Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Advice on Grade Acceleration Please

So many of you have been extraordinarily helpful in this process for us and our ds11. Thank you!

We've just had our first meeting with the elementary school and support staff: director of advanced studies, aig instructor, principal and homeroom teacher. Our next meeting will hopefully also include the principal of the middle school where ds will be transitioning. The meeting was very positive. (I feel very lucky in that everyone has understood what gifted children need--most of the people involved have gifted children of their own) DS was determined to be an excellent candidate for whole grade acceleration.

Now the tricky part: he has several options, advance in math only, advance in LA only, though the director said it would be better if he received more differentiation within that subject rather than just advance him, or whole grade acceleration. DH and I have reservations about the whole grade, simply because ds has perfectionist tendencies which slow him up and though he's working on it and we've seen some improvement, he's not socially adept yet. He has friends, but doesn't have patience for some kids.

However, when we asked him this afternoon, he wants whole grade acceleration. I don't want our reticence to hold him back. I know on the one hand, this is probably what he needs to soar. But, yes, I'm afraid of the unknown. There, I said it.

Those of you who've made this decision, and I know some of you have already been generous in talking about your experiences, if you'd be willing to share your dcs experiences, I'd be grateful.