WARNING ~ I am going to be that kind of parent for a moment. My four year old, almost 5 is reading. Yes, it is wonderful! Here is the problem for me, the state law doesn't require K and that they have to be 6 on or before Sept 2th to start 1st grade. THAT IS THE LAW! Just doesn't seem right that it is so black and white. Not 5, so NO!?!?!?! Doesn't matter if you are 5 on September 3rd and ready. We can't go to private K and then transfer because she will still only be 5 on Sept 2nd in first grade. K is not mandatory so the law is age 6 in first grade, doesn't matter that she turns six on October 6th or that she would have already completed K.
What does this mean for my Alexandra. Well she will be reading at a first or second grade level in K or we BAN books. We are looking into an alternative. I understand laws are needed, but there are some laws that hinder the greater good! My 4 year old (almost 5) that can read can't start school because of THE LAW and there are no exceptions. If my child was lacking necessary skills I could get her into pre-k no problem. It isn't okay to be behind the standard, but it is okay to hinder the one that is ready for school. I'm not saying she is Albert Einstein, but she is ready for kindergarten and just doesn't seem right that there is no exception.
Now that I have ranted let me just say this on my part. I am NOT that kind of parent that has pushed her child to read and write. Mark and I are firm in the fact that you let kids be kids and if they have the ablity it will in time do what is needed to succeed. I was always so excited that I could have Alexandra home for an "extra year", until today. Never for a minute would I have thought that my child would learn to read on her own and want to read at 4. Now my concern it that that extra year at home could be a hindrance and not a blessing.
Here is how this all came about. Two days ago we went to Toys R Us and Books- A-Million is next door. Nathan wanted a book with his birthday money. Madison got a book this summer about dogs and he wanted on too. The books were buy two get one free. Nathan got one, I let Alexandra get one with her money too and got one for Madison (my excuse was it was the first day of school gift). Alexandra picked out a Biscuit book. PK-K level book. Once we got home she read the book aloud to me with little help. I didn't say anything much to Mark, but that she read to me that day.
Last night she read the book to Mark. I think he had the "oh no!" moment too. This morning he started to ask me questions and then said to me "Alexandra read me a book last night." I said "I know what are we going to do?" being funny he wants to ban books. He is so sweet. He wants her to have the Kindergarten experience, but knows she is beyond that for next year. He doesn't want her to miss out on Kindergarten, but knows that by next year she could be bored and then we have the potential behavior issues. She might be fine, but if you know my Alexandra she is a very hard kid to please. She is not going to like school if she already knows a major part of what is being taught.
So what do we do as parents? Encourage her to get further ahead, take no for an anwer, drive to two different schools, home school? In trying to find away around the system the lady at the school system told me they test for gifted in 2nd grade. Great for that second grader that needs gifted, but what about my kid that needs something more now? I not sure she would qualify for gifted (in four years). She is needing something this year. PK is not the answer, K seems to be the answer but the law won't allow it, homeschooling is only going to get her that much more ahead, two years at private school is not an option for us. I am very frustrated and pray that a door will open for us to encourage Alexandra without ruining the school experience for her. It is a blessing to have a natural born reader and self starter. I guess we just roll with the tide and pray for the best.
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