My twins are not in school yet but I when it comes time I would definately like to be able to make my own decision about my children. I think that parents do know their children best and might see the implications at home that the teachers don’t see. I understand that there are 2 sides to the arguement and I am doing as much research before the time comes as possible to make sure that I will be making the right decision whether to fight for them to be together or let them seperate.
As parents of twins, whether you agree or don’t agree, I would think that you would want to be able to make that decision so that you don’t potentially harm (emotionally) your children. Every child is different and every teacher is different. I don’t think that it’s about the teacher but about the well being of your child.
I’m actually suprised that more parents of twins aren’t active or aware of this law. Actually I was pretty angry. I understand that we are very busy not only as parents but at work as well but shouldn’t we be aware of the things that could affect our children. The school has a lot of control over what goes on in the classroom; shouldn’t we as parents have some control over our own children and where they are being placed? We can make requests for our single children; why can’t we make them for our twins?!?!
Comment by Tabitha — September 30, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
After reading the “resentment from parents of twins themselves” I have another comment. As I posted in the response to her. She’s not seeing the big picture. It’s not about what choice you have made! The bill is about BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE CHOICE. Each and everyone one of us IS making a choice, we all have an opinion. If they pass the law, those of us who disagree with the choice made will be upset. But just because you’re happy with the choice that they have made for your children now doesn’t mean that you should just be fine with them making the choice for you! What if they change their mind in a couple of years and decide to put all the twins in the same classroom?? You, as a parent, are fighting for the choice NOT for the decision. Does that make sense?
Comment by Tabitha — September 30, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
As the mother of boy-girl twins who are now in the 3rd grade in Georgia – I am very happy that we have a twin law that allowed us to participate in the decision about whether to keep the kids together or separate.
My kids have been in the same classroom since they were 2 y.o. and started Montessori school. When they changed to a Charter School for 1st grade, we all discussed it and decided that it made sense for them to remain as a team in the face of the change. Each spring since then we have had a dialogue with the family, each child individually and their teachers to see how everyone felt about staying together or separating for the following school year. As the teacher has the most knowledge about how the kids interact and perform in the classroom, we rely heavily on her input, but we believe it is equally important to determine how the children feel about being together or apart.
My two have distinctly different personalities and interests and tend to keep away from each other during the day – which is good since they play non-stop at home. This year when we made the separate or keep together decision, one of my main concerns, in addition to whether one was interfering with the educational development of the other, was whether they would be drawn to each other during their daily free time (lunch and recess) if they separated, because they couldn’t do the habitual site check during class time. We might find that out next year – since the plan right now is to separate for 4th grade.
I think it is different for all children and at all schools. Right now we have two 3rd grades at our school and they both have a set of stick-together twins – which seems to work for everyone. Given that all kids, especially multiples, are so unique, it is hard to imagine that there can be a one size fits all law that promotes the best learning environment for all multiples. After all – isn’t the best education the goal! To reach that goal, a law that allows choice is essential for all parents of multiples.
Comment by Nikole Davenport — September 30, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
I have fraternal twin boys who are in kindergarten. This past July the Twin Law came into effect in Florida. I decided to place them in the same classroom for kindergarten. They had been in the same classroom for pre-k, half day. They are currently attending a magnet school where in addition to their kindergarten teacher they change classes daily to attend performing or visual arts classes as well as activity classes. Their school is 7 hours a day versus 6 hours in regular elementary. So I figured that it would be an easier transition for them to be together this year (full day school, changing classes, daily homework). I had been told by their pre-k teacher and various teachers that they have had in camps that they are not at all disruptive together and alot of times do not even sit together or play together. Their kindergarten teacher has told me the same thing at our first conference. I do know that they do find comfort in knowing that the other is nearby. At the end of this school year I plan on talking with the boys and their teacher and possibly seperating them in 1st grade. We all are very happy though that we decided for them to be together this school year.
