Posts by Kimberly Green50

Susan James said:I honestly think that to keep everything in balance out there in the universe—especially when you're staring down a massive pile of things being pushed back—you really need to get someone enrolled a bit earlier. It just makes sense. 🤷
Honestly, I’ve been saying this for a while now: we really need to set some clear boundaries on when people are required to head out. In my opinion, we should stick to that March 31st deadline—or even move it up to January 1st if we wanted to be proactive—but then establish a sort of grace period from April through August. During those months, people could go in for their check-ups if they needed to, but the actual departure shouldn't be mandatory. It just feels like a more balanced way to handle things.

If the preschool teaching staff decides a child has basically outgrown the curriculum—meaning they’ve finished the pre-K program, mastered all the foundational reading and writing skills, and are hitting all their social and emotional milestones perfectly—then they’re ready to head off to elementary school. Of course, there might be some exceptions. If a pediatrician looks at the charts and sees concerns like being significantly underweight, having stunted growth, or dealing with chronic health issues or other medical diagnoses, that’s when you might want to sit down and seriously consider holding them back for an extra year.

Whenever there’s a transition coming up, I think it’s really important to sit down with the parents and have a real conversation about what the child will actually be doing during that gap year at preschool. You really have to ask if the facility can truly meet the child's specific needs. For instance, could they accommodate extra sessions or specialized treatments that might be harder to squeeze into a regular school schedule later on? It’s all about making sure the support system stays consistent during that bridge period.
I’m going to be a little blunt here, but delaying school just so they can play more feels like a mistake. Honestly, if he hasn't had much experience in daycare or preschool, this is basically neglecting his development. We can't shield children from every single frustration or tearful moment forever. Let's face it—life is tough sometimes. It’s perfectly normal for kids to cry or get angry occasionally. Even if a child hits all their developmental milestones early on, we can't protect them from reality indefinitely. They have to deal with peers who might find it funny when someone trips or makes a mistake. Sure, it’s definitely easier to practice those social lessons in preschool rather than waiting until elementary school, but it isn't impossible to learn later on. Part of growing up is learning how to handle things over and over again as life throws new situations your way.

This is for some other topic, for example. ovuWait, I actually have to say this here:

Lost in space. I’ve been thinking lately about how we can really enrich our educational content to make it more engaging for students. It’s one thing to follow the curriculum, but it's another thing entirely to breathe life into the material so it actually sticks. I remember back when I was in college, the professors who truly inspired me were the ones who didn't just read from a textbook, but brought in real-world examples and interactive elements that made the lessons feel relevant. I think we should aim for that same kind of depth—finding ways to add layers to our teaching tools that spark curiosity rather than just checking off boxes. So, imagine this: a kid finishes all their math homework way ahead of the rest of the class, and instead of getting a break, the teacher hands them even more work. I'm not talking about just cranking out twenty more of the exact same problems, either. I mean actual challenges—complex addition, brain teasers, and logic puzzles that go beyond the standard curriculum. It’s like giving them extra math on top of the extra math they already signed up for!
Maybe they could get an extra book from the reading list? Or perhaps we could give them permission to dive into some magazines—like National Geographic Kids or Highlights—let them read comics during free time, or even let them get some sketching done once they've knocked out their regular assignments or shown a genuine interest in a particular topic.
It’s not just about making sure he doesn't get bored; it’s really about giving him that extra push to actually tap into his potential. He clearly has a lot of talent there, so providing that kind of stimulation could be a total game-changer for his development.
Now that computer science is part of the curriculum starting in first grade, there are so many great coding challenges from Beaver that we can give our kids to work on at home!
I’m not sure how this guide was actually delivered to you all—hopefully, it wasn't just handed over as a plain sheet of paper—but I really feel like we need to be more direct with parents and teachers. It needs to be crystal clear when a first grader is clearly bored out of their mind because the curriculum just isn't hitting the mark for them.
If the teacher isn't able—or just doesn't want to—to handle this, then we're looking at a much deeper issue that won't be fixed by just talking about after-school activities. Honestly, if I’m being brave enough to say it, this situation might actually make things worse. It feels like the teacher is on that same track when she tells you there are too many extracurriculars; she likely realizes the child is progressing at their own pace elsewhere. They're tackling challenging, fun projects outside of class, yet here they are being told to sit still and listen to things they've already mastered. It's easy to lose a student that way, and even easier to lose that connection with them. In my experience, it's often simpler for a teacher to tell parents, "Don't overstimulate him," rather than admitting the classroom environment isn't meeting his needs, using his exhaustion as an excuse.

You have a private message.
Thanks for the detailed response!

