HI,
I found this site after researching a lot online and came across the link through another board. Mom of 3, my youngest-DS5 recently finished K and won't be 6 until late June. He'd been pulled out for reading all year and the school suggested testing/skipping right before the end of the year. Based on lots of advice, the tests and recommendation from his school, we approved skipping him up to 2nd.
There is so much I want to discuss and this has kind of been a shock in ways. It feel really awkward talking to anyone we know IRL. It came up once that he was moving up and the other two asked why he just wasn't placed in the high ability group (pull out of class, no gifted classes separately) but he's well past that being a challenge for his grade (school's words) unless they put him in a much higher grade group. Even now, he'll still be pulled out for English & possibly math.
So I guess I wanted to connect with other moms, ask some questions and find out more about the programs available. Thanks!
Hi Steph
Welcome, I am also new to this board, but have found it very helpful. It is dificult to find people to speak to about our children. We have two boys one is also 5 with a birthday in July. We opted the private school route, many home school, public school, or some kind of mix. This is one of many great resourses that are out there.
Again welcome
Edwin
Welcome! You are incredibly lucky your school is proactive enough to initiate a skip and additional acceleration. I am a bit jealous!
We are at our neighborhood school where "everyone's gifted" so no one is. We may be homeschooling (I hope) in the fall.
Enjoy this community! It's incredibly helpful and welcoming.
Hi, Steph! I also have a DS5 at a public school. He was recently moved to first grade and will start 2nd grade in the fall.
I know what you mean about feeling awkward...most people are just curious though. Let me know if you figure out a good way to explain the skip to other parents
Cathy
Welcome to the board Steph!
We're in a similar boat. My DS (just turned 6) will be skipping from K to 2nd next year. However, I had to really advocate for the skip and his school in general is not supportive of acceleration. Sounds like your school is much more flexible! Other parents from DS school have also said less-than-approving comments to me about the skip. There are a lot of experienced and down-to-earth parents here on the board who have validated my 'gut' feelings about what's best for my DS. It's nice to be reminded that you're not crazy or "pushy"!
Welcome Steph! I'm curious as to which tests your son took. I have a rising Ker (just turned 5) and I'm wondering if I should have him tested now or wait until he's 6-6.5yrs old.
It feel really awkward talking to anyone we know IRL.
Welcome Steph,
I'm so glad you've found us! Your statement above 'qualifies' you to hang out here, so pull up some virtual beverage of choice, and set a while.
Smiles,
Grinity
Welcome Steph,
I too have 5 year old son, who is about to finish K in Montessori. We are homeschooling next year. How nice that you got a grade skip and it sounds like the school initialized the move.
I saw your other post about DYS. Go ahead and apply, there is nothing to loose. You can use as many or as few of their services as you wish, the community is great. You get to meet new people in similar situation and hopefully make local contacts, which is truly priceless.
It's nice to be able to refer teachers/administrators to DITD. All of the sudden it's not only you saying that your child is really gifted.
Awww, thanks for such a warm welcome, I feel a little better already. We didn't really debate sending him to K though he's one of the youngest, since he was already a fluent reader. I mentioned in passing to his K teacher that he was correcting his 2nd grade sis and the school did everything else. His READ teacher has been wonderful at exposing him to different books & working on writing projects. I do feel very fortunate that we are in such a proactive school/district.
To us, he's just this goofy, easygoing kid that can read really good. Now that I read some of the characteristics, I do see a few more signs. We weren't totally happy to need to skip him since he is so young & sensitive at times. I just feel like I lost a year of his childhood in a way, does that make sense? But I don't want to hold him back either.
Anyway, looking forward to sharing notes and getting lots of advice as we figure out what the heck to do w/him.
Hi! You're in the right place. It's a great forum!
Welcome Steph
This forum has been a sanity saver many times for me as well as providing alot of emotional and constructive support for our family.
Yes, welcome! I agree with elh - sanity saver that provides lots of support.
Hi & thanks, I'll be here a lot I think, especially once school starts & he transitions. Since it's a smaller school, I worry about him being accepted by kids that knew him last year as a K. He's pretty social though so hopefully he'll fit in.
To answer some questions - he was given the SB-V and WJIII. I can't tell even from researching if those were good options but that's what they gave him. He passes 145 on verbal, close but not there on math. 99.9 on all WJIII sections he was given. If anyone wants to shoot me an opinion on those, I'm happy to listen good/bad or otherwise. In some ways, it's been hard to believe the results because he just doesn't come across as HG, smart yes, but not to the level they are telling us.
His DSis are DD8-prior 1st grade teacher told me some test the class took scored her very high & some correlate to high IQ. She does not come across at all, loves art, daydreamed a lot at the beginning of 2nd grade, says math is "easy" but below average on timed add/sub tests that were always given. She is just born at a different speed, she moves, eats, everything slower unless she's running -then she's really fast! lol
DD14 is his half sis. She might be gifted, she could ask questions like nobody's business and still does sometimes. I used to tell her she'd reached her 100 question limit for the day. You can't answer that she doesn't have another ?, we nicknamed her Investigative Reporter. She did not stand out in elem but takes honors math and now that she's in higher levels, she makes straight As & finally very motivated. She'll be in honors English & Geometry next yr but refused Biology for Earth Science.
Sorry for writing so much but it's so nice to discuss the kids and get some feedback. One day I will hopefully be able to help some other poor new clueless parent.
Steph,
It's so easy to compare out children to relatives and their friends - they don't look so different then. But with scores like that - you have an very gifted child.
Can you get DD8 tested also? I say "Test on, test them all" - I worry about schools teaching our sweet compliant ones to 'entertain themselves' by daydreaming. Believe me - speed of math facts is not correlated with IQ!
Anyway - you are welcome to visit any time!
Grinity