Comment by Anna Maria — September 30, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
These “Twin Laws” are simply about giving the choice to the parent of whether or not to place their MBC in the same classroom. One size does not fit all. The reason we pushed for legislation in Florida is to make sure parents did have a choice. Too many schools were not listening to the parents and implementing a separate all MBC policy regardless of parental input.
I think we can all agree choice is a good thing; whether you separate your kids or keep them together you made a conscience decision to do what is best for your own children. We are our children’s advocates.
If you are unsure about whether or not to place your MBC together check out http://www.twinsandmultiples.org and see their information on school placement. They even have a checklist on there you can use in conjunction with their teacher to compare and contrast what they see versus what you observe. You can also check out http://www.twinslaw.com for research that supports our legislative efforts and letters of support.
I have 6 year old fraternal twin girls. They are as close as anything and we decided to seperate them after two years of preschool and being together since birth. We have since learned that both of them have slowed down tremendously in their learning and being seperate in kindergarden and now first grade, they have both qualified for a state/federal funding for assistance in reading. They were born full term and at good weights so everything has been on track until seperating them for school. If they still struggle through first grade, we are going to put them in the same class for second grade and see what happens. We am extremely thankful that we have a school system that allows us to be involved. I don’t appreciate the comments when I tell people that they are in seperate classes and the automatic reaction is “good!” How do they know our girls??? our girls have a relationship that the rest of us can only dream of. Instead of trying to pull them down to our level maybe we should encourage it and stop being jealous. My girls have something so special that the rest of us can only imagine being lucky enough to experience, let alone live it. So, to all those twins out there… celebrate that relationship… you are so very loved beyond what the rest of us can only imagine.
Personally, I will probably seperate my twins when they go to school just so that one doesn’t over-shadow the other and stunt their learning. What I think everyone is forgetting is that when it comes to your child, singleton or multiple, no state, federal, or local form of government is going to decide what is best for my child. If I had only one child, I would still reserve the right to move my child from one class or teacher to another. I would even move them from school to school if that got them a better education.
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My twins are not in school yet but I when it comes time I would definately like to be able to make my own decision about my children. I think that parents do know their children best and might see the implications at home that the teachers don’t see. I understand that there are 2 sides to the arguement and I am doing as much research before the time comes as possible to make sure that I will be making the right decision whether to fight for them to be together or let them seperate.
As parents of twins, whether you agree or don’t agree, I would think that you would want to be able to make that decision so that you don’t potentially harm (emotionally) your children. Every child is different and every teacher is different. I don’t think that it’s about the teacher but about the well being of your child.
I’m actually suprised that more parents of twins aren’t active or aware of this law. Actually I was pretty angry. I understand that we are very busy not only as parents but at work as well but shouldn’t we be aware of the things that could affect our children. The school has a lot of control over what goes on in the classroom; shouldn’t we as parents have some control over our own children and where they are being placed? We can make requests for our single children; why can’t we make them for our twins?!?!
Comment by Tabitha — September 30, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
After reading the “resentment from parents of twins themselves” I have another comment. As I posted in the response to her. She’s not seeing the big picture. It’s not about what choice you have made! The bill is about BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE CHOICE. Each and everyone one of us IS making a choice, we all have an opinion. If they pass the law, those of us who disagree with the choice made will be upset. But just because you’re happy with the choice that they have made for your children now doesn’t mean that you should just be fine with them making the choice for you! What if they change their mind in a couple of years and decide to put all the twins in the same classroom?? You, as a parent, are fighting for the choice NOT for the decision. Does that make sense?
Comment by Tabitha — September 30, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
As the mother of boy-girl twins who are now in the 3rd grade in Georgia – I am very happy that we have a twin law that allowed us to participate in the decision about whether to keep the kids together or separate.
My kids have been in the same classroom since they were 2 y.o. and started Montessori school. When they changed to a Charter School for 1st grade, we all discussed it and decided that it made sense for them to remain as a team in the face of the change. Each spring since then we have had a dialogue with the family, each child individually and their teachers to see how everyone felt about staying together or separating for the following school year. As the teacher has the most knowledge about how the kids interact and perform in the classroom, we rely heavily on her input, but we believe it is equally important to determine how the children feel about being together or apart.