Michelle Nelson4 said:I’ve never really understood this whole concept of kids "missing out on playtime" once they start school. In my experience, my kid just kept playing with friends every single day and weekend for years afterward. It’s just that the *way* they play changes—it’s less about organized games and more about hanging out outside with the crew, kicking a soccer ball around at the local park, or just cruising around on their bikes. A kid who is naturally social and loves being active isn't going to suddenly stop being that way just because they have a backpack now. Honestly, I don't see any real benefit in keeping a child in preschool just for the sake of extra playtime.

And where exactly are these kids supposed to be playing outside at 4:30 in the afternoon when it's pitch black and freezing cold?
My little one spent the entire day running around today; tomorrow will be no different. We old folks end up being the ones organizing the get-togethers anyway.
Maybe the issue with my boy is that he can't go full tilt with his sports due to some restrictions, so he's a bit limited there. But he still rides his bike and heads out to chill whenever the weather permits.

caterina said:Forget the technicalities and those few days he was born after the cutoff date—why on earth do you think he wasn't ready for school? Does he lack the patience to sit still and end up disrupting the class?

It feels like he's just bored because he already mastered the first-grade curriculum before even starting, but wouldn't he have been even more bored if he had waited another year to start school? 🤔

Restless? Please. He sits there quietly, quieter than any little girl I know. Even the Appalachian Mountains don't complain about his discipline.
He just misses playing and being with kids. He breaks down crying just thinking about missing a birthday party if he's sick and can't make it to school. Or if we pick him up too early. Honestly, it's a blessing he only cries once he's home. At school, he just swallows it. Let's just hope nobody picks on him.

Both psychologists said he'd be just as bored in class even if he waited a year.
But he would've spent this year playing. That's the whole point!
Even though the preschool teacher insisted he'd checked all the boxes for what a kid should do in preschool, the other one thinks he's still lacking socialization.
He missed those preschool years, and you can see the effects now. He started later. A bit of isolation here, a few bouts of sickness there, and honestly, we left him home ourselves quite a few times when he just didn't feel like going since my wife was home with our junior.

They play out by the Appalachian Mountains too. It’s not the kind of learning we grew up with; it's more laid back and fun. But it's still a commitment.
And maybe the Appalachian Mountains are right when they say there's too much stuff to do after school. Who knows? He loves school and all his activities. This morning, he was actually asking me why we have holidays again and what the deal is.

Sarah Hall53 said:So, basically, you guys didn't actually want an extension—you just got talked into signing up early so they could clear out some space.
It gets even worse than that.

Something like that.
We'll have to be smarter when dealing with the juniors.

Carl Bishop2 said:Kimberly Green50, what was the reasoning behind wanting to push the date back?

The real question isn't what we wanted.

First off, they moved him up to the preschool group at daycare. Most of his friends were moved too, so we didn't say anything at the time, even though we ended up with a whole new set of teachers. But as the school enrollment dates started creeping closer, they told us there was this extra bit of paperwork we had to deal with. Apparently, because he was just a few days shy of the age cutoff, we had to file a formal request for admission. Everyone else just sailed right through.
If I'm being honest, part of me felt a little smug thinking he was so advanced that he was ready for kindergarten already.
His pediatrician—who’s been seeing him since day one—was actually shocked he was old enough for school. She didn't think he even needed the official enrollment process. And if he'd been born just a couple of days earlier? Well, given his diagnosis, she definitely would have recommended holding him back. His mom had an extended maternity leave because of everything, which is why he started daycare a bit later than most.
I won't go into too much detail here, knock knock, but things have been fine for years now.

So, where does that leave us? We actually had the option to pull the enrollment. We went to see a psychologist for a second opinion, mostly because the doctor nudged us that way. But even according to the outside specialist, he’s ready. He’s already excited about starting school. And honestly, during his recent check-ups, everything seems totally fine.
The recommendation was basically some sort of social skills workshops and more enriched educational content. The problem is, those workshops aren't even really a thing; schools usually don't offer them until third or fourth grade. And we don't have the time or resources for private tutoring right now.
In that light, staying in daycare for one more year might actually be the smarter move.
For us, and for him.

Susan Martin4 said:Honestly, just because a kid can read, write, and do basic math doesn't mean they're ready to jump into elementary school. If we're talking about delaying enrollment, those academic skills are minor details. It’s more about how they handle the grind of first grade—it can be incredibly boring if they aren't mentally there yet.

You need a different kind of maturity for school. We're talking about meeting deadlines, sitting through lessons, actually following along...

We didn't end up delaying enrollment, and honestly, the fact that he could already read and count was the main reason the experts said he was ready. But you have a point; being smart and knowing math isn't the same thing as being emotionally mature enough.
The preschool staff basically pushed him through because they claimed he was in the top five most prepared kids in his group. Apparently, he had outgrown the daycare setting.

