Pennsylvania Elementary School Bursting With Twins and Triplets

by Patty Bontekoe (Subscribe to Patty Bontekoe's posts) Sep 17th 2009 5:51AM

Categories: In The News, Education, Twins, Triplets, Multiples

One Pennsylvania kindergarten class has been overrun by multiples. Credit: Cindy Shegan Keeley, Daily News

Kindergarten teachers at South Allegheny Early Childhood Center in Pennsylvania had better be on their toes this year: Six sets of twins and two sets of triplets have been enrolled in the school's kindergarten classes.

The influx of multiples led the school to add another full-day kindergarten class, according to a report in The Daily News of McKeesport, Penn.

"At first, it was a little overwhelming," Amy Larcinese, elementary assistant principal told the paper. "These kids make an entire kindergarten class on their own with 18 of them. We had to add another full-day kindergarten class. It brings an interesting dynamic to the kindergarten."

Making it slightly easier on the teachers: None of the twins are identical, so there shouldn't be too many cases of, "Are-you-Johnny-or-James?" or scenarios in which the kids try to pull the old switcheroo on their teachers, pretending to be each other.

Parents were given the option of keeping their children in the same class or separating them. Some chose to keep their kids together while others decided separating the kids would help them become more independent.

How have you dealt with your multiples in school?

Source

Comments (21)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

x_Vickeh_x 9-17-2009 @ 7:19AM

That's awesome! :D

khrystena 9-17-2009 @ 11:18AM

I haven't dealt with it at school, but in my own social circle I have. just to invite the kids we hang out with outside of school takes up 9 kids and that is with 4 mom's (3 sets of twins and some triplets!)

Granted we have a large social circle but it is happening more and more!

Janyce 9-17-2009 @ 3:17PM

I have identical twin grandsons, now in second grade. The summer before kindergarten, the parents went back and forth numerous times as to whether keep them together or separate. After a summer of soccer where they did nothing but stand in the field talking and playing together, they finally decided to separate. It was hard for a week or two, but it was the very best thing they could have done. Academically, they challenge each other and they have blossomed socially, have separate friends and are still best buds.

Lynn 9-17-2009 @ 11:26AM

I have boy girl twins. we kept them in the same class...it seems to work well....when one forgets homework the other can always help out!

Double trouble 9-17-2009 @ 1:28PM

I am a identical twin and my twin has faternal twin girls. We took some of the same classes together, no big deal. It should be up to the parents what they decide is best for their own children, not the school or other parents.

Sarah 9-17-2009 @ 11:05PM

I'm in identical twin now in high school. My sister and I attended pre-school together, but starting in kindergarten, my mom decided to have us in separate classes. When we started middle school, we had p.e. together. Now in high school we have english class together which is the first academic class we have ever had together since kinder. When you're young you probably don't think about it as much, but now I find myself juxtaposing her responses with mine and her scores with mine.

SKL 9-17-2009 @ 10:22PM

My girls just started preschool and I have them together. This is mainly for their comfort in a new environment, and also because the younger of the two (3 mos age difference) is more outgoing and academically advanced, so keeping her behind would have been wrong.

I think ultimately one of them would do fine with or without her sister, but the other will benefit from having Sister in the class for at least year or two. Eventually it will be decided by what's best for each academically, and I would take their wishes into account too.

Josh 10-03-2009 @ 10:35PM

How are your kids 3 months apart?

Robin Johnson 9-18-2009 @ 6:32AM

Parents know the needs of their children. It should be the parents decision to keep twins together or not. My twin daughters were kept together until they asked for their own classes. They never understood the problem with them staying together. Now both are in different colleges and doing well apart, though they do talk to each other often.

Amy Wood 9-19-2009 @ 4:40PM

I think that they should leave that decision up to the parents. We have fraternal twins and are planning to put them in the same class for kindergarten. As for first grade and beyond, we will probably put them in different classes.

Connie A. 9-20-2009 @ 8:43AM

As a mother of faternal twin girls wo are now grown.( 24) I evaluated each childs needs when starting school. Preschool classes and kindergarten werwe together. Learning to do things and learn to do things independantly was important.
My girls for instance one learned to do and undo buttons the other learned to tie shoes, thus the other did not feel that they needed to learn what the other knew.
Depending on each other to function was cute but in reality they had to learn to do things for themselves.
I had the school separate them in 1st grade with the option to see and speak to each other during the day. ex: play time and lunch times together.
As they got older and into high school they chose to take some classes together and they scheduled it, as they also did in college.
In my case I saw my kids as two individuals who happened to be born 2 minutes apart. Sisters/ Siblings/ twins
They have a bond only other multiples can understand.

