Kids need sleep!

[Wilson]

As I've said before, my youngest is having a hard time adjusting to full-day, everyday, Kindergarten. We try to make sure the kids are in bed between 7:30-8pm, depending on the circumstances and how tired they seem in the afternoon.

Last night, we had something fairly unavoidable come up and the kids weren't in bed until about 8:30pm. I even considered emailing 5yo's teacher and warning her that we'd had a late night. I ultimately decided against it and thought I'd wait and see how he did on his own.

Sure enough - today was the first day he's *ever* been "corrected" at school. Even in preschool! I feel so bad for him :(. It wasn't too horrible - he didn't have to miss any recess and still came home with a green check on his behavior sheet, but he was apparently warned about not listening and had to pull a yellow strip. He cried when this happened :(. He told me this evening, but said he didn't want to talk about it any more. I told him how we mess up sometimes and even Mama & Daddy mess up, and how we only expect them both to do their best and try harder next time. He was still sad, but nodded his head and seemed to understand that it wasn't the end of the world.

This is going to be a long week for both my guys - we've just got a lot going on and they're not going to get the most relaxing weekend at the end of it all, either. I vow to stay home tomorrow and Thursday afternoon and get them both to bed early!!

[eaglesprings]

We're still dealing with sleep issues, too. They just don't seem ready for bed when I think they need to go to bed. I put them to bed, but they are "up" for various reasons even after that. I mean, I can put them to bed, but I can't make them go to sleep!

Then, we have a huge battle in the morning getting everyone ready for school. And, I do have one also getting into trouble at school, but that might "just be her," too. And, it's not every day.

We do have a familiar, nighttime routine. I really don't know what else to do.

[schnauzermom]

Moms need sleep too! I am having having real problems with my sleep schedule. I know both my kids are too. We are all really tired. My 9th grader went to bed at 8pm last night and watched a little tv and then went to sleep before 9. He never does this. Maybe all the "fun" of the new school year has worn off and we are all just getting used to new schedules. I'm really trying for consistency. Hopefully next week will be better.

Hang in there Wilson, I think full day K is too much for some kids. I know my son would have had a really tough time with it.

[Wilson]

My first definitely would not have survived full-day Kindy. Well, lol, he *didn't* survive full-day 1st grade, so there ya go!! My second is a little stronger, I guess, but I remember ES talking about her children last year in full-day and knew that he might have some of the same struggle. It's just a long day! I think a 4-5 hour Kindergarten would be almost perfect.

[rusti]

Wilson - I think you are right about 4 - 5 hours - 8:00 to 12:00, then come home, eat lunch, a little down time, etc. It is hard on some of these kids, especially if they have never been in daycare or even some sort of pre-k.

What some people don't realize though is that Kindergarten is not mandatory here in Texas.

[eaglesprings]

My first definitely would not have survived full-day Kindy. Well, lol, he *didn't* survive full-day 1st grade, so there ya go!! My second is a little stronger, I guess, but I remember ES talking about her children last year in full-day and knew that he might have some of the same struggle. It's just a long day! I think a 4-5 hour Kindergarten would be almost perfect.


They fell asleep on the bus home almost every single day! LOL! That changed about halfway through the school year, though. And, then, they slept really good at night!

But, now, we're in a whole new stage of sleep issues. I guess it's a never ending battle.

[msmichellemiller]

Kindergarten is not required? I didn't know that. Do you have an option here of whether you want to send you child to a full day of Kindergarten or a half day? Next year will be my first year of putting one of my kids in school; my oldest lived with his Dad when he started and has always lived with him during the school years. I live near Glen Loch Elementary and plan on enrolling him there. Is that a nice school? I dont care for the apartments and quicky mart area right by it...I don't think it looks very nice, but my neighbors said that the school was good.

[rusti]

Yes, you have a choice although now all the schools in CISD offer kindergarten so unless you go the private route or just choose to keep him home you won't find a 1/2 day program around here. At least that is what I have been told, but don't quote me on that.

[Wilson]

I do realize that ;). Actually, school in general isn't mandatory ;).

[Wilson]

Interestingly enough, Glen Loch, as I understand, is the *only* school within The Woodlands that does not have the Exemplary rating. Take that with a grain of salt! Parent involvement is key, imnsho.

[rusti]

I didn't realize that. I thought between the ages of 6 - 16 they had to be in school. Don't tell my kids that - LOL!

[Wilson]

Once you're registered, you have to legally withdraw - which is what I went through when I pulled the oldest out after 1st grade began. It wasn't a big deal - just a certified letter to the principal with some legal words I found on the Internet :p. Either you don't register at all, or once you withdraw, they don't care what's going on - you don't have to report in, register, or do anything other than continue to pay taxes. Texas is probably the most homeschool-friendly state in the USA and all Homeschoolers know to thank George W. Bush and his service as Governor for that.

[schnauzermom]

I have heard of people who need to leave on extended trips, like overseas for family matters, are told to withdraw their kids for the time they are gone and then re-enroll when they get back. It keeps their record from looking bad. The schools record BTW, not the kids. I would think that the kids would be fine too though.

[TXrose]

How about taking them out at Midnight to get the new HALO then they miss at least 1st period, a major test. The teacher doesn't have to let them make it up for that excuse, she was so nice to let them make it up during class time. I would have set one morning and afternoon time and said this is it. The kids were telling her they missed because they went out to get the game and were too tired to come to school.

[Wilson]

I think that withdrawing them for vacation is about funding! I don't understand why schools are punished with funds the way they are. TAKS, included! It really divides the schools financially and a lot of the time there isn't much the school can do about it - unless they had more funds. It's a ridiculous cycle.

[Wilson]

Niiiice! (dripping with sarcasm)

[TXrose]

I think that withdrawing them for vacation is about funding!

What about all the class time they miss? Instruction time. Our teachers were asking that if parents took the kids out for a week for vacation purposes that the parents have to pay for the extra time it would take to catch those students up. They miss class instruction time and test time. I have spent much of my own time helping these students who went to Disneyworld during the school time, it takes me away from my kids because someone decides they can't go during one of the many breaks they get.

I had a student withdraw for 3 months last year, he came back and hadn't been in school for those 3 months he was out of the country and he didn't go to school where he was. That took a lot of my time and other teachers time to catch him up so he wouldn't fail. I think if they don't come back with some sort of grades from another school there should be some penalty for those of us who have to spend extra time to help out the student.

[Wilson]

Well I wasn't even going to touch the academic part. I have just heard of the parents legally withdrawing a child, possibly at the school's suggestion, because the school loses funding for absences.

My son missed a week for 2 vacations - Hawaii and Williamsburg, VA/Washington DC :p. At least the latter was pretty educational!

[schnauzermom]

I agree Wilson, I have a hard time getting my kids out for dentist apps BUT today my 9th grader has a golf tournament and will miss the ENTIRE day. This is perfectly OK with the school. A friend told me that the varsity football team took the whole day off to go to pep rally's and then drive to Austin for a game. BTW back to the sleep issue I had to get him to the Player course at 6am this morning. How much longer till Saturday?