A few weeks ago, Isaac and I realized that our planned September vacation has a small obstacle. One that we SHOULD have remembered, but clearly did not. Sammy starts school in August. Sigh...In our defense, we've never had a kid in school before. 'Tis an easy thing to forget, I think. I'm really having a bad attitude about remembering, too. I'm VERY much in the "screw it, we're going anyway" frame of mind. I really don't see what the big deal is, pulling my kid for vacation a month after school starts, but, eh. Apparently there is a deal.
The normal time off of school happens to be Isaac's busiest times at work, obviously. So we steer clear of summer vacations (which we would hate anyway for other reasons) and spring breaks and Christmas vacations and usually go in September, which, in my opinion, is the BEST time to go. We planned our next vacation two years ago, with the intent of going last fall. However, the house happened and we had to delay a year, not realizing that it would coincide with Sammy and school. One of the reasons for the trip depends on going in fall and I've been so excited. But now...
I want to throw a tantrum. I KNOW my kid's education is important. I KNOW I'm being a petulant child about this. I KNOW that in the grand scheme of everything, this is such a non-problem. I KNOW that this is one of those parental sacrifices. But I still want to throw a fit. I want to say whatever and go anyway. I, simply, want to have my way. And I'm not sure entirely why I'm having such a tough time with this. I think partly, though, I'm fearful that school will become so all consuming that we won't find the time to travel anymore. That between not having a good time to vacation other than school in session days will mean an end to vacation. Or having to take it at time that is detrimental to Isaac's work. And while I know that my kid's education is important, I believe that traveling is at least equally, if not more, important. I'm suddenly getting the allure of homeschooling (at least the part that weaves in real world trips). While I know it's not right for me, I can see how nice it would be if it was right.
So now we have to decide whether we go anyway and just not care (which is where I'm leaning) or postpone a month and figure something else out for future years (which is where Isaac is leaning) or...just not go? Which is where my fear is leaning. But I'm sure that we'll figure something out and it'll be fine. Maybe not perfect, but fine. Ish. Just give me some time to wallow and pitch a real fit for plans and expectations not matching up.
(lost weekend, lloyd cole)
So, where is this holiday to, and for how long is it going to be? And, seriously with homeschool?
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We had the same dilema every year, with taking kids to school every year right after school started.
ReplyDeleteNew York / New England. And yes. Seriously with the homeschool.
ReplyDeleteMom - I actually thought about you guys. I'm wondering how and if it's any different now?
I would go anyway, possibly every year, and I wouldn't worry about it in the least.
ReplyDeleteThere's more to a child's education and life experience than clocking in at a classroom every day.
JMTC
Shay missed the first week (two?) of kindergarten because we were in Washington, and she turned out fine. (Obviously, Ashli and I missed those days too . . . you can make your own judgments :-) . . . )
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, there's a whole crap load of testing they do those first few weeks that they didn't do when we were in school.
Aw, crap. Well. We'll DEFINITELY be postponing, then, Lacey. Don't want him following in YOUR footsteps! ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tish, but talk to the school, teachers and make a decision after that. we always carried homework and reading from the school. Just my opinion. Love Mom
ReplyDeleteI just remembered that with all my other kindergartners they did individual testing the week BEFORE the actual start of school (for other grades) and then the kindergartners started a week later than the other grades.
ReplyDeleteDifferent school district of course, but that might be the norm state wide.
I'd definitely check with the school. Even if he missed testing, that could probably be made up easily.
I would go anyway. Sammy is ahead of most kindergarteners anyway. A week away won't make a bit of difference in the long run. I wouldn't miss the very first few days since he will be meeting people and making friends, but after that, no big deal to miss a few days.
ReplyDeleteGO! Yes, the schools make a big deal of it, but until they hit middle to high school, GO! You know I'm crazy about rule keeping, etc. But this is family memory making. That's much more important than anything they'll be doing the first week of kindergarten!
ReplyDeleteKim - you have NO idea how much your comment helps. Truly. Probably because I DO know how rule keeping (esp. with school!) you are.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
The educator in me says missing the first week of school is not the best thing. That's the biggest social skill building time with other classmates, and there is a lot of testing that goes on. But, I think Sammy would do just fine if he did miss it.
