Hi! I posted a few times a while back but lately I've been visiting/lurking a lot. Between DD4 (5 in a few months) getting ready to start school in the fall (we're looking at schools now) and ever-advancing in her reading (AR lists many of her favorites as fifth and sixth grade), it's been helpful to explore here and the many great resources people share.
We're probably homeschooling with some help from a charter/one or more days there. I often wonder about DD's needs/abilities. She's a great kid, pretty intense but a delight. She loves everything magical and lives in the huge story of make believe friends she's been developing for a year or so... But I'm trying to include some math/science explorations in a fun way too and she seems into it (I'm an English teacher--despite my phone-based writing here!--so I'm trying to bone up on those for next year). I tend to think DD is moderately gifted like DH and I probably are, but she has been so precocious--learned some letters by a year, all before two, read some words when one, read fluently when three, had uncountable words she was saying and signing soon after one (maybe 100 right at one), did puzzles and shape sorter etc, yada yada yada--I don't tend to think much of it but I worry we expect too much of her because she acts so old but of course still has her moments-- that intensity. We just think of her as our kid, but then it can be tricky/surprising when at our little community story times etc... And boy she can be perfectionistic, a bit bossy, but then also super easygoing... She likes to play on her own and with adults mostly, and read. Read about fairies! Websites people posted here helped me find more engaging books (more developed) that were still good for her interests (not school foibles, which is so much of the books at her level!). I would love to have her tested to guide our schooling but I'm not sure I want to bother, plus the cost. For now I'm just trying to become a lay expert on the potential emotional support she might need, and making kindergarten hands on and fun for her. I've been reaching out looking for more older kids to meet with at the park, and have had some success... That's also why we're looking at charter days. I tend to be into delayed academics, just lots of books and hands on experiences, but DD has thrown all that for a loop. She's asking for help with her writing so she can write her own stories more easily, and for learning about countries and Italian... I struggle to balance it all with the fact that she's not yet five. We run wild some days outside and do lots of art
also I've got a pretty awesome but demanding 15-month boy
Anyway I just wanted to introduce myself again before I started posting. Thank you all for sharing here! It's wonderful for learning and just feeling normal.
