OT: Skipping a grade

[Mickeypooh99]

Thanks so much! The kids are 15 months apart-on purpose So, I'm sorry I must have missed it somewhere, but did your 8 year old skip or start early?
Edit: OK, so sorry, I went back and found your post. I'm glad your son is doing well. I keep flipping back and forth on what to do. Did your school district offer anything, or do you have limited resources because of the size of school?

This is just one more bump in the road of parenting. Somehow they keep getting bigger instead of smaller

Our school district has limited resources. There is no gifted program. It is small, but I love it. I grew up and went to school here. My boys have had great teachers. They are really supportive. My kids are 12 months and 2 weeks apart. Not on purpose. It was harder on my youngest child who wanted to skip since big brother did. Well lets just say thats not going to happen.

I stressed about this decision for months, and in the end I'm very happy we skipped him.

 

[smkiya]

My daughter misses the Oct 1st cutoff for Kindergarten by 12 days. I've been going back and forth over the last year about whether to let her spend another year in preschool, or send her to a private kindergarten this year. She is socially mature, tall (I'm 5'6", DH 6'2"), and very smart. It just doesn't seem right to let her spend another year in preschool. Someone mentioned to send her to the private kindergarten and if at the end you feel she needs more time, then send her to kindergarten in the public school when she was supposed to go in the first place.

 

[daisyduck123]

I am a little sad about "loosing" one year of his childhood.

Don't worry...you're not "loosing" one year of his childhood at all. It's "losing".

Sorry, ...soooo many people don't know how to spell that, it drives me crazy.

 

[texaslady22]

I skipped a couple grades and I'm glad I did. Really, your daughter is in school to learn, not to socialize (as I've heard said a thousand times in school hallways). What's best for her learning?

I graduated from high school at 16, had my Bachelors degree by 20, Master's by 21, and am now 23 working on my PhD.

I'm also married with a mortgage and a 2 year old, so I guess I do everything early

 

[mickeyplanner08]

I skipped a couple grades and I'm glad I did. Really, your daughter is in school to learn, not to socialize (as I've heard said a thousand times in school hallways). What's best for her learning?

I graduated from high school at 16, had my Bachelors degree by 20, Master's by 21, and am now 23 working on my PhD.

I'm also married with a mortgage and a 2 year old, so I guess I do everything early

WOW! You are an over-achiever, for sure Just cuz now I'm so curious, what are your degrees in? I would love to know more, but I'm just nosy that way

I also agree that there are way to many things that go on in school hallways that have nothing to do with education-at least not the kind of education I'm looking for!

P.S. At what point in this accelerated education did you meet your husband, and what is the age difference? I just had to ask because I have this irrational fear of my 14 year old meeting some much "older man" when she gets to high school.

P.P.S. Are you really going to Disney tomorrow? What are you doing still reading my posts? Don't you need to go pack?!?!

 

[kathyfranklin]

To answer your question...imo, yes, you are wise to be thinking now about high school and beyond.

Here are some resources I have found to be very helpful.

This website is extensive, so don't be intimidated by it all.
But, it is so comprehensive - can get you pointed in the right direction.
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/

And this listserv is wonderful.
Parents here are extremely positive and helpful.

TAGFAMily of lists... TAGFAM - families of gifted and talented children. To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe tagfam firstname lastname" in the body to listserv@listserv.icors.org
TAGMAX - home educating gifted and talented children. To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe tagmax firstname lastname" in the body to listserv@listserv.icors.org
TAGPDQ - families of g/t discussing radical accommodations, for those "more than just gifted" kids. To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe tagpdq firstname lastname" in the body to listserv@listserv.icors.org

 

[tzolkin]

My DD "skipped" a grade (really did more than one in a year). We thought it was best for her and it worked out to be a very gradual transition. I was worried about the social aspect of it, but it has turned out well. She's in 5th grade now and I really don't anticipate any issues as she gets older (other than the regular issues with a teenager regardless of skipping a grade ).

At her school they start switching classes for math and reading in 1st grade (3 teachers for each grade, so they have low/med/high math and reading groups). After the first few weeks of school, my DD started going to the 2nd grade class for about 2 hours of the day. It wasn't too noticable to her 1st grade class because everyone switched classes anyway, and it was nice because she got to know the kids in the 2nd grade class. She did this until January and then moved into the 2nd grade class full time after the winter break. Her school also offers looping classes (where the class stays with the same teacher for two years), so we opted to have her in that class for 3rd/4th so she would have some stability and a teacher who could get to know her better and watch her academic and social growth.

My DD is very social/outgoing and enjoys school. She's also really not much younger than some of her class. The cutoff her is Dec 1st (her b-day is mid-January) She does have a friend or two who are Nov kids, so there's only a two month difference. There are also kids who were turning 6 in K, so they're about 1yr4mos older.

