Hi,
My HG+ dd is due to start school next year. At this stage the plan is that she will start in kindergarten and then compact grades 1/2 together in the following year and then move in to grade 3 as an initial skip.
However I am wondering what to say to her about starting school. Her difference from her peers becomes more and more noticeable all the time. As a rough estimate (and I imagine with some gaps), she is able to work at around a mid - to end of grade 2 level - so nearly 3 grades ahead with 7 months to go before starting school (in Australia), and with very little instruction.
The school seems to understand the challenge and seem open to trying to do what they can. However, as I know you're all aware, school not going to be the relatively straight forward situation it might otherwise have been.
People are starting to ask her about school and if she is excited about it (she's not sure). I have basically avoided talking about it to date, other than general things I know she'll be excited about - the canteen, playground, uniforms, the nearby park etc. People make such a fuss about starting school (and rightly so I guess, it's such a right of passage) - but their focus is always on making friends and learning... I am now conscious of avoiding the topic altogether as I am torn between wanting to be positive and explaining to her that her experience may be different from the experience that is being presented to her by others.
She's been well aware of her difference before we ever raised it with her. We've only talked about the fact that she is a quick learner and that she thinks like a kid who is a bit older - but we haven't been beyond that. I feel comfortable with how we have approached the 'gifted' angle - but am interested in what to tell her about school to ensure she starts with a positive, but not unrealistic expectation. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
http://notestomygirl.com/http://mumofagiftedgirl.blogspot.com/
