So dd11 skipped 6th and is in 7th. She generally seems to be adjusting well, and until Tuesday her lowest grade on anything was a 95. Then she got the first social studies quiz on forms of government back (not the subject I imagined her having trouble with). She got a 60! Yikes! I know she studied, dh and I both discussed the information with her and it seemed like she knew it...but just not well enough. My mom is freaking out and using this as evidence that we ruined her life by skipping her.
I think it actually shows that the kid had no idea how to study and it is a good thing she will be required to. She can choose to redo one assessment during the 9 week period. She was upset of course, but I don't think she is scarred!
It is hard to discuss this with my (very involved) mother because she takes our choices for dd as a criticism of how she handled my education. Dd is usually smiling when she comes home and seems happy at school so we continue to feel the skip was the right choice.
I haven't had time to read the other replies, but my first thought is - chances are she might have received the very same 60% grade if she'd waited until next year to start 7th grade - like you, I suspect it's more related to how-to-study-skills than the *ability* to learn the work. It could also mean she wasn't feeling well during the test or whatever! And do you really know what the other kids got on the test? Maybe everyone got a 60?
We've approached middle school as the place where our kids need to learn *how* to study, how to be organized, etc - as well as a place where they can be challenged intellectually and pushed a bit so that they can soar once they reach high school. From all I've ever heard, grades on a report card in middle school don't show up in any way/shape or form on their high school transcript, but the *skills* they learn (organizational/study) absolutely will show up in grades once they hit high school, and I also believe it's really important to keep our kids excited about learning during middle school as other things like peer pressure etc kick in - and for many of our HG/EG/PG kids, keeping them excited about learning at this age means giving them intellectual challenges, not letting them sit back and earn all easy As. Do you want me to call your Mom and have a word with her
Stepping off my small soap box... I would have a tough time having my mom know so much about what my dd is doing in school. My perspective is skewed of course by my own individual mom - but she tends to be critical of things, and I can't imagine having to listen to her obsess over one of my kids getting a low grade! Just remember, your mom is *your* parent, not your dd's. You're supporting your dd in the way you know is best - don't worry about what your mom thinks about this one test grade.
polarbear
ps - wanted to add, my ds started middle school in 6th, and that's the first time kids in our area get letter grades. Not getting all As on his first grade reports *really* motivated him and he's developed excellent study habits
