Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School What we suppose to do? --updated on 1st page

My daughter, almost 6, is now in K at a private school in Jersey City. In the past 6 years, she was enrolled in 4 daycare/school (including the current 1) due to our relocation. She never hesitated to go into a new classroom and making friends. She started to play puzzle at her 1 year and half, and knew all the letters and numbers at that age. In Pre-K3 and Pre-K4, she was selected to move to the higher class during the summer time, and mingled with older kids for about 2 months. The summer before the pre-K4, we noticed that she was eager to read and write. Checked with her class teacher, we learnt that two older kids can read and write. So we bought her some Dr. Seuss�s books , Little Critter�s Read it Yourself storybooks. She worked so hard on decoding. When she is comfortable with decoding, we started to ask her what the story is talking about after each reading. She did it very well. Meanwhile, she started to do math (addition and subtraction) without finger counting. Her Pre-K4 teacher said she would do well as she is such a good listener.

She started K in September this year. Unfortunately, we noticed that she is bored. A couple times, she was not rewarded star due to chatting with other kids in the class. She said she knows everything taught at school now. Her focus shifted away from learning. She is happy as she is elected as representative of student council, and she is happy that she draws boys� attention back to class, and she tried to encourage other kids to write better�We feel she lost the focus on the class given the content taught, and that hurts her learning habit. She would get used to spend less effort but gain same reward. We submitted the grade skipping request�let her go to Grade 1.

Assessment was made for reading and math by school. Math is at the level of end of Grade 1, and reading is at the entry level of Grade 1. But they said no because she has lots of friends in K, and she is happy in K, why give her pressure?

I told them she would be happy in Grade 1 too and she would enjoy the challenge at Grade 1. They just say no.

Do you have any advice what we can do to persuade the school? Any idea is greatly appreciated.


Update on 12/1/2011:
Based on all your advise, we prepared a letter and articles in a folder to restate our opinion. It was delivered to principal in a month after the first meeting. She sent us a meeting appointment. While waiting for it, we noticed that my dd was still assessed "by principal's friend", or so.
I went to the meeting by myself and I prepared she repeated her decision again. Surprisely she changed her mind. She got help from third party, and gave dd another assessment, and they suggested to let her go for 1st Grade Math at least. She decided to let her go for 1st grade math every day, and 1st grede teacher gives her 1-to-1 1st grade reading lesson, then will have another assessment in 6 month to move to 2nd grade directly.
I simply couldn't believe my ears, but now dd is doing like this.

And as we expected she became a kid we know before. She got up early in the morning without our yelling and put on her clothes without help. Her behavior is more mature. The best thing is that after school she picked up the homework given by us and worked on it by her own. She told us she is having an oppotunity to compete with 1st grade, she does not want to fail. Thanks God.

Thank you again for all your help. Let me know if you need anything from me.