Can we survive Kindergarten?????

[twoin2000]

My oldest ds is in kind. this year. He gets on the bus a little before 7 and doesn't get home until a little after 4. He is so tired all of the time.... therefore he is so grouchy almost all of the time. He is struggling with all the basics, but he trys really hard most of the time. I have heard that kindergarten takes its toll on alot of kids but just wanted some other opinions.

Will it be better soon???

[RCT]

my ds went last year early like that too...on the bus at 8:20 and home after 4 p.m. Does your ds go to bed early? mine went at 8 and still does....he seems to need lots of sleep or too can become a grouch....it will get eaiser I think as he gets used to the routine, but didn't he start in Sept.? I would think he would be used to it by now? do they have nap time in class? sorry I have no words of wisdom....just a lot of questions...

[AnnW]

Yep, it can be a huge adjustment. Is he going to bed early enough? I am a HUGE bus fan, but if the longer hours due to the bus are taking a toll on him, could you drive? How is his teacher saying he is doing?
And, I do think they work so hard on being good during the school day that we are left with the dregs! LOL
Good luck.

[TXmom]

Does he have to ride the bus? You could probably cut a couple of hours off his day if you're able to take him yourself. I'm a huge opponant of buses, maybe we could move this to the debate board LOL!

[MaryL]

I agree with the questions about the bus. Some of those bus rides are toooooo long for the little ones. Also, does he have a summer birthday? Is he a "young" Kindergartner? Has he been to any schooling (day care/preschool), or is this a first? That's an awfully long day....makes me glad that I teach 1/2 day Kindergarten.

[JeffP/MN]

That is a long day for a little one. I am sure it is extra hard because he is trying to hold it in the whole day so when he gets home he lets lose. Ours is in kindergarten this year (1/2 day) and even going 1/2 day can be tough.

As far as the bus ride goes, I know a lot of kids like riding the bus. It makes them feel grown up and independent. Our son kept wanting to ride the bus even though another kid was bullying him. (the problem has since been fixed).

About the only advice I have is that I would not have him try to do many activities outside of school that are structured. Other than that, just know that you are not alone.

Jeff

[Mickey]

I don't have any suggestions (I home school), but I do know that public kindergarten here is only 2 1/2 hours long. Private school is longer (8 or 9 until 3).

OK...I have to ask--why are you a fan or opponent of bus rides? I haven't really thought about it since I haven't been faced with it, but I'm curious as to why you would like or dislike it. (LOL Donna--maybe we should post this on the debate board!)

[TXmom]

Mickey
Because in many instances they are an unnecessary expense to the school district. Parents who can give their children a ride themselves are uses the bus because it's easier. Our district recently had to cut expenses due to Robin Hood, and overwhelmingly we choose to cut bus service rather than anthing that would relate to academics. We now have a Pay To Ride (that's really what they named it) program for kids who live within 2 miles of the school.

Also, those children aren't supervised. In what other instance would you leave your 5 your old girl with a group of say, 14 year old boys? Not a good idea, in my opinion.

And, the point that was brought up by the person who started this thread (although not intentionally) is that it can add 2 - 3 hours to a child's day.

One day my oldest ds was complaining because "Simon" had some new shoes and ds wanted some, too. I said, Well, I saw Simon this morning, he was standing in the rain waiting for the school bus. Do you know what you were doing? Sleeping! If you want the shoes I can get a job, but I won't be here in the morning to take you to school.

Now please, everybody, hear what I'm saying. I know some Moms have to work, and children aren't being molested daily on school buses and some kids live way out in the country and need to ride the bus, and some kids dearly love to ride the school bus and their parents trust the driver to keep them safe. I was asked why I am an opponant of buses. I'm only responsible for my children.

[AnnW]

Originally posted by TXmom
Mickey
Because in many instances they are an unnecessary expense to the school district. Parents who can give their children a ride themselves are uses the bus because it's easier. Our district recently had to cut expenses due to Robin Hood, and overwhelmingly we choose to cut bus service rather than anthing that would relate to academics. We now have a Pay To Ride (that's really what they named it) program for kids who live within 2 miles of the school.

