I Have Glimpsed My Future
My trio’s kindergarten teacher has started giving the students independent time on a set of class computers each day, with their little bodies lined up in a row, their little heads covered by headphones, their little fingers clicking mouse buttons, and their little faces fixed in expressions of concentration and joy as they work with Starfall.com, a wonderful site that I and my boys discovered a few years back. The kindergarteners love it. They feel empowered. They are entertained. They are learning letters and counting and spelling and having a great time doing it.
And now my sons have requested independent Starfall time at home. Who am I to say no to letters and counting and spelling and having a great time? So this was the scene in my house tonight…
One boy at my desk on my computer.
Another boy at my husband’s desk on his computer.
A third boy on my bed with my old laptop that, despite audible groans, steadfastly refuses to give up the ghost.
Notice the grown-up boy playing with the iPod Touch next to him?
Indeed, I have glimpsed my future . . . and it is pixelated.
- 25
- Jan
- 2011
Hi Deborah,
I’ve been subscribing to your blog for a couple weeks now. I was drawn to it because I am working on a novel while being the full time mommy to twin 2 year old boys and babysitting a 4 month old girl. (I don’t think it has made me crazy…yet. The girl is here 4 days each week and only since Jan 3) This post made me wonder what caused you to keep all three of your kids in one kindergarten class. We aren’t anywhere near kindergarten yet, but I’ve thought some about it. I can see arguments for keeping them together and for separating them. If one continues to talk more than the other and talk FOR the other I could see the benefits of separating them in school. I just don’t like to think about them ever separating! How did you decide?
Dawn,
I have 14 year old quadruplets (3 boys- one girl) and I had the same concerns when mine started school. In pre-school I seperated them 2 and 2 but in kindergarten and first grade I put them back together in one class. The reason was simple, they could not read yet (at least not very well). When it came time for homework, etc. I knew they could not work independently and I wanted only one teacher and one set of homework to deal with each night. There was not enough time in the evening to work through four different sets of homework. And yes, they did have homework and spelling tests in kindergarten. Starting in second grade I seperated them into their own classrooms. Luckily we attended a school that had four classes per grade level. By then I new each childs strengths, weaknesses and learning style so I could request (or suggest) the type of teacher that each one needed.
I hope this helps.
Dawn, here’s a link to a post I wrote in September explaining how I arrived at the decision: http://www.deborahhalverson.com/blog/?p=3261. A lot definitely goes into it. And as in Connie’s situation, the decision can vary from year to year depending on each child’s needs, Mom’s needs, and class availability. Someone was just asking me yesterday if my boys will stay together in first grade and I said, “Stop! I’ve got several months before I have to go there again! Let me just enjoy this year, with them together, which is working out just fine.”
Thanks, ladies. That does help. Wow, Connie! Quadruplets! How have you done it? And Deborah, you too. Amazing. I think of you when I feel frustrated with two. Homework and spelling tests in kindergarten…hmm. It will be here before I know it I’m sure. I’ll probably be in touch as time goes on for your expertise.
Thanks again.