Kindergarten Screening

What an emotional day! The twins had their screening for kindergarten last week and I was more nervous then they were and a complete wreck! I found myself crying several times during the process. Keaton was shy and scared when we walked into the building, but when I told him he could have the iPad if he participated his attitude changed. He responded well, answered the questions, and stopped fussing. The school's goals for kids is to see them score 70 or higher in all four areas. The screening process allows the schools to separate the children so that all the classrooms are "even" and the delayed kids aren't all in one room, and the overachievers in the other. Out of 100 points, Keaton's scores were: Gross Motor: 78 Problem Solving: 83 Language: 99 Self Help: 97 The fourth one, self help, isn't actually called that but I can't remember the title. It was the questionnaire complete on what he is able to do himself: get dressed, brush teeth, use bathroom, pour cereal into a bowl, etc. McKenna walked into the building semi confidant until mommy left her side and then she was a stressed out mess. She struggled to participate and kept asking for mommy and crying. Manipulation doesn't really work for McKenna, so promising her the iPad or candy didn't do a thing, even though the offer was given. Her scores were: Gross Motor: 4 Problem Solving: 13 Language: 26 Self Help: 10 After the screening took place we met with the principle and we were strongly encouraged to put the twins in summer school, especially McKenna. She feels that introducing McKenna to her kindergarten teacher before the fall, allowing her to understand a classroom setting and the school process will really help McKenna overall. So, mommy came home and signed them up for summer school and cried while doing it. It's five days a week, 7:30-2:30. That's a long time for them to be away from mommy. They are use to two days, and only five hours. While I do understand this fall that will be their schedule, I struggle making them do it sooner then is necessary. They have 12 plus years of school ahead of them, so I'm not sure summer school is truly the best thing for them. However, I do want them to be comfortable this fall going to school and it is comforting knowing the principle is going to try to assign them the same teacher for fall as they have this summer and hopefully this summer will allow them a better understanding of school routine and in a smaller setting. We were also encouraged to help McKenna build her upper body strength and balance skills. With her gross motor skills where they are they would really like to see that area strengthened and it apparently helps build all other areas of their education, especially with reading and writing. So in addition to signing them up for summer school they are now signed up for gymnastics. McKenna had her first class today and cried the entire 45 minutes. It was embarrassing and stressful. I hate seeing her so afraid of things and it shows me just how much I have babied her. Keaton was able to participate the last 4 minutes and we have switched them to a wednesday night gymnastics class that will allow Keaton to do gymnastics as well. He was so excited to get to join the class at the end of it, so he will no doubt love being in the class the full time. He was the only boy on the floor, so hopefully that won't bother him. McKenna still has her dance class too, on Tuesdays, and we will finish that out end of May. Hopefully between summer school, dance class and gymnastics this will really help McKenna to catch up. It will be fun to see the day when she is the top of her class and we are looking back to see where she has come from. Keaton is doing really well with most areas. He is reading books now. He can read small chapter books. He gets frustrated very easily and gives up quickly when he doesn't succeed the first time. That will be our biggest struggle with him and no doubt difficult to teach a child to not be a quitter. It's part of him being a perfectionist I assume. Keaton is very nervous about starting kindergarten and doesn't want to leave his pre-k. He loves the kids in there and he loves school. We are hoping once summer school starts he just loves it so much he won't want to have the month summer break before the real school year starts. Hopefully he will be joining karate soon, and basketball.