School (elementary) question

Hi all. I'm 30 and have one child who won't start kindergarten for another 3
years. I am curious as to how much things have changed since *I* was in
school. Also have an advice-needed question.

What do kids do these days in each grade? Here is what is was for me--

Nikki...

I can only answer for my school and only through first grade.

Here is what is was for me--

Kindergarten: we took a nap on a mat each day, no gym class, we had a play
area with kitchen stuff, dolls, and blocks, and we learned to write the
alphabet and count. We wrote our names on that big lined paper.

Chookie...

I was in Kindy (here in NSW) in 1975 and we didn't have naps, though we had
the play corner, games/dancing rather than sport, we learnt the alphabet,
numbers etc and used litle cards with words on to make sentences.

Most of DS1's classmates in K this year are learning to read. They use
unlined paper for writing. THey are learning whole adn half-hour time,

mymoped...

This sounds like my DS's 2YO pre-school curriculum.

Nikki...

Full days. No nap but there is short quiet time after lunch for reading,
listening to music, etc. and if a child wants to sleep I think they are
permitted. They do have a play area that includes all the items you
mentioned and a play post office. They have center time that includes
various games, play dough, etc. They learn numbers/counting, ABC's, spell
color words, a bunch of site words (many kids are reading but not all),
shapes, introduced to counting money, name, address, phone, introduced to
writing although not all kids write, lots of crafty stuff that teaches them
things, lots of songs and movement, lots of stories and reading out loud,
describing things etc. They have gym, music, and computers but not every
day. They had feild trips where they learned about real life stuff like the
post office, traffic rules, etc. No homework but we were suppose to read at
home.

First grade: we learned to add and subtract, started gym class 3 days a
week.

Chookie...

Phonics. Can't remember about maths, as I had the same teacher and classroom
for two years.

Nikki...

Add, subtract, count money, learn more site words, be able to read, science
stuff, gym, music, computers, library, art, writing, and maybe a very small
amount of spelling. They started workbooks. Reading out loud and center
time are still around. There was 10-20 minutes of reading homework each
night.

Second grade: We had homework for the first time. It included putting lists
of words in alphabetical order, and writing words 5 times ("repetitions")
and putting words into sentences- we would have a vocabulary list. I
specificially remember spending an afternoon in class learning the word
"serendipity".

Third grade: We started learning the branches of government and social
studies for the first time.

Fourth grade: We learned long division and I think this is when we started
learning our state capitals ...

Fifth grade: We learned some multiplication tables but not all the way to
12x12. Reading was more complex, and there was also a "higher" math class--
they were starting to separate kids by level, IOW.

Sixth grade: We started to learn very very very basic prealgebra- very
simple equations. The highest reading group had to answer really long
paragraphs of critical thinking questions and we memorized the
multiplication tables up to 12x12.

7th grade was prealgebra, 8th was algebra, 9th was geometry and biology etc.

So what do kids these days do? I have heard some say that kids are given
homework in kindergarten. And for sure, lots more homework than we were, and
are learning math much earlier etc. I'm sure there's computer stuff too...we
had Apple IIe in about 4th or 5th grade that we played games like Number
Munchers on.

Chookie...

In DS1's classroom they have about 4 computers. As it's a portable classroom,
they don't have internet access. In Term 1 there was no homework. In Term 2,
they started taking home books for reading practice. Additional homework (max
10 mins) was supposed to be set from Term 3, but we've only seen one worksheet
so far, and next week is the last week of Term 3!

Clisby...

My observations are based on:

(1) a 10-year-old who was in private school from kindergarten-half of
3rd grade; then in public school
(2) a 4.5-year-old who's in a Montessori primary class (ages 3-6)

Just in general, if you move what you've described down a year, you'll
be approximating what kids do these days. In other words, what you
describe as kindergarten is done in preschool, what you describe as
first grade is done in kindergarten, etc. I would expect homework in
kindergarten, and I'd expect social studies to start by 1st grade (if
not kindergarten). I'm surprised that you listed long division in 4th
grade and multiplication tables in 5th. I would have expected
multiplcation tables to come no later than 3rd grade and long division
early in 4th grade. That's how it was when I was in school (I'm almost
53); it was similar for my daughter, except that she started
multiplication in 2nd grade.

I don't know for sure about middle school. I took Algebra I in 8th
grade, Algebra II in 9th grade, geometry in 10th grade, advanced
algebra/trigonomeetry in 11th grade, and something called Senior Math in
12th grade (basically, it was pre-calculus.)

Ericka Kammerer...

Here, a few take Algebra I in 7th grade (or something
even higher--generally the center-based GT kids who are strong
in math), the "honors level" kids tend to take it in 8th grade,
and the rest in 9th grade. I think all the high schools around
here offer at least through calculus for the more advance
high school math students, but people take a variety of
paths depending on their level of ability and interest in
math and which diploma program they're pursuing.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that many
school systems or state education boards have websites
where they list the standards of learning for each
grade and subject and also the graduation requirements
for high school. It should also cover the standardized
testing they do.

