Post 216
We all worry about the decisions we make that concern our children. Teachers do, too. All of us try to do our best. Personally I think the most you can hope for is that the majority of your decisions end up on the positive side of things. No one is perfect.
So, it’s now March. What should you do if you feel that maybe your little student is behind either academically or socially? Should you be thinking about having them held back or what? That’s a rough one that’s sure to keep you up at night!
First and foremost I would schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher…in person if possible. They are with your little one more than anyone else during the day and really know them. I would advise you to do it NOW and not wait until the end of the year. School districts tend to not hold students back. Letting the teacher know your concerns early will enable both of you to come up with a plan to help your child. Whether the problem is social or academic, it’s better to get going on a solution rather than letting it fester and get worse. (And it may not even be a problem. You won’t know until you meet with the teacher.) If there is a recommendation for further testing, I would find out exactly what the end goal is there. It’s probably to better understand what your child needs and exactly how to help them. As I’ve said before, no teacher is ever put out by families who are truly concerned about their child. Our goal is to help every student succeed. To do that, we need to work together. You are your child’s best advocate and their teacher is your best ally. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
That being said, what do you do if you have a meeting or are notified that the school wants to keep your little one back next year. It’s rare but it does happen. Over the course of many years of teaching I have recommended retention maybe twice. The first child was held back and many years later his dad (also a teacher) thanked me for it. The parents of the second child chose to send him along and within 3 weeks of the new school year starting, he was put back into Kindergarten. The big worry here is that the student will feel awkward in the same grade when all their former classmates are in a new one. Children are very resilient and make new friends within a couple of days. Honestly, if you and the school decide it is the best thing for your little one, do it. It is so much better than having them struggle for the rest of their school career.
In the end, trust yourself. If you are sensing that something isn’t quite right with your little one, set up that meeting. I promise you’ll sleep better!
Take Care. 🙂
kindergarten23 