Also, those children aren't supervised. In what other instance would you leave your 5 your old girl with a group of say, 14 year old boys? Not a good idea, in my opinion.



I hear ya about Robin Hood! Just curious what they are pricing the rides?
Our district doesn't provide for service if you live within 2 miles for anything but elementary.
How is it in your district that a kindergartener could be riding in a bus with a middle schooler?

[Mickey]

Valid reasons imo. Didn't think about the expense--it definitely would be better to cut that expense than anything to do with academic spending. I also didn't think about the wide range in age--would have thought the elementary, middle school and high school kids would all be on different buses (although a large group of poorly supervised 5-11 yos together isn't much better). And I didn't realize how much time it can add on to a day for some kids (it added 1 1/2 hours for me and I was older when I rode the bus).

When I thought about it, the first thing that came to mind for me were my bus drivers. I was 12 when I started riding the bus. One year our driver was the mom of a student. She was nice. But the other years, we had a young guy who would flirt with the girls and make inappropriate remarks. It was sickening. Another year, our driver was always stoned or high or something. Totally out of it and an absolute jerk. Unless they screen better now, that would be one of my concerns. The other would be safety. The kids were always jumping around from seat to seat and standing and throwing things. The bus driver would yell and occasionally pull over or take kids to the office, but if someone wanted to act up, he/she did.

I really appreciate your reply. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and concerns!

[TXmom]

AnnW

I don't know how they do it down here, but when we lived in Stillwater there was one bus for the whole neighborhood, no matter what school you went to.

I think they charge $125 per semester to ride the bus here, with a break for siblings.

[AnnW]

Interesting. I would probably have a different opinion of buses if there were that big of an age range on ours! LOL Here, it's per neighborhood per school. One of the reasons they staggard the start time of the schools was to cut down on the number of buses used.
I thought of something that your district might be interested in. Highland Park district gets hit very hard by robin hood and one of the things they do to save money is that the parents serve lunch in the cafeterias. They hire the cooks I believe, but the parents do all the line serving, checking out ect. It evidentally saves them quite a bit of money.
Our district is odd. We have been hurt by Robin Hood but it's almost on more of a school bases than district...half our district is "wealthy" and have "poor"...so the "poor" side gets alot of government subsidy.

[twoin2000]

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back. Thank you all for your replies.
He just made the kindergarten cut by 6 days. July birthday. I wish now I would have waited on sending him. I think he is doing better with learning the basics though now. We have been working at it a little each day at home. I have also heard that his teacher is alot more strict/structured than the other k teachers. That relieves me a little... I don't think he is lagging behind as much as she led me to believe.

The bus thing.. first I hate the fact that he is on it so long. It just doesn't work out for me to take him everyday though. 12 miles one way... I am a sahm and I have two other kids under the age of two that I would have to drag out each day... he actually likes riding the bus....

As for what happens on the bus... that is a scary thought. He actually rides two different buses to get to school and the first one is driven by my best friends father. He loves my son like his own grandson. I am definitely lucky in that aspect!!!!!! The age of the kids riding the buses around here go from kindergarten to senior in high school. I never thought about that being a problem until someone spelled it out in their reply. I never had to ride the bus until I was in 7th grade that is alot different than 5 yrs old. Now I have even more to worry about....LOL

He is very quiet and timid at school.. I think he maybe just letting it all go when he gets home like someone said.

Thanks Again everyone for your replies.

[twoin2000]

I forgot to reply to the bedtime matter. He is usually in bed by 8:15 and I get him up about 6:20 am. They do have nap time at school, but the kids won't allow themselves to take a nap because if they fall asleep the teacher has them sleep through recess. Try telling a k that he needs to take a nap while the rest of the kids have recess..LOL

He actually started school in August. There have been a few nights where he came home and I had him lay down because he was so grouchy. He slept clear through the night a couple of times and other times after he has taken the nap then he can't get to sleep at bedtime. I think things are starting to get better we are just hanging in there hoping we make it. lol