Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School Subject acceleration advice needed...

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd reach out to you guys who have already been through this. My son is in public school Kindergarten and his teacher is very helpful and supportive so far. She gives him extra work but it is still too easy and just doesn't have time to work with him one on one. There are no gifted services until 3rd-4th grade in our school system.

I suggested subject acceleration - first for math (maybe 2nd grade to start) and then language arts if he is comfortable with accelerated math. She seems to like the idea if we can work it out schedule wise.

Questions:
1. Any advice for us with regard to communication with his teacher, principal, AG teacher?
2. He is on the emotionally and socially immature side. However his teacher seems to think he is very mature (can't believe we're talking about the same kid) and won't have any problems holding is own and fitting into an older classroom. I have my doubts ... any advice in this area?
3. Advice regarding timing? Is mid semester okay?

Thanks in advance!!

Hi surfbaby -

Have you spoken with the GT coordinator/teacher in your district? Even though programs may not officially start until 3rd grade, the GT person might be a great resource for you. In our district, services didn't start until 3rd, but our GT coordinator ended up teaching my DS accelerated math when he was in kindergarten. Although you might not get that kind of service, I'm sure the GT person might have some good advice, including suggesting a particular teacher who might work out best for the acceleration. The principal would probably have great advice on picking a teacher as well. For us, including the principal from the beginning has always been helpful.

2. If the teacher thinks your DS would be fine, I'd tend to trust her. My DS is a completely different kid at school.

3. I'd say the earlier the better re: timing. Maybe he can jump in at the start of the next unit.

I'd also suggest giving end-of-unit tests or even end of grade tests to make sure you're getting the right fit.

Good luck!

Would he be going to a different class for math? Do you know who the receiving teacher would be? Do they seem open to working with your dc? Honestly if the k teacher is cool with it and the 2nd grade teacher is open to trying it, I think you are home free and should hopefully not need much interaction with the principal. I doubt the teacher would be suggesting this if they weren't pretty certain it was going to be okay.

DD did the "big math skip" in k. Content wise it went fine. The K teacher did all the leg work to make it happen, which was awesome. However, the 2/3 teacher seemed less than pleased with the situation - she retired at the end of the year so maybe it wasn't really about dd. DD did not have access to a desk, chair, or her own supplies in the older math class for several months but somehow she persevered. The school only had one class for k/1 and one for 2/3 so its not like there was a better choice of teacher in our case at that time.

DD's was able to keep her math acceleration when she changed schools. (Okay, really the first year in the new school she didn't really do math except once a week while the new school figured out what to do.) The kids in her math class are used to her being younger and help her stay organized, walk her to class, deliver her homework at the end of the day -- really I don't think she needs to be cosseted so much but the school is pleased that the older students have this opportunity for mentoring so if that makes it work for them, fine whatever works. Reactions from the parents have been more mixed. The parents in the older class have been fine to us because dd so clearly belongs there. Her age mate parents I think are relieved that dd is not in regular math anymore because she would intimate and/or outshine their kids. The kids and parents in the grade in between have been more problematic but it tends to be less obvious after the beginning of the year.

DD recently skipped in math again as part of a group ready to move onto middle school math. So far so good. There have been issues surrounding getting all the homework done when it is "boring", timed tests, and knowing how to fill out a scan tron form.

I know things around the holidays can alter school schedules. Perhaps right after Thanksgiving would be a good time. Otherwise if its going to be another week or two to get everything organized, you could start immediately after the Christmas/New Years break. This might be a nice option if you are concerned at all about other parents talking about your child's math skip. Either way, the more consistent the math class can be the better.

Two things my dd always wants to know about her math class:
-where will she sit? (does she have her own place)
-what will happen if either her age or math class has a substitute, field trip, or change in schedule? These kinds of changes seem to necessitate dd advocating for herself with strangers.

I hope my ramble is sort of helpful.

Thanks so much for this feedback!

st pauli girl ... I haven't spoke with the GT specialist at our school. She is brand new and according to DS's teacher, she couldn't do anything but supply advanced materials. She could be wrong but I didn't want to go over her head for various reasons. But I'll keep this in mind if the momentum stalls. Thanks for your advice on timing and EOG tests!!