Best wishes,
Ericka

blue...

This is how I feel..I thought about it some more, and I am not worried about
the academic part- colors, shapes, alphabet etc.

I am much more worried about the social structure of things...this was 25
years ago and would be very different from now, AND I went to a very very
small rural public school...but I never had babysitters or organized
anything and to this day I remember a lot of anxiety over my first day of
kindergarten. I grew to love school, but I was terrified of the teacher
because I had never been in a situation before where I couldn't "go potty"
when I needed to, and had to wait an hour for lunch if I was hungry at 11am
instead of noon, and had to wait in line etc. I was extremely shy for the
first few weeks. That's what I remember about kindergarten! Having just a
few minutes to eat lunch...not being allowed to get up from the table until
the teacher lined us up...being allowed to talk quietly only or the
cafeteria monitors would scold...having to sit at a desk until I had
permission to get up.

I adjusted obviously. I did feel behind (socially) to those who had been in
structured group environments before. I was always head of the class as far
as brightness/reading and math. I loved to read.

Chookie...

My feeling is that a child who is ahead on the academics has some slack where
any social deficit can be made up, and vice versa. OTOH it is bound to be
hard if you come from an unstimulating, socially limited environment.

I don't feel the pressure to make my DD ahead academically (sheesh, it's
grade school!) but I do worry about her adjustment and transitioning. I
agree though--I don't need preschool or a paid environment, I can just look
for other alternatives. Any ideas? I am planning to join a mom's group which

Ericka Kammerer...

Well, it is challenging to find opportunities for preschoolers
to learn to transition to being in a group with another adult in
charge and no parents without paying something for it ;-) There
are opportunities, though.

toto...

Depending on the age of your child and what other parents in your area
do, you might be able to organize a playgroup. My ds and dd both had
one though they were between 18 months and 3 at the time. They both
went to half-day preschools at 3.

Here's how ours worked. We had 4 of us with children of about the
same age in our neighborhood. We started with a regular playdate
rotating houses with all moms staying for about an hour or two. We
did this once a week. We then began having two of the moms leave and
having two of the moms stay. After a while, we began to have the
three moms who were visiting leave and just the mom whose house it was
at staying So, by the time the kids were two, we each had 3 days a
month where the kids separated from us with a familiar mom and had
activities at the other mom's house. Each of us had different things
we liked to do, so we each planned our sessions according to our
strengths, but there were always some special activities involved
though it was mostly supervised free play. In good weather, we might
have water activities in the back yard. In the fall, we might rake
leaves into piles and jump in them. In the winter, we might play in
snow if there was any (my yard in particular was good for this as it
had a *small* hill the kids liked to slide down on saucers or just on
their bottoms. We often did some messy craft like finger painting or
playing with playdough.(again this might be outside if the weather was
nice so that cleanup was not as much of a problem). We used
recyclables to make art stuff (the kids did these any way they liked,
of course, we never did crafts, but more free form art).

will be informal but should still teach DD more about group dynamics and
play. Church is another idea..we've attended Catholic Mass where there is a

Ericka Kammerer...

Yes, if the group is right for you it can be a good
opportunity to play with groups of kids.

cry room, I want to switch to another denomination that has earlier aged
Sunday school classes...perhaps a preschool program at the library? (maybe

Ericka Kammerer...

That can help. My kids have always gone to nursery
during church once they got to the squirmy stage (after the
children's sermon). Between nursery, Sunday School, Godly
Play, Vacation Bible School, and various other church programs,
that can add up to a lot of opportunities, and they're generally
free.

she won't sit still or quiet yet enough for this one! but it's free to take
her to story hour...)....baby gym such as Gymboree can be expensive. There's

Ericka Kammerer...

Sure. Those usually don't involve a lot of interaction,
but they're still opportunities.

Ericka Kammerer...

Yep, but kids tend to love it.

a local mall that has a huge padded play area with things to climb on
(indoors) and is swarming with kids...can't remember if I mentioned it, took
DD there last week and was shocked at how SHY she was- it was a zoo, but
there were kids under 1 there who were in the flow and DD shied way back
until DH and I got out there with her, and still stuck to us.

Ericka Kammerer...

That might just be her personality, but you won't really
know unless she has opportunities to get used to those sorts of
situations.

There are all kinds of other classes for preschoolers
that can be fun, some with parental involvement and some without.
I have a preschooler who just turned 3yo. Last year (at 2yo),
she went to preschool two half days a week, took some dance
classes (with a parent), and went to nursery and Sunday School.
Last summer she did Vacation Bible School (love that). This
year she's doing three half days of preschool a week, dance
class (no parent) once a week, and nursery & Sunday School.
If we didn't have conflicts, she'd be doing the church music
and movement class (can't beat what is essentially a free
Kindermusik class, but I just can't make the schedule work!).
She's having a grand old time. She's very social, so frankly,
she'd do more if she could. For her, it's all a blast. Everything
is at church (the preschool is run by the church) or at the
dance studio, both of which she's spent extensive time at
since she was in utero, so they're second homes for her. I
think having lots of other adults she is comfortable with and
being used to different situations has made it much easier for
her than it was for my first, who didn't get out as much.

