Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Middle school - how bad is it really?

I agree that is has been mixed.

Background - My daughter attended a great elementary school in another city that catered to whatever level the student needed. Then, we moved to a small town that is weak on academics in the middle of her fifth grade year.

This is a low-performing district. She had a wonderful sixth grade teacher (still elementary) and was able to take an advanced math course.)

She just finished seventh grade this year. She was able to take and advanced math course and the students were ability grouped for a reading class. The shining star was band and choir where she is in her happy place. She was in the science fair club with many of the same students in band - and loved it.

She loves the classes where she is matched by peers, but hates the English and Social Studies classes where everyone is in the same class.

All in all, she loved this year. Some students make fun of her, but she has her group. However, she has learned more about sex and drugs than I did in college.

I'm sure that this was informal learning from peers you are referring to , but it did remind me to tell you to take a close look at the sex ed/human development curriculum if they have one. We are pretty liberal and not religious, but I opted dd11 out of most of the three week sex ed class the district does for all 7th graders here. They covered anal sex and why it wasn't a way to avoid STDs as well as showing pictures of human genitalia with STDs -- more than my 11 y/o needed. I did let her watch the video of the birth, but I opted her out of the abstinence segment b/c it was being taught by a religious organization with a reputation for poor information on birth control & I didn't want her being scared into thinking that using birth control was ineffectual or bound to cause her permanent damage. This was all in a co-ed class too!