Chrys ... Yes, different class. No his teacher hasn't even taken the step of contacting teachers at this point or she may be in the next few days. But you are absolutely right about the receiving teacher needing to be on board!! Good point. And how do other parents find out? I would think it wouldn't be publicized etc. Or maybe bc you were at such a small school. Ours has about 4-5 classes per grade. Thanks for you timing suggestions too, this is helpful. And good idea to find out the details on seating and possible disruptions to the normal routine. I have no idea yet but I will find out.

I'm not even sure this will happen, it's in the baby stages. But thanks for helping me think of questions before it goes too far!

DS6 is subject accelerated into a 4th grade class for math (he is technically in 2nd now, but skipped K). I think if everyone is on board it can be very successful. For us, both teachers and administrators are very much on board. Both teachers want him to be part of their class (in fact I just heard he will be in 2 class pictures in the yearbook because he had them taken twice as both teachers wanted him included). The kids in the 4th grade are very accepting of him from what I hear, and what I have observed. They really care about him and enjoy him being a part of their class.

I think that if anyone isn't sure about grade level they should definitely do end of grade testing to see what a good fit is. You want him to be challenged in the grade he is in, but not have the work be too overwhelming or way too easy. It sounds like you already have some good communication going. Keep it up!

Now the maturity part I can relate to. Your DS may be like mine in this. My DS actually is quite mature, but he does act out and act immature at times (usually when he is overwhelmed or not stimulated and challenged enough). Sometimes he acts completely goofy around kids because he likes to make them laugh and sometimes isn't sure how to have a conversation with them as they are on different levels. So I actually think having DS more challenged and with older kids has helped this issue. My DS still struggles with getting out of his seat and randomly walking around at times, but overall he is doing quite well and the schools still know that is where he needs to be. I haven't really had interactions with other parents so not really sure about that part. I am sure other kids tell their parents stuff but it really hasn't been an issue so far. DS also has to go to a different school for math b/c 4th grade is in another building. DS6 is on the 4th grade Math olympiads team so I have gotten a few strange looks when I drop him off. But that's not a big deal, people are just curious and haven't seen this before. I would be curious too if I didn't have a son like mine.

And I think if they know it is a good fit, then they should get it started the sooner the better. Obviously I would try to not start him in the middle of a unit and have some support in place when it starts to check and make sure everything is going okay. I think the school knows how your son is doing in school and if they are suggesting it and you think it would be good to, then go for it.

my son is also in public kindy. our district also does not offer services for gifted until 3rd grade, BUT sometimes there are exceptions to rules. we did have to fight, but he now has an iep for gifted education...he was grade level accelerated, gets to meet twice a week with the gifted coordinator of our school, and may also subject accelerated. we are still working on that last piece. my problem is subject wise, he needs to be accelerated in math and reading to 3rd grade.....but he is FOUR. we are meeting again in a week, and i'm going to push for him to go to a first grade class for these subjects for now as a middle ground- at least he won't be in the class relearning his letters, but peer wise it will be a better fit than a class of 3rd graders. I hope to start after christmas.....i think it is fine for them to start mid year, and i agree with the pp to start at the beginning of a new unit to ease the transition.

the bottom line is even though they do not service kids until 3rd grade, my son's giftedness functions as a disability in that he can not have his needs met by the typical curriculum, therefore he needed an individualized educational plan.....you may have similar luck..... so it is worth a request for an evaluation.

Thanks so much you guys. I'm really grateful for all your advice and stories of experience!

I just heard from his teacher ... she wants to meet with us and the principal and the AG teacher sometime soon. I'm nervous!! But excited too I just hope they aren't going to try to convince us to grade skip him. I think she has been dropping hints in that direction.

One blessing of subject accel. vis a vis social maturity: the older kids sometimes seem willing to accept a less-mature child who's obviously younger-- they expect and forgive a certain amount of immature behavior because they know that child is younger.

YMMV.

DeeDee

Well our DS7 skipped one grade and is subject accelareted another grade for math.
So far so good and half the year is over.
One thing to consiser is, what material will they be missing when they leave the classroom to go to this accelerated subject.
Also, will your kid be ok w/the older kids.
The kids are years older than my son so I was concerned.
At first he was too, he said he is shy to go. He told the teacher this and she was nice and told him , lets just try it out.

Ironically now during recess he says when he cries the 4th grade girls try to help me.
That is cute.
So , so far so good.