Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Unique opportunity for DD in 4th grade next year

So we were presented a very unique opportunity this year. Our DD's school will be overcrowded for the 2011-2012 school year. There will be no room for computer lab or art. Grades preK - 4th grade attend this school. There are 4-5 sections of each. Classes will be FULL. However our district's middle school (Grades 5 - 8) has some room. The principal from both schools and the superintendent had an idea to send one section of 4th graders to the middle school to make room. So they asked for volunteers who may be interested in going. They didn't think they would get enough interest. But they DID!

DD will be at the middle school next year for 4th grade! The 4th grade curriculum will be the same, but they will have extra opportunities such as a higher grade level library, orchestra, after school clubs and drama. And the best thing about is there will only be 19 in the class. The other sections will have 25-26.

I'm so excited! Many parents did not like the idea at all, but I quietly kept my excitement to myself and needed to share here on the GT board.

Ohhh. That sounds promising!! Will the teachers be coming from the elementary school or will they be middle school teachers?

One teacher from the elementary school has been assigned to that class. The rest of the teachers (art, music, gym) will be the middle school teachers as well as the principal from the middle school.

And that's a funny story too (about the teacher). To begin with, I didn't know who this teacher was, but they announced her name during the "volunteer request stage". Apparently this is the best 4th grade teacher they have, so at first about 40 people jumped on the bandwagon because they wanted THIS teacher. So when the school found out that 40 people were interested they said they would then have ANOTHER teacher join and you wouldn't know who you were getting. A bunch of moms then dropped out because of it. We had a big meeting a few weeks back, and these moms made a HUGE scene about how they only signed up because they wanted that teacher, all while that particular teacher, the superintendent and both principals were there - good lord.

Sounds very exiting. I hope you get the 'very good teacher.' A very good teacher can make all the difference!

Too bad they weren't solisiting for parents willing to gradeskip the children entirely!

Wink
Grinity

We do get the "super" teacher LOL! There is only one class going.

I'm so glad too because since my daughter gets this teacher for 4th grade we are guaranteed entrance into Harvard! Ha ha! J/K

Lol! Very funny!

But that does sound like a great fun opportunity for your dd!

I know I posted this a long time ago - (and I'm very bad at participating on the forums) However, I have to say this has been the best school year ever! FINALLY, FINALLY FINALLY!

DD is so happy, loves learning and has shown incredible maturity.

We had conferences last week and it was really good. All teachers and GT coordinator met with us and have been receptive to DD's learning style. They had nothing but good things to say. It's so wonderful to finally have a school see in our DD what we see and others see.

Just had to share

Fantastic! I'm so happy for you and yor DD!

that is such a lovely and positive update - thanks for sharing