[missmeliss922]

I need help for what to say to a parent who thinks her child was pushed into first grade and not ready. He is one of my lowest students, very young, and I 'm just not sure what to say, please help!

[1styrteacher]

Was retention looked at last year? Our district doesn't believe in holding children back because of the social/psycological effects it can have on children.

I have a little guy that I had last year (I looped with my kids to 1st) and I took him to our child assistance team and was told he wasn't a canidate. He's drowning this year in first grade and is sooo behind.

At conferences I just explained to mom that we looked at retention last year and it wouldn't have benfited him.

[smokey2008]

I'm assuming you weren't the one to make the decision as it was probably the K teacher or principal who decided. So I would tell them "I wasn't a part of the decision making team last year so I can't speak to that. Looking forward, ..." then begin to discuss strategies/resources/accommodations/school team or whatever it is you can put in place to support the child. Hindsight is 20/20 and I wouldn't get involved in criticizing another teacher's decision to parents even if you don't think it was the best one. If you think the child was pushed through, speak to your admin and the teacher privately about the best way to gauge a child's readiness in the future.

We rarely consider retention here and it is always done in consult with the parents. (The receiving teacher has nothing to do with the decision as they don't know the child). If the parent pushes you, you could discuss some of the reasons that retention isn't a great idea.

[christsaves]

Does this child know his letter sounds and numbers? Is he ready to begin reading? If yes, than rention in k wouldn't have helped him. He would be board learning many of the same skills over again. While I agree that rention is not the saving grace for all students, there are times when it can be benificial for students. I have seen several students bloosm after a second year in first. If your student doesn't catch on by Christmas, you could always discuss whether another year in first would benifit the child.

[bells4me]

Is the child missing the info he would get in K? Or does he have that and is just lost in first? I had a child who would have benefited with another year in K but the parents refused. I did something I never thought I would do until then. I approached the parent with the offer of sending her child back to K right then. (late Oct. early Nov.) I had discussed this with the principal and the K teacher. We all decided if handled correctly it might work. The parent did agree, and it worked tremendously! The children in the K class accepted him completely-in fact he was looked on as "the smart one" by the children because he had been in first grade! That was a big ego boost that he needed. The 1st gr. didn't look down on him either. The parents were nervous. They were afraid their children would be next. I never have had parents who worked with their children like that group since!
By saying this, I don't mean to condone sending children back to the previous grade all the time. Retaining children often doesn't work. The kids spend a lot of 'dead' time. They already know the first semester, it was the 2nd that they had trouble with. Many times a tutor continued through the summer could do a lot better. But who can afford that? Retaining can work, if it is looked at carefully, upside down, inside out, backwards and frontwards. It's not for everyone, the best is to catch the child early and get help before it is such a major issue.
I know, easier said then done.

[museumuse]

We have specific criteria for retention:
1. Meeting grade level standards in reading & math
2. Attendance
3. Fluency level (grades 1-6)

If you can get the retention paperwork that was filled out by your student's former teacher, it will have all the information (including the parent's signature) that can help you. Data speaks. No need to defend the decision. You simply say..."Your child was identified as "At Risk" at the end of quarter one...but did not meet the criteria for retention by quarter 4 (you get the idea).