Not ready...

I’m headed back to school today with some difficult decisions on my mind. We are doing some serious review this week in preparation for next week’s standardized test. Then I have to make a decision about two of my students.

Each year I have at least one student who isn’t ready to move on to first grade. Some years I’ve had as many as four. This year I have five. It’s sad to think that we’ve spent a whole year working on language and math and other basic concepts and five of my little ones just “don’t get it”. However, each has a unique reason for not being ready. Each has personal challenges. And two might be ready by the time August rolls around. They will get a “provisional pass”- five weeks in first grade to see if they can do the work without too much of a struggle. If they can’t they will return to kindergarten. One definitely needs to stay with us in kindergarten to mature and develop some more. It’s the other two that are keeping me awake at night. I want to make the right decision about them. I want to send them on if they can handle the work. I know they want to be with their friends. I know their parents have expectations. But I have serious doubts about their abilities. If we gave letter grades theirs would be C-. I’m not sure that will be enough for the rigors of first grade.

And you thought teaching kindergarten was all fun and games…

Comments

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

That's got to be so difficult, but as a mother, it makes me grateful that you care so much. My babies are all older now, the youngest is in 4th, and I know their teachers care too. I'll say a little prayer for you and the decision process.~~Dee

[Megan]

Can you notify the parents of the two that may or may not be moving on? Maybe you can assess the parental involvement as to whether the parents would work on certain things over the summer to help the student. Is that allowable? I cannot imagine how hard it is on a child to be held back unless like my neice, it is dramatically clear that she needed to be. How hard for you to decide, but you're obviously equipped with the knowledge to make a fair assessment!