Anyone's child in full day Kindergarten?

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Anyone's child in full day Kindergarten?
8
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 12:27pm
Hi everyone!
Just wanted to know if any of your children are in full day kindergarten. My five yr old is in half day right now, but they have an opening and he's next on the list. They do it by testing here, who they think may benefit the most. He doesn't have an official diagnosis (except for speech delay) yet but I'm sure he's somewhere on the spectrum. My older DS who's ten just was diagnosed by the school. I'm wondering if it would be a good thing for him, or if it would be too much. Last year in preschool the teacher said he struggled quite a bit but it was his first year in preschool. Anyone else have a special needs child in full day?
Thanks!
Amy
Nurturedheartmom

Amy -

Avatar for googolplex
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 1:32pm

It depends on the kid, I suppose. Is he worn out from holding it together at the end of a half-day? We don't have those kinds of options here.

Our school district does kindergarten like this:
Three days a week from 8:20 to 12:45
Two days a week from 8:20 to 1:40 (for small group reading instruction in afternoons)

It's not as "full" as the big kids, who go until 2:50 (expect Wednesdays, when they get out at 2) but I guess it's more than what they'd do if we had a Mornings/Afternoons system.

However, for the first 10 days of school, the kindergarteners get out at 11:40. Confused yet? That's so there is time to assess all the little kindies. The two stay-late days are for small-group reading instruction. They divide them into two groups of children with similar skills.

My Aspie did fine on this schedule, although it is a bit of a long day. It's not as long as a lot of kid's preschools. My aspie went to a preschool that was just 9 hours a week, so kindergarten was quite step up. (Our school district doesn't have a preschool program.) The tough part for him was having to get through lunch (all packed in a noisy, smelly lunchroom) and recess.

Evelyn

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 1:41pm

Peter was in half-day special needs preschool at 3, full day special needs preschool at 4 and full day K (our entire district is full day K)


Siobhan, who has special needs also, -although not as much as her brother,

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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Registered: 01-16-2006
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 1:52pm

DD is not yet in kindy, but she is 3.5 and in full day Pre-K. she gets all her services at school so the team and DH & I agreed that we should use full day. The mornings are more structured but in the afternoon, she gets more one on one work. Its only been a few days so we'll see how it goes, but so far its been fine.

Now my NT DS is in full day pre-k (he missed the kindy cut off by 11 days) and he is doing well this year, but last year we tried to go full day mid year and had to put him back tohalf days as it was a real struggle for him to stay focused all day - he was 4 and just not quite ready for all day. Today was DS's first day of all day so we'll keep an eye on how things go. In your case I might let him take the slot and then see if it is too much, who knows when the next slot will be available - that way if he is ready great, if not - you know for sure.

Avatar for insideout418
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 12:23am

I don't know if I can help much, but my child is in all day everyday kindergarten.

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 11:33pm
Hi and thanks for the input.
The principal wanted to start this Monday. We are going to give it a whirl. She said if it doesn't work out, then we can switch him back. So we will see....he seems to be adjusting okay just a little more whiny but that's because he goes to bed so darn late and is tired by the end of the school day. Once he gets on a better routine, I think he will be okay....the principal said we should know after the first week if it will work out for him or not.
Keep me posted and I'll do the same...
Amy
Nurturedheartmom

Amy -

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 11:43pm

I wanted to do full day kindie but it wasn't availabe. At least for Cait and Dave, not sure Mike could have handled it.

Cait was in full day K in Massachusetts. She had been in 2 years of special ed preschool prior to that. She went 1/2 day in special ed kindy and 1/2 day in regular kindy. Then we moved and in CA there was only 1/2 day available period. They are just starting full day here in the next couple years (just read it in the paper). The one month she did it in MA worked out well.

Renee

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Registered: 08-09-2006
Sat, 09-09-2006 - 12:58am
Hi, my son was in full day kindergarten every other day last year and it was difficult for him; always an emotional upset at the end of the day. He is a January child so oldest in his class but it was too much for him. Now he is in grade one and we're once again seeing the effects of full day school for him; I am considering homeschooling him this year if it doesn't 'level off' and get better in a couple of weeks. AT school he is 'fine' but we get the hard times when the day is over and he's back home.
You will know your child best and whether or not you feel he will be able to handle it. I would have preferred half days but it was not an option for my son. My other kids have not had difficulty with full day kindergarten. Sometimes if they can come home for lunch in between it may help if you have that option?
Lilypie 6th to 18th Ticker Lilypie 6th to 18th Ticker
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Registered: 06-25-2003
Sat, 09-09-2006 - 8:31am

Amy,


You probably know this, but I just wanted to add that the best way to change a bedtime is usually slowly.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com