I had two friends in high school that were 2 years younger, but there really wasn't an issue with it. The only thing I can even think of that was different was that they couldn't drive, but there are plenty of teens whose parents don't allow them to get their license and a car the day they turn 16.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

To answer your question...imo, yes, you are wise to be thinking now about high school and beyond.

Here are some resources I have found to be very helpful.

This website is extensive, so don't be intimidated by it all.
But, it is so comprehensive - can get you pointed in the right direction.
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/

And this listserv is wonderful.
Parents here are extremely positive and helpful.

TAGFAMily of lists... TAGFAM - families of gifted and talented children. To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe tagfam firstname lastname" in the body to listserv@listserv.icors.org
TAGMAX - home educating gifted and talented children. To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe tagmax firstname lastname" in the body to listserv@listserv.icors.org
TAGPDQ - families of g/t discussing radical accommodations, for those "more than just gifted" kids. To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe tagpdq firstname lastname" in the body to listserv@listserv.icors.org

OK, wow! I'm pretty sure it helps. I have plenty to keep me going now for quite a while. Wow, wow, wow-that site has a ton on it! Thanks

 

[mickeyplanner08]

My DD "skipped" a grade (really did more than one in a year). We thought it was best for her and it worked out to be a very gradual transition. I was worried about the social aspect of it, but it has turned out well. She's in 5th grade now and I really don't anticipate any issues as she gets older (other than the regular issues with a teenager regardless of skipping a grade ).

I had two friends in high school that were 2 years younger, but there really wasn't an issue with it. The only thing I can even think of that was different was that they couldn't drive, but there are plenty of teens whose parents don't allow them to get their license and a car the day they turn 16.

Thanks for another success story. The more I read, the more I'm leaning that direction.

 

[Kallista]

Someone mentioned to send her to the private kindergarten and if at the end you feel she needs more time, then send her to kindergarten in the public school when she was supposed to go in the first place.

We more or less skipped kindergarten by starting Montessori school. Our school district has no gifted/talented program until 4th grade.

My oldest son has a birthday that is six weeks after the cut-off for our school district. He was through our preschool's curriculum by the summer that he was 4, and we had two years to go before he could start public school kindergarten. We were concerned about skipping him completely because he is young for his age, socially. (Not bratty, just shy and a little immature.)

Last year, we found a Montessori school and put him in "primary grade" there. Primary classes are students who are 2.5 years of age to the end of kindergarten. Montessori curriculum is pretty broad and includes more math, science and "living skills" than an ordinary preschool or kindergarten curriculum. He was allowed to go at his own pace.

This year, he started as a first year student in the lower elementary classroom. It's a mixed classroom with 1-3 grade students. He is working on 3rd grade math, reading and spelling, but is working on first grade science, social studies, and grammer/mechanics.

 

[shelly3girls]

I was about to respond that I would not allow my DD to skip. Having a DD in 4th grade and seeing the social issues, you can definitely tell the kids who are young or do not belong in the grade. Yes, I send my DD to school for academics but to also learn social skills and how to function in society. It is important that kids are with their peers. That said, once I noticed your DD fits into the higher grade age wise then I don't see a problem with it. I would probably let my DD have major input into the decision. It is her life and ultimately I care most that my kids are happy.

Given that your DD is in a private school I personally believe that the school should meet your DD's needs without skipping. Isn't that why you pay tuition, for them to meet her needs? Even though your DD is advanced in math and reading there are other skills to be developed. We are moving our DD to private school next year and they have commited to us to meet her needs.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

I was about to respond that I would not allow my DD to skip. Having a DD in 4th grade and seeing the social issues, you can definitely tell the kids who are young or do not belong in the grade. Yes, I send my DD to school for academics but to also learn social skills and how to function in society. It is important that kids are with their peers. That said, once I noticed your DD fits into the higher grade age wise then I don't see a problem with it. I would probably let my DD have major input into the decision. It is her life and ultimately I care most that my kids are happy.

Given that your DD is in a private school I personally believe that the school should meet your DD's needs without skipping. Isn't that why you pay tuition, for them to meet her needs? Even though your DD is advanced in math and reading there are other skills to be developed. We are moving our DD to private school next year and they have commited to us to meet her needs.

DD really thinks that she "can handle it, mom." Well, I think we're going to find out. I did ask for some more testing to be done at school before we plunge in head first, but both of her teachers think she will do fine. Her afternoon teacher is also one of the "resource room" teachers, so she is going to administer some more tests and let us know what they show. I've been doing a lot of reading, and there is a decent amount of data to show that kids who are skipped do fine growing up and emotionally have very similar "happiness" scores as their peers.

I think we will take the money that we don't pay in tuition for that extra year and save it for therapy when she is older.....we'll probably ruin her life no matter which decision we make anyway