John 9-21-2009 @ 12:33AM

I work with the most identical twins ever. Exact duplicates. They look to be around 60 y/o. Only 1 wears a watch and the other carries the only purse. Identical hair, only one car, live together and they wear the same outfits everyday, but in different colors. It's almost freaky.

elisann 9-21-2009 @ 1:43AM

At my school there are 3 sets of third grade twin girls. I have half of each set in my class, while the other third grade teacher has the other half. For two of the sets, they have always been separated (it was the parents' decision) and for the third set it is the first time they were separated. For that set, the girls were the ones that encouraged their mother to go ahead with her idea to separate them. They told her that they would finally have different stories to tell their parents about their day in school. At our school it is a decision of the parents about separating twins and triplets. Some do and others don't. They go by what is best for their kids.

Teresa 9-21-2009 @ 2:18AM

Im a Twin... I LOVE It.... we are adults now but even as children being in school or class together was never a problem. We didnt have many together because she was more advanced academicly (she got the brains i got the social skills... we are Faturnal so no switching for tests eather) but when we did it wasnt a problem. she helped me understand things and i had someone to talk to. LOLz.. the only factore i think of where it would be an issure is the social factor, yes they will have sperate friends but also be soacal with themselfs which can be hard on teachers. However at that age i think its upto the patents and the school working togheter. the parents know what the child needs and the school knows how to acomidate that. Good Luck To The Kids... Being a twin is a great thing, i hope im luck enough to get the Twin thing from my sister and me to pass on and have twins myslef oneday

Torry 9-21-2009 @ 1:06PM

We have a single boy, then triplet boys, followed by a single girl. Every year we have mixed the triplets in different groupings in their classrooms. This is the first year they are all 3 in the same classroom. They are doing, and always have done, very well in any combination. We are very lucky in that the children have an incredible bond yet they are very much individuals with their own personalities. In my opinion, it very much depends on the personalities of the particular group of multiples, the parents encouragement of loving family but individual personas, and the skills of the teacher. It is very much a personal decision for any family and should not be swayed but public opinion.

bellabella7595 9-22-2009 @ 12:23PM

I have twin boys. when i registered them for kindergarten, the school said that they always separate twins so they can learn not to depend on each other. my boys are now freshman in HS and are enrolled in different high schools, by their choice. I have noticed that they don't argue as much anymore.

Janet Q 10-22-2009 @ 3:32PM

My Mother "requested" that my sister and I be separated when we started first grade. The teachers were shocked! This was 1956 and no one was doing that. She did that the first 3 years. After that we fell into the normal process. Some years we were together and some we were not. It worked quite well. I believe Mom was definitely ahead of time.

Shea 10-29-2009 @ 12:18AM

I have a set of identical twin girls. When I first enrolled them in school I wanted them to be together as they had always been. I had my mom and mother-in-law both telling me it was my choice but they would put them in seperate classes so they can learn to be apart. I decided to seperate them, but they have recess time when they are together and other times when they get to see each other. Looking back I am happy with my decision. Even though they are identical they have completely different personalities. They are a mirror image when it comes to which foot they walk with first, which hand they write with, and even as much as which side of their head each one has a calic on. When it comes to personality they are almost exact opposites. One likes pink, one likes blue, one likes baby dolls while the other likes hot wheels, one is into dora while the other likes bratz. When they first started school the teachers could not tell them apart forget friends doing so. I remember one day at school when I went to pick them up and the teachers told me that several of the girls classmates were upset because one would not line up to go inside she was to busy playing, turns out she was in line and who they saw playing still was her twin. They use to depend on each other in more ways then one, one more then the other but still depended on the fact of the other being there. Now after two years and starting the third they have blossomed apart from each other and are more willing to say what they like instead of going along with the other. One is better in learning her numbers while the other is better with her letters. I took them to buy school shoes this year seperate and one picked blue and one picked pink of the same exact shoe. Same taste but liked different colors. I think we as parents forget that our twins or other multiples are different individuals and should be allowed to be. Yeah they were born together and have been raised together but they are different. They are siblings just as if you had had two pregnancies to have them, but they are also more bonded then most siblings are. That is my opinion from experience anyway. Plus I have two other children that helps me to see the difference. I dunno about other peoples twins but mine still have what I call twin talk. They fight with each other, but noone else had better fight with one of them or they get to deal with two of them. LOL I also dunno if any other parents have had the issue of taking one to the doctor who has the fever and symtoms such as tugging at an ear to find nothing wrong, but yet you take the other twin in and they have no symtoms or signs and sure enough they are sick. Happens to us all of the time. I have just gotten to when I go I take both. Easier that way. LOL

Veeski 10-29-2009 @ 1:30PM

The teacher in PA has earned her money.

TripletMomPlus1 11-04-2009 @ 3:01PM

I have triplet boys and a single boy one year younger. This year was the start of kindergarten for the triplets and we debated and debated and debated some more over putting them together or separate. We finally decided to seperate them since the younger two tend to be very close and we were afraid that would be an issue in class. After school started we found out they are actually together for math and reading as well as lunch and recess. They have all three really enjoyed school and love being a part, but together as well!! The hardest adjustment has been the younger one who wants to go to kindergarten NOW!!! I agree that it depends on the group of multiples and you have to do what works for you.

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