My 4 Yr Old Twin Girls-not progressing academically the same

As a mom of multiple kids, one who is clearly gifted and one who is learning disabled, I can tell you there is a whole range in any class. Diff. levels don't mean they need to be in a diff. class as long as they both fall into the approp. range for their age. Your child is 4, you don't know her future whatsoever. Please stop losing sleep over whether or not she will one day be behind. She is not behind right now just b/c she's not picking it up quickly and there's a lot more to school than just reading skills. Give her time and give her extra help but at this point you don't need to be worried. Just keep your eyes open.

Btw your school is a full yr ahead of my kids' school in terms of what's expected with aleph beis/kriah. Not all school push start reading skills so early b/c reading is really a developmental milestone that can't be pushed.

Diamond Member Joined: Jun 24 2008 Posts: 3319

I wouldn't recommend holding back the advanced twin to keep them together.
A big part of school is learning how to focus and exercise the brain. When a smart child isn't challenged, she can spend a lot of time imagining just because she's bored, build up the part of her brain she uses for creativity, but not build up the part she uses to focus and concentrate. Then when school becomes really challenging in later grades, she may lack the skills to concentrate. (This is one theory about why many children who are smart and catch on quickly in earlier grades develop ADD in later grades.)
If the less advanced twin is at least within an acceptable level for her class (ASK THE TEACHER!) then I would sooner try private tutoring for her than hold them both back.

I dont have experience with twins but I know the feeling of worrying about a childs progress, so I really sympathize.
As a kindergarten teacher I would say definately discuss her progress with the teacher. If she can get more help and attention THIS year it will help her to be able to move on next year.
Also as you mentioned, you have the skills to help her at home...it is really hard to make time, but try and find pockets of time to do focused activities with her.

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 20 2007 Posts: 4464

That's such a difficult situation that their school only has one class per grade.

I have triplets, they're 2 boys and a girl and they're turning 6. In my case the two boys haven't been in the same school together for most of the time because one of them was transferred to a special ed program halfway through his first year of headstart. So having the two boys in the same class wasn't really even a possibility for me.

If you are in the position of being able to pay a tutor that may be the way to go especially if you can have someone in the spring and the summer, otherwise maybe you are better off having them in different grades. B'hatzlacha.

op here,
Well, wouldnt you know it.. The principal called me today to talk about the girls academic issues and she's meeting with us next week. I knew that this was going to happen one of these days. Oh well! Now I have to wait to see what she wants us to do. Most likely they will have to repeat kindergarten-I guess its not the worst thing that could happen!

Thanks for all the advice you guys gave!