He doesn't struggle with the schoolwork; he handles everything perfectly fine. He even says he gets bored sometimes. Kimberly Green50 tells me he's often lost in thought, and it's hard to tell if he's just exhausted or feeling down. Especially during after-school care.

I know childcare is a nightmare right now, but still, we shouldn't just shove kids into school before they're ready. If I had any sense, I would have let him stay in preschool for one more year.
It's like everything else in this country—you have to be tough and know how to hold your own. We pushed him because he's bright, so he got bored at preschool. Now he's getting bored in school. And the psychologist's solution? "Enrich the educational content." Well, the school offers what it offers, so we end up driving him to extra programs after school. Then Kimberly Green50 starts complaining that he's overscheduled. It's always like this. Every expert has their own opinion.

Like I said, the academics aren't the issue. Even when he misses a whole week, he catches up on everything in one afternoon. What he's missing is the social stuff—just playing with other kids. He was only in daycare for three years, and since he was caught up in all those pandemic restrictions, I don't think he ever really got to just be a kid.

If you have the option, just delay it.

Olivia Ross10 said:Yeah, the daycare situation is totally wild this year! ..ask me how I know :P
No worries at all. Wishing you guys the best of luck! 🙂)
p.s. We also offer lessons for those three instruments (our instructors are all conservatory-trained professionals) 🙂
Anyway, I won't spam you any further. You can find everything here: www.gsrezonanca.com

Best, Sven Marković

Thanks again for the offer.
We have a younger one too, and based on what we learned from the first, we'll be looking to enroll him earlier. As soon as he's out of diapers.

Thanks for the offer.
He’s not even a preschooler yet; he actually starts kindergarten this fall. They kind of pushed him out of daycare early since his birthday is right on the line and he can already read and write. It totally messed up our plans for signing him up for music school, but hearing how insane the waitlists for daycare are this year, I guess he just freed up a spot for some other kid.

The violin isn't really on our radar right now.
We're looking at piano, guitar, or maybe drums. Honestly, we'll just see what sticks when enrollment rolls around—who knows, maybe he'll change his mind entirely during the prep course.

ambereagle88 said:Switching over to Melissa later on is actually quite difficult. They teach solfeggio using an entirely different system than the other music academies, and my daughter wouldn't have been able to transfer there after a year or two because of that.
As for the reverse—moving from Melissa to a different music school—I honestly don't know.

Thanks for the input.
In the meantime, I've picked up plenty of info on another forum. People seem to rave about Ellie Basich.

It’s one of those things where once you commit, switching becomes a massive headache because the curricula are so different. And you really need to make a call.

The hardest part of the decision for me? Most of these music schools are jammed right into the heart of downtown. No parking, constant congestion in the middle of everything... they've even been talking about expanding the pedestrian zones lately, which just means more traffic chaos elsewhere. We're a bit further out from the absolute center, so maybe taking the light rail is doable. If there isn't a bulky instrument to lug around, I might even consider a bike.

Does anyone actually know which schools in the Washington, D.C. area are moving to full-day schedules this school year?
I saw some media buzz about a pilot program starting up, but I can't seem to track down a specific list of which schools are actually on it. Anyone have that info?

https://news.abcnews.com/us-news/education/full-day-school-pilot-program-details-4505391

George Edwards72 said:Pavel Markovac versus a high-functioning Elly Bašić?
Any insight would be appreciated!

For us, it really boils down to these two. Which one did you guys settle on? I’m mostly looking at the parking situation and how bad the rush hour traffic gets—it’s a mess out there. But once my kid starts commuting solo, taking the light rail seems like the most practical move between these two options.
My wife has been watching some shows about it, and she’s actually leaning pretty hard toward the Ellie Basich concept.

Not much happening in this thread lately.
It’s a shame, really. There aren't many people around here who actually care about music; it feels like everyone is just obsessed with sports instead.
Getting some firsthand info would be great, though even second or third-hand accounts would help. We’ve been keeping an eye on a few local school websites, but that’s nowhere near enough.
It’s actually surprising how many programs and schools are out there once you start digging around. Wish we had started looking into this sooner.

We already have a little one transitioning from preschool to elementary this year, so the music-focused preschool option is basically a given. But I’m noticing that almost all the schools offer preparatory programs for kids in that 6 to 8 age range.
We’ll give it a shot. From what I gather, there isn't even an audition involved.
The only problem is... which one do we actually pick?

Thanks for all the input!

Could someone give me a quick breakdown here? What’s actually the difference between basic ear training and introductory solfeggio? Are we just talking about two different names for the exact same thing?

Hey there.

I’m trying to figure out how you all go about picking a music school for your kids.
Is it just about what’s closest to the house? Word of mouth? Or are you looking at the tuition costs?

We’re thinking about starting them off with a preschool program, but honestly, we have no idea where to even begin.
We're living here in New York City.
Thanks.