ReplyDeleteIf you do decide to postpone, though, there's always UEA in October. If you went that week, he'd only miss 3 days of school.
It's not the first week. We tend to go mid-ish September, so it would be the 3rd or 4th week. Possibly the 5th or 6th, this year. Not even *I* would make him miss his first week! :)
ReplyDeleteI think he would be fine and do okay.
ReplyDeleteNY and NE could be fun. I say just go... seriously, it's kindergarten. He can miss out on a few days of playing with other kids and doing finger painting. :) As people have said, he's ahead of most kidergarteners.
ReplyDeleteAs to the homeschool thing, I don't reckon it's a good idea. I'd say about 80-90% of the home school kids that started going to high school for the last two years to get into college (or for whatever reason they decided to start going then) were quite strange and socially not as developed. They were smart and bright, don't get me wrong. The scholastic part of their education was brilliant, but the ability to interact with peers just wasn't there, they were just strange and didn't know how to deal with the whole social setting of school; but as I said, that wasn't all of them, but just the vast majority. To reiterate what others have said, a kid's education is a lot more than just clocking up time in a classroom. They need the interaction with peers, and they need to go on family trips, and camping and all those other things as well.
I am curious though. What is all of this extensive testing people keep referring to...? I don't remember getting tested at kindergarten. Maybe that's my problem... :)
D
Yeah. Kindergarten and homeschooling are COMPLETELY different than when you were in school. Especially homeschooling. I have friends who read here that homeschool! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso...it's not so much an issue of going / not going. We're going. Just not sure when, now.
ReplyDeleteEh, it's kindergarten. And not even the first week. Go.
ReplyDeleteYeah, playing and finger painting. That's what they do.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I didn't say that I thought you shouldn't go. Or even that I wouldn't go. I was just telling you what the perception would be from the school side of things so that you would know going into it that is where you would stand with them.
I don't know when they do the testing with kindergartners at this school, but I can ask and let you know.
Sharon - Oh, gosh, no! I don't want you to think that's what I thought at all. I didn't think you said I shouldn't (or wouldn't) go. I really don't want them to think less of me as a parent Sammy's first month of school, is all - or regret letting us in! That DID resonate with me. And the fact that I can't believe when planning that I just forgot my kid was starting school...who does that?
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes. I knew nothing about the testing. Whenever you have a second to let me know, that would be great.
(And yeah. Playing and finger painting...Sammy would fail!)
Go! Kindergarten won't make or break college! He won't remember he even missed it in latter years. he will remember the trip. Besides if you wait, Sammy may rather go to school to be with his friends then go with you later on anyways (teenagers). Gavin has missed a ton of school with hospital, dr visits and that includes Dr. Mickey at Disneyland. I consider that time family therapy. I do put it as an appt when I take him out.
ReplyDeleteMe again! I know. Shut up, right? Literally moments after I posted my reply (twice), Emily brought me her folder of papers for the week. In the folder was a "vacation form" which is to be filled out and turned in to the teacher before any vacation we might take. Homework will be accumulated while we are on vacation and, once completed and turned in, the form will be turned in to the office and the absences will be changed to vacation days.
ReplyDeleteHuh. This is new. Looks like the powers that be might have finally clued in to the fact that life isn't/can't be regulated by the board of ed.
No, Trish, that IS interesting. Sigh...I'm really not looking forward to Sammy's school days!
ReplyDeleteHow long is this trip? I don't see any harm in a kindergartener missing a week or so of school. The teacher can give you the work he would miss, which I'm confident would be well within your skillset to instruct him. When they get into the upper grades (like 8th and beyond), it can get trickier to miss days, but even then, I wouldn't dismiss taking them out for a few days out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI love that you trust I can handle kindergarten homework. Bless you for that... :)
ReplyDeleteHuh. Interesting. Vacation forms for school... So, from some of the comments that I've seen, am I correct in thinking that Sammy is going to a private school? And I'm curious as to what's changed with home schooling that's made it different in regard to social interaction? Also, what are these tests that everyone keeps referring to?
