Chris was so quiet and timid keeping them together in Pre-K, and K was a
good thing for them. By the end of K the teacher (who I thought was
wonderful), said their is a lot of competition going on and I think maybe
separating them for the next year is a good idea. We did. The school put
them in classrooms side by side so their schedule was the same for lunch and
recess and they felt at least close. It was a tough call as Chris still was
very clingy and I had to walk him to class daily and watch him cry as I said
goodbye. But by the end of the year he was a different kid. Totally
confident, they had their own stories to tell so they felt much more
powerful and unique. Second grade we moved and the school put them in the
same class. I wasn't sure how it would work but then again, the teacher
made all the difference. She put them in separate work groups, kept them
working on separate projects and it seemed to work out. Now that they are
going into 3rd the competition is rampant BUT we love only one 3rd grade
teacher and they are both in her class. From my point of view as a parent
it is so much easier - same homework, they actually do remind each other of
short cuts to problems that they learned that the other might have
forgotten - and it works. I can be a room mom for one grade and conferences
are easy. I don't know what the year will end up like, we might separate
them next year but we shall see. They only have one more year (4th grade)
before they go to Jr. High (our middle schools start at 5th grade here
5-8), Then it's only a homeroom and they change classes just like in high
schools. So for the moment keeping them together might not be a bad thing.

Shirley
Chris and Kathleen 1/95

"Twins409" wrote in message
...
I think you made the right decision, too. I have 6 year-old twin boys.
They
were together for Pre-K and Kindergarten, and I was thinking that I wanted
to
separate them for first grade. I wanted to do so mainly because their
Kindergarten teacher was constantly somparing them ("Did you know that one
reads better than the other?" etc.) It drove me crazy because I see them
as
completely different people, and I hate it when people compare them like
that.
I was thinking then that I would separate them, but everyone (teachers,
people
at church who work at their school, etc.) recommended that I keep them
together. There also is one really good first grade teacher, and I did
not
want one to get her and the otehr to not get her, so I jept them in the
same
class this year for first grade. So far, so good.

My point is that I think it is a good idea to take it on a year by year
basis.
Each circumstance is different. I am sure some twins work better
together and
others work better apart. I love it that you are taking it one step at a
time.
Way to go!

Tina
Mommy of Kyle and Joey - 4/9/97
Mommy of Kyle and Joey - 4/9/97