Question for You Teachers out There

[cjropher]

I have a 4 year old that I have been teaching to read. It's going really well but I have one nagging fear. When he starts kindergarten in the fall, is he going to be bored to death? I am not going to homeschool so I wonder if I'm doing him any favours or if he's going to hate school because he's not challenged enough. But at the same time, I want to teach him. I want him to love reading and if he's enjoying learning (which he is) then it should be good for him right?

I don't know, I'm not really sure what to do with this. I love teaching him this way and want to continue to be part of his education which I know is good. But at the same time, I want his school to be something he enjoys and not something that he goes to with the attitude that he already knows everything that they are going to teach him.

Any suggestions?

[JoyLynn]

I say, go for it, Jay!! I really think he'll like kindergarten, anyway, even if he already knows how to read. He'll be doing so many different things than you aren't doing with him. Plus, the whole new experience of being around that many kids. He'll be learning much more than just reading in K, so, go for it and teach him what he wants to learn.



Joy

[danou]

If he is ready to read then go for it... you can cross the bored in kindergarten bridge when you get there. There is so much new and exciting stuff in kindy that I think there will be plenty to do and learn. If he's advanced and obviously bright you may want to think about French Immersion. You're in Lethbridge right? I student taught at the public school that offered FI.
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[kanaclark]

I'm with them, if he's ready, do it. you can always supplement at home with "new" things after school, and I've learned that reading is like potty training, you do it on 'there' time and it goes a lot smoother

[monkeysmama5]

I agree! I kept my lil one at home with me ..we thought she was our last lol! anyways we never enrolled her in any day care or pre-school and while I am not a certified teacher I have spent alot of time in my oldest daughters classrooms in private chrisitan schools etc, and now my youngest's but I will tell you I wish I had tried to teach her more than just numbers/counting and abc's your son will do awesome because you took the time to teach him to read! he will excell I do see a huge difference in the children that had more learning weather it was pre-school or homeschooling etc. my lil one is just learning sight words where as the children who were taught are doing accelerated readers already! there are like 6-7 in a class of 22 and those children love reading! plus thye feel a scence of accomplishment I think..I am not even their parents and I am impressed at how much they do! plus going to kindy he will make friends and learn things from a different angle and that will keep it "new" for him
I remember how excited my dauhgter was to go there and sit at a desk with her new classmates! the new supplies,the little cubbies,new friendships..it's pretty neat! blessings on his kindergarten journey!

[cjropher]

Thanks everyone! Danou, yes, there are a few FI schools and it's something I think is a very good idea. But we are sending him to the Christian school here and it doesn't have FI.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I hoped that you would all feel that way. Ds comes home from playschool and I ask him what he did that day and he says... (you all know this one) "nothing" So now I know what he did that day because I did part of it with him. I love that.

He's doing really well too and it's so much fun to watch and experience and be part of. I love it.

[Jens2Boys]

Originally Posted by cjropher

I have a 4 year old that I have been teaching to read. It's going really well but I have one nagging fear. When he starts kindergarten in the fall, is he going to be bored to death? I am not going to homeschool so I wonder if I'm doing him any favours or if he's going to hate school because he's not challenged enough. But at the same time, I want to teach him. I want him to love reading and if he's enjoying learning (which he is) then it should be good for him right?

I don't know, I'm not really sure what to do with this. I love teaching him this way and want to continue to be part of his education which I know is good. But at the same time, I want his school to be something he enjoys and not something that he goes to with the attitude that he already knows everything that they are going to teach him.

Any suggestions?

My son will be starting K in the fall and we will be encountering the same issue as you. He knows how to read and is very advanced in math. I talked to the teachers at his K registration. What they said is if they notice he is bored and he is able to be challanged, they will give him some 1st grade curriculum to do so he can stay ahead of the game. IMHO, any good school will do that, as each child is different and learns at different levels. This made me feel better. Also, if your son is a little helper/leader like mine likes to be, he will be a really good example and role model for the kids who may need some help. I would talk to your son's future teacher and address your concern, but I certainly would not hold back any kind of learning, esp. of he is ready and up for the challenge. If you keep up the challenging when he's ready he will continue to flourish throughout his school years.