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Private school? No. We're not bleeding cash, you know. Public or charter for us.
ReplyDeleteHomeschooling is MUCH more widely done, accepted, etc. And there are all sorts of homeschooling groups to get together for the socialization. It's not just the hippie mom down the street anymore. (not that there's anything wrong with that)
I don't know about the tests. I guess we'll find out in a few months.
Just to throw in my two cents.. that mirrors a lot of other people's two cents... Go, regardless of school or not. Take advantage of vacations while your child still wants to go on them with you. It isn't always the same when they hit middle school and high school. I believe that's when mom and dad start to be not cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record, boy howdy has school changed since my time!
Ok... I just got the private school thing from your statement about being accepted to the school that he was going to. What is a charter school?
ReplyDeleteAnd there was plenty of people that did home schooling when I was in school, but they were all... strange. If the strangeness has left, then I guess that's better, but I still don't agree with it unless you're out in the middle of nowhere and have no choice, but that's just me...
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_school
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that may have just been the people. I know a lot of homeschooling people who are just fine. Just like I knew a lot of strange people in public school. WAY more to do with the person, not so much the method.
I was pretty blown away by the sheer amount of testing the first two (three?) weeks of school this year. I think they're all reading and math based, but there are so many! How fast do you read, what's your reading level, what's your comprehension level, what's your math comprehension level, how much math do you know, and on and on and on. Of course, I'm in the "don't know what I'm talking about" group by default without any kids in school, but it seemed a little excessive to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd I got the impression that kids are expected to come into kindergarten already reading . . . or at least knowing all their letters and the sounds they make. That was a little confusing since that's what I learned in kindergarten!
Yeah, I picked up a core curriculum brochure for kindergarten at the district office the other day and HOLY COW. I think we're a little behind on getting him ready and will need to step it up a little.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't expected to come in already reading. Though they do want them to know letters, sounds, and numbers. So much of the upper grades curriculum has been pushed down to lower grades, which forces first and second grade stuff down to kindergarten. They do all the testing so that they can make sure to get students in a small group where the instruction can be on their level instead of way beyond or below what they are capable of doing.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it's that far into the school year you're going, I say just go. It's not uncommon for kids to miss a week of school by then, and kindergarten work is so super easy to make up. :)
I haven't read everyone else's comments since there are over 30, but am going to give you my opinion-
ReplyDeleteGo on your vacation and enjoy yourself and don't worry so much about the public school system. Here is why:
*Sammy will enjoy the time with you and Isaac and that is more important than anything he will learn in the first couple of weeks at school.
*Kindergarten usually starts later than other grades and if it doesn't, they don't do much at first.
*If teachers are doing anything in Kindergarten, it is level testing to see where each student is, ie do they know their alphabet, numbers, any words, can tie a shoe, zip zippers and all that jazz. Sammy will be fine and you can always ask at his school to have it done early, then let the teacher know you will be gone and ask for any worksheets or concepts he will be missing and then make sure you talk about them while gone.
*Even in high school the first week or two does not really matter unless you are taking concurrent enrollment because it is all reteaching what the students forgot over the summer. Sammy is smart enough that this is not going to be a problem.
*Make sure you know who his teacher is before you leave and make sure he meets her. Touch base with her. Sometimes a teacher will let the student tell about the trip when they get home. If he was older I would say a report for credit, but he could do some specific show and tell so he would look for specific things on your trip- September curriculum usually focuses on bugs, leaves, our changing world in the fall so that would be perfect. Ask the teacher.
*Don't worry about it, he will be fine- even if you do it every single year. You just have to do your homework and prepare ahead of time and know that he won't be getting a perfect attendance award, but I think the benifits far outweigh the attendance certificate in the long run. He will remember and cherish all the exploring and learning he did but the certificate will get shoved somewhere and forgotten. And you only have him for a short while and then he will be out in the world- teach him how to navigate that world. Far more useful than sitting in a classroom while the class goes over things he already knows.
I agree with the majority. Go ahead and take a vacation during the school year every year, at least until high school. Even for homeschoolers, leaving for 2 weeks during high school doesn't usually work.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, there are lots of good reasons to homeschool, but being able to take a vacation (while a fringe benefit) is not reason enough.