My two have distinctly different personalities and interests and tend to keep away from each other during the day – which is good since they play non-stop at home. This year when we made the separate or keep together decision, one of my main concerns, in addition to whether one was interfering with the educational development of the other, was whether they would be drawn to each other during their daily free time (lunch and recess) if they separated, because they couldn’t do the habitual site check during class time. We might find that out next year – since the plan right now is to separate for 4th grade.
I think it is different for all children and at all schools. Right now we have two 3rd grades at our school and they both have a set of stick-together twins – which seems to work for everyone. Given that all kids, especially multiples, are so unique, it is hard to imagine that there can be a one size fits all law that promotes the best learning environment for all multiples. After all – isn’t the best education the goal! To reach that goal, a law that allows choice is essential for all parents of multiples.
Comment by Nikole Davenport — September 30, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
I have fraternal twin boys who are in kindergarten. This past July the Twin Law came into effect in Florida. I decided to place them in the same classroom for kindergarten. They had been in the same classroom for pre-k, half day. They are currently attending a magnet school where in addition to their kindergarten teacher they change classes daily to attend performing or visual arts classes as well as activity classes. Their school is 7 hours a day versus 6 hours in regular elementary. So I figured that it would be an easier transition for them to be together this year (full day school, changing classes, daily homework). I had been told by their pre-k teacher and various teachers that they have had in camps that they are not at all disruptive together and alot of times do not even sit together or play together. Their kindergarten teacher has told me the same thing at our first conference. I do know that they do find comfort in knowing that the other is nearby. At the end of this school year I plan on talking with the boys and their teacher and possibly seperating them in 1st grade. We all are very happy though that we decided for them to be together this school year.
Comment by Anna Maria — September 30, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
These “Twin Laws” are simply about giving the choice to the parent of whether or not to place their MBC in the same classroom. One size does not fit all. The reason we pushed for legislation in Florida is to make sure parents did have a choice. Too many schools were not listening to the parents and implementing a separate all MBC policy regardless of parental input.
I think we can all agree choice is a good thing; whether you separate your kids or keep them together you made a conscience decision to do what is best for your own children. We are our children’s advocates.
If you are unsure about whether or not to place your MBC together check out http://www.twinsandmultiples.org and see their information on school placement. They even have a checklist on there you can use in conjunction with their teacher to compare and contrast what they see versus what you observe. You can also check out http://www.twinslaw.com for research that supports our legislative efforts and letters of support.
Comment by Carla — September 30, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
I have 6 year old fraternal twin girls. They are as close as anything and we decided to seperate them after two years of preschool and being together since birth. We have since learned that both of them have slowed down tremendously in their learning and being seperate in kindergarden and now first grade, they have both qualified for a state/federal funding for assistance in reading. They were born full term and at good weights so everything has been on track until seperating them for school. If they still struggle through first grade, we are going to put them in the same class for second grade and see what happens. We am extremely thankful that we have a school system that allows us to be involved. I don’t appreciate the comments when I tell people that they are in seperate classes and the automatic reaction is “good!” How do they know our girls??? our girls have a relationship that the rest of us can only dream of. Instead of trying to pull them down to our level maybe we should encourage it and stop being jealous. My girls have something so special that the rest of us can only imagine being lucky enough to experience, let alone live it. So, to all those twins out there… celebrate that relationship… you are so very loved beyond what the rest of us can only imagine.
Comment by Leah — October 1, 2008 @ 2:03 am
Personally, I will probably seperate my twins when they go to school just so that one doesn’t over-shadow the other and stunt their learning. What I think everyone is forgetting is that when it comes to your child, singleton or multiple, no state, federal, or local form of government is going to decide what is best for my child. If I had only one child, I would still reserve the right to move my child from one class or teacher to another. I would even move them from school to school if that got them a better education.
Comment by Elizabeth — October 11, 2008 @ 1:14 am