight words I don't think it would be that bad. I would think she was doing ok.


Can you explain that concentration game to me?


I did buy her some colored apples that she gets to write the words she knows on and we are going to put them on the kitchen wall..she is excited about that. Kind of like Jens catipiller idea, but with an apple tree.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: It is so hard to watch them struggle, especially when you are trying all you know how to help. She will make it, though. Id rather see her repeat kindy than later on kwim. Hang in there Bri.

MommyToAshley replied:
Writing letters and numbers backwards is completely age appropriate for Kindergarten, and even through some of 1st grade. I wouldn't worry about that.

As for concentration (or some call it memory)... take index cards and write each sight word on a separate index card. You will create two sets of cards for each word. Mix them up and turn them face down. Each person takes a turn to flip over the card and then they try to find the pair. If the person finds a pair, they get to go again. They are learning and they don't even know it (Just make sure the word is said when it is flipped over)

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Brianne, I'm sorry you are so discouraged. Don't lose hope...even though the teacher is making it seem so grim. She will catch on. Reading is developmental and for some kids it takes time. I can't see them holding her back for this. I happen to think it all depends on the teacher. Last year Maddie had trouble in math...this year you would never know it. She is really thriving. She has an awesome teacher that she loves and she wants to please.

Keep working with her. I know kids get tired and frustrated, but try to make it fun, like Dee Dee said. She just needs it to click and when it finally does, it will be like, overnight and she will take off.

Encourage her and build her confidence.

mckayleesmom replied:
That is what I think part of the problem is Aimee....She doesn't have a desire to make this teacher proud of her...She is really indifferent to her. Does that make sense? I just don't think she cares what I or the teacher thinks of her learning abilities. Its not that she doesn't love me or like her teacher...she just doesn't have that excitement she got with her prek teacher that made her want to impress her.

This weekend I'm going to ask my neighbor (who Mckaylee loves) if she will sit down with her and see if she will do it for her. She loves Mrs. Cheryl and everything revolves around showing Mrs. Cheryl...so maybe she will do it for her.

BecauseIsaidSo replied: All my children have summer bdays.

When my son was in k5 the teacher passed him on to first grade. My son couldnt even recognize his letters! My other son was promoted to 3rd grade ( A/B student)that same year. We moved to another state and I put them in private school but made them repeat k5 and 3rd grade. Best thing I ever did.

When dd came along and was in k4 at the same private school, the teacher told me that dd wasnt ready to move on to k5. While other kids were interested in tracing their letters, dd showed no interest. She was just behind age wise which flows into other things within the classroom. I made her repeat k4.

I also like the fact that they were not ( due to being held back) the youngest in the class.

Does your dd have a late srping/summer bday? If not then it could be she just isnt connecting with the teacher or is bored with the site word routine. Public schools test for learning disabilities but not sure if they test k5 children. I had my son tested ( the one that repeated K5) when he was on his 2nd year of K5. They didnt find a TRUE learning disability but did say that he was borderline of having a disability. One also has to rule out auditory problems with children if there are signs.

I do like the suggestion of getting your friend to work with your dd. Maybe let your dd go to your friends house instead of doing it at your house.

Keep us posted!

mckayleesmom replied: She turned 5 in April and started school in September.