I was actually thinking of you, Melanie, when I made the remark about homeschooling. And I started to wonder how vacations work and if they were easier, etc.
ReplyDeleteI know I can't homeschool. While I sometimes wish I could, I know enough about me to know it wouldn't be the greatest thing!
Yeah... and how does homeschool work if Sammy wanted to go to Prom or Homecomming, or be in the band, or the football team, or take autoshop or something? Do charter schools, since they are part of the public school system (thanks for the link) have those things?
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Homeschoolers can participate in band, football, autoshop (if you can find a school that still teaches that) and the district has to accomodate them. We have homeschoolers that come for just math or just physics, or band, or PE, or any other number of classes. It is very different than it was even 15 years ago when I was considering it for my children.
ReplyDeleteProm and homecoming are a bit different. If the student is enrolled in the school for even one class period they can attend dances and other like functions because they have a school ID. If they come just for extracurricular activities ie marching band, football, soccer, drill team, etc, they are also allowed to attend because they will again have a school ID issued to them. If they are not enrolled in any classes and do not participate in extra curricular activities, they are considered the same as a student from another school and cannot attend unless they are accompanied by one of our students.
Charter schools have the same extracurricular activities as public schools. They are funded the same as public schools. However, they do not always have the enrollment numbers to accomodate a footbal team or marchig band or other things like that. Again, those students are invited to participate with the school they would attend if they didn't go to the charter school. Though they usually have their own formal dances.
And you probably were tested when you entered kindergarten you just didn't realize it. You probably thought you were just saying your alphabet or counting for your teacher or reciting colors or words. Evaluations are tricky that way. There are lots of times I have a student in my office and they think we are just chatting, but I am evaluating. Not all tests/evaluations are formal sit down and mark the right answer. (though I am sure you knew that)
The charter schools I'm looking at only go through certain grades (5th and 8th). And Sammy going out for football. Hee! His uncle gave him a football for Christmas and he had to ask us what it was. Heh.
ReplyDeleteSchool choices are varied, now, and it's ok. It's not as straight forward and I think choice for your kid's education is brilliant. I don't have to send him to the elementary school by our house - I have the choice to send him to any district school, homeschool or charter (of which there are several, here) and that's a GREAT thing in my eyes. Different isn't always bad.
charter school-S? plural?
ReplyDeleteYeah. I tossed a token application in to the one up on campus. SO not expecting anything to happen with that, though, so it's barely in my consciousness. And I'm not completely convinced we'll send him there over your school if we were accepted...
ReplyDeleteAh, gotcha. I forget about that one being considered a charter school.
ReplyDeleteOh, I totally agree about different isn't bad, and that choice is good. I think the charter schools sound like a great idea. I just didn't even know that they existed. So, Sammy didn't know what the football was? That's a bit rough... not saying that he needs to play football, (I mean, I didn't... I preferred Band and Science Olympiad myself!)but strange that he hadn't tripped across one at some point before.
ReplyDeleteSo, schools don't teach autoshop anymore? THAT'S not cool! Then again, I guess cars would probably be covered in computers classes nowdays instead...
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He has a couple, but it clearly didn't stick what it was. And, really, where would he have ever seen a football game before? So...eh. I'm quite happy that he didn't know what it was.
ReplyDeleteSome schools still teach autoshop, but as with everything monetary, it has been taken out of most curriculums (curriculi?) but the good news is this, most high schools have some sort of school to school, or concurrent enrollment type of deal with schools or trade schools or colleges that offer it. Here in Utah county we allow our students to take Auto Mechanics or 4 other auto shop classes at MATC for 1-3 periods a day and take the rest of their classes at the high school. Many of these students graduate with not only a high school diploma, but a certificate/license or even an associates degree.
ReplyDeleteAnd the only good football game is spelled futbol.
Fair enough. Sounds like a good arrangement with the autoshop stuff! However, I have to disagree with soccer. They are quite skilled and talented players, but they are also complete whiners and I just don't like the sport. And I have no problems with people not liking something, but when they don't like and bag it out just because they don't like it, that's not cool, (and is usually a result of not understanding it)...
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