Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Got what I think I wanted?

I actually think you have good reason to be concerned. My son was very similar sounding to yours. He did like his K teacher and that year went ok, despite not learning anything academic. First grade did not work and we started homeschooling him.
He did make a few friends at his neighborhood school who he continues to see. So, it wasn't a complete loss, but he did also acquire a dislike of all things "school".
We thought we were sending him to school for the social aspects and to learn to "do school", follow instructions in a group, wait in line, participate etc.

There are many ways of learning those skills that are more effective than being at school, in my opinion. I didn't see any other way except sending him to school until I was forced to try the alternative. You may end up enjoying homeschooling him, he sounds delightful!

I agree that the teacher sounds like an unusually good one, but I think that's irrelevant to the question of whether you should place your kid there. The key question is, would your kid (and your family in general, including you, you matter too) be better off with him in this classroom than with homeschooling? You shouldn't feel like you should take the spot just because the teacher is so much better than you could have asked for, if it's still not going to meet your kid's needs.

My HG DS attended K and 1 in a very poor school with many children who were not well prepared for school. In a way, this allowed his teachers to see him clearly for who he was. There were no helicopter special-snowflake parents jockeying for status and no one minded that he was given special work, excused from other work, and subject accelerated. I think the different environment allowed him to be seen simply as a child with different learning requirements. He was also so educationally different from most of his peers that pretending he was the same seemed silly. You might encounter this here and this teacher might be just practical about it, as his teachers were. Of course, there is no guarantee, but it can happen. I know of other parents who have had good experiences with gifted kids in low-SES schools.

I think in this case, where you have such an advanced kid, all that really matters is a teacher willing to let you do what you need to do. No matter how great the classroom, supplies etc. it won't matter much since the teaching will be aimed at the masses. And we all know K material will never be enough for our kiddos, no matter the school. What I would do is take her up on her comment and ask to bring in your own supplies. I did this with my son for 3 years until we got into a situation where the school was able to take over. Math books, writing/grammar/spelling materials, books etc. If she is willing to allow this I think you are doing well.

There are many other great aspects to early schooling other that just academic. YOU can make sure he has challenging materials to work with. School, at this point, will teach him other things. Social skills, independence,and just learning basic life skills.

We did some of this as well.

The problem is, many young kids are not motivated or independent enough to do their own work without assistance. DS was, but his teachers noted that he was an exception even for gifted kids.