Summer School for Smart Kids

[grinningghost]

Here's my question:

When you hear a kid say they're going to summer school, do you immediately assume they failed a class/classes?

I always did.

This year, DD is taking a class in summer school because her schedule is too full in the fall and she needs this class to complete her sophomore year. She gets good grades and is a great student.

But everytime someone hears she's in summer school, they get a sympathetic look on their face like, "sorry she didn't do well in school this year".

Ever heard of summer school for overachievers?

 

[powellrj]

our schools use to offer it, but they don't anymore and my kids really miss it. We would get the same looks too or people would puff their chests up and say "my kids never needed summer school" Well my kids don't NEED it, but they loved going because they could take extra classes to get extra credit or fun classes for no credit. Both of my boys took no credit summer school classes all through grade school and I am sorry that my DD doesn't get to take them now. They would offer French for Fun, Science, Math, Dance even camping.

 

[Mskanga]

I usually do because unfortunately that is the reason more often than not.
But this year I have actually been asked from parents whose kids are going to summer school, how comes my kids are not in summer school? They were told that they needed to get ready for the following year, not that they need to catch up on something. When I tell them that my kids don't need summer school because their grades have been good all year , they tend to get a bit offended. I tell them that kids have many different difficulties , it doesn't mean they are dumb and I'm just glad they are getting help.
But our summer school is not for over achievers , if you want that you must pay a private tutor and do it in your own home, the school will not provide that even if you pay.

 

[lisajl]

Where we lived in Michigan offered summer classes for anyone.
My DD took a math class, even though she did not "need" it.
She helped the other kids that were behind in math.
It made her feel good about herself, and helped her do well in math from then on.

Here in Ohio, unfortunately, they only offer it to the kids that fail classes. I think it would be good to continue with classes through the summer. Not all summer, but at least 4 weeks.
It would help kids retain the info.

Lisajl

 

[BrerMom]

With finances the way they are, more and more districts can't afford to offer summer school to even those that need it.

Here, if it is offered, summer school is for those who need extra help to stay caught up. Summer "camp" is for enrichment, i.e., math camp, science camp, drama camp, etc. It's the same as summer school, runs for one, two, or three weeks depending on the camp, and the parents pay for it.

 

[KimRaye]

My DS has been in summer school for the past 3 years. Not because he failed anything, but to catch up or keep up at the level he needed to be at. This summer however, he's taking driver's ed, which IS required. He just wanted to take it now rather than waste a course period during the regular school year. He loves his broadcasting course, so in order to keep doing that, he needed to move driver's ed to summer.

 

[Julia M]

I have the same problem. I send my older son to tutoring each summer for 4 or 5 weeks. He's going into 7th grade and has been on the honor roll since 4th grade (the first year grades are given out). I choose tutoring because we don't want to commit to 3 or 4 hours a day, and because the summer program at the high school runs about $1200!!!

I don't send him because he's behind, but just to review key math, reading and writing skills. This year he goes into pre algebra, and the teacher is reviewing the first few chapterw with him.

Next summer I'll do it again, as he'll be taking algebra, and then testing to go to geometry when he starts high school.

Julia

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by BrerMom
With finances the way they are, more and more districts can't afford to offer summer school to even those that need it.

.

Here they dropped the summer school program for grade school kids....the only ones that get it are special ed kids. If you have failing grades in... say...2nd grade..you used to be able to go to summer school and go to thrid grade in Sept...now they just leave them back.

 

[my3kids]

It is quite common here for rising hs freshmen and sophomores to take the required PE/Health during the summer to open up a space in the 9th and 10th grade schedules for another class. We already have a 7 period day, so by getting the phys ed and health out of the way, the kids will have 8 credits for each of the first 2 years. It is actually more like day camp than summer school. They go to the pool, skating, bowling, hiking and sometimes canoing.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

My son is in an online summer program and we get the same looks when we mention it. My son is an A student with awesome FCAT scores and was chosen for this program because of that but everyone assumes he is doing it because something is wrong. I get the puzzled look though because they know my munchkin is up there in school. I find myself having to explain constantly.

 

[grinningghost]

Glad to know she's not the only one. I think she's getting tired of explaining herself. I've given up. I just let it go.