I was moved ahead as much as a year and a half at times, and they decided that the half year was too much. I was fine a year ahead, but then for other reasons the prep school wanted me held back instead of letting me go to high school, but my mother overrode them.

However, when I moved to England they pulled me back to my proper year because I just had no experience with their curriculum. Fair enough.

The chick in the Verizon iPad ad is really pretty and I want her earrings.

I know some of us have shared concerns here before about having young kindergartners (and so on). I haven't read this entire article but it seems to offer some reassurance. [link]

This is very interesting. Ryan was born right on Victoria's cutoff date, which would make him the oldest in his class when he starts school. Now I'm wondering what to do. (I skipped kindergarten myself, so I was in the opposite situation.)

Personally, I think it is totally child dependent. My brother's birthday was 2 days before the cut off. My mom, an elementary teacher, held him back and it was the right thing for him. Until he turned 18 days before his senior year and that year was hard for him.

I know that post-Malcolm Gladwell's book, there was a lot of conversation about holding kids back and I think it was sort of a thing in certain circles, as mentioned in the NY Times article.

Ellie has a June birthday. I think going to school was clearly right for her, but I do notice at thebeginning of each year that she seems a bit younger than much of her class.

Some of the arguments are total redherrings. Anecdotally, many of the kids who are being redshirted are NOT the lower income kids, but instead are kids who are already in preschool of some sort.

Moreover, acceleration is a powerful force because that intervention is an overt action of belief of a kid's competency plus it usually comes with the advice that a kid will have to work harder wherever they are.

If N&G were on the cusp, I'd keep them out of Kinder an additional year and instead keep them in a PreK. By the end of kinder, the expectations, at least in California, is that a kid can write a full sentence on their own, which is a difficult achievement. By the end of !st, they should write a paragraph of at least 3 sentences that are interconnected.

Also something to consider. Even if the kid is academically ready are they emotionally mature enough? Coping with other kids when you are the youngest kid the room can be hell. I speak from personal first hand experience but as ita shows it does not apply to everyone. So just like with academic achievement depends on kid, but you do need to think about whether your kid, as youngest in the room, but not so young they are not seen as fair game, will be a bully magnet.

Perkins, I don't know what this will end up looking like, but thanks for being willing to organize the TJs givers/receivers.

I don't either, but I will come up with something!

Mostly right now I am thinking of sneak TJ packages--you won't know when or what, but if you want something, you will get it!

I just got a bad review on Amazon and am taking it personally.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.

I just got a bad review on Amazon and am taking it personally.

STOP THAT. Thing One: your book is awesome. Thing Two: NEVER READ THE REVIEWS OF YOUR WORK ON AMAZON. That's like looking at the Amazon sales ranking. Express ticket to depressed crazytown.

Every book in the world gets a bad review from someone. Taking it personally is a good way to make yourself insane. STEP AWAY.

I just got a bad review on Amazon and am taking it personally.

Heh, I got a bad review in the press that called my Tom Waits book the absolute worst in the entire 33 1/3 series.

My publisher wanted to put that review on the back of the second edition.