Chookie...

That's not a crime. Those places are rather less orderly than a school! When
DS1 was littler he was like that in strange places or crowds. I always told
him to stay with me until he felt happy to play with the other children (note
the assumption that he *would* eventually feel comfortable to do so). At
five, you would never guess that this was once necessary!

FWIW, I have a friend whose 3 and a half year old kid hates ChuckECheez and
crowds. She's shy...I've just never thought, ever, that my DD is shy until I
see her in these situations. The pther kid is shy 100% of the time. I am a
little (but not overly) concerned that my DD is just at a loss in new
situations because she's not accustomed.

Ericka Kammerer...

Wouldn't you be? I think most of us (except for maybe
the most adventurous) are a bit hesitant in unfamiliar situations
where we don't know all the social rules.

Best wishes,
Ericka

And: for stay at home moms...if my kid is NOT in daycare or preschool, will
she be behind in kindergarten?? Should I get her into a pre-k program at 4,
or preschool at 3?? Even just a couple days a week? I asked a friend and she
said her daycare just changed diapers and fed the kids and played with them,
and did not teach them ABCs or numbers or anything, that everything her kid
learned he learned at home from her. Another friend is adamant that daycare

mymoped...

Sounds like she's getting ripped off. Even the home based
daycare/pre-schools that I looked into do more than that. That sounds
unbelievably archaic and sad. I can't believe that ANY state would
allow such a facility to exist without horrible ratings.

had her kid counting to 30, knowing all the colors, reciting the alphabet
and spelling/reading basic words like cat etc before school and therefore
was an advantage. I know it depends on the daycare but what about the kids
who don't go to anything?? I can teach her what I can, but I am worried

Chookie...

The school will cope. It's simply that far more children go to preschool and
day care these days. I remember wondering, on my first morning of school, why
all the other kids were crying when there wasn't anything to cry about. I
*had* been to preschool, but for most children, this was the first time they
had been separated from their mothers.

You might want to consider a daycare with a "school readiness" programme, or a
preschool, for a couple of days a week. In Australia, preschools are cheaper
as they keep shorter hours. DS1's day care's preschool readiness programme
included attempts at writing letters of the alphabet in NSW Foundation
Style,learning letters and numbers, learning simple shapes, colours, etc plus
the children ate sandwiches out of lunch boxes in the second half of the year
(cling wrap can be a problem for young children, and here we send kids to
school with sandwiches and fruit for lunch). DS1's day care had a tour of the
school earlier in the year too.

Another thing to look at is child development. IF a child is *ready* to learn
colours/letters/numbers/shapes before school, and they are exposed to them,
they will learn. If they are not ready to learn, they will not -- and the
average child learns their letters at about 5yo. Your friend's child learnt
because he was ready to learn.

mymoped...

My friend's DD that just started Kindy last year was dramatically
behind the kids that went to full time daycare. She went to pre-school
2 days a week from 2YO on. However, she was able to catch up very
fast.

about the structure of school. I am concerned about my kid learning a set
schedule without me being there, being away from me, coping with suddenly
being only 1 out of about 30 kids, and not adjusting to kindergarten. Any
advice?

Chookie...

Why should she not adjust, even if it takes longer than average? I do know
where you are coming from -- after a difficult transition to day care the
previous year, I was bracing myself for tears at the school gate. It didn't
happen -- DS1 *loves* every bit of school. Remember that most children *like*
routine and respond well to it, and that they like other people too -- we're
made for relationship, after all.

One suggestion: expect that your kid will like school, and she will. Keep
your fears private, and talk about the friends you made and the things you did
at school (I still have a friend I met in 1st grade!). Secondly, attend the
orientation sessions with your child so that they become familiar with the
school and the staff. Of course playgroups, library book-readings and so on
are good too, if you cannot afford preschool. There are plenty of ways you
can introduce structured groups to your child.

mymoped...

My DS is hyperlexic so he knew his alphabet and has loved letters,
numbers, words and books from a very young age. But just because he
can read way ahead of his age, didn't mean that there weren't things he
could learn at pre-school. Plus he was (and still is some) clingy and
desperately needed socialization with other little ones on a more
structured level. No matter how much he learned at home with me there
was nothing I could do to replicate him playing with and interacting
with his peers. Plus he LOVES it!!

Clisby...

I would not worry about a child being behind academically without
preschool, unless the child lives in a really deprived environment.
That is, if your child has no idea what a book is for (no, I'm not
kidding), preschool probably is a real good idea.

I think preschool was great for my children, but mostly for social
development, not academics.