Long time lurker but MAN you guys have great info!!!
Ok - I have a 4th grader who's been in the her school's GT program since third grade. They test in November of 2nd grade year.
Here's my question or situation or trauma - depending on the day -
I have a 2nd grader who blows what his sibling was doing 2nd grade out of the water! Honestly. He won't be tested until November and wouldn't be able to start the GT (weekly pullout) until next year. We have the standard p/t conference set in a few weeks. His teacher has already told me that he "blew his MAP scores out of the water". All of them. He is so bored. He completes his homework at school. He tells me that his math homework is boring and for "little kids". He has gotten 100% on every spelling test. The only time he has missed a math question is when he races through the test, because he said it was boring, and completely missed questions. As in - he didn't do them because he skipped right over them He is reading 3 or so grade levels above. He has already met his AR goal for the first half of the year. You get the idea.
I really want to initiate some change. We did this a few years ago when my older one was in first grade. Yes, it started out all sunshiney -pulled into older grades for various subjects but slowly that stopped. I really want to have my stuff together when I approach the teacher/school. The other day my son saw me reading an article on-line about grade acceleration and he asked me what that was. I told him that sometimes a student moves up a grade when the school determines that the curriculum in the next grade up would be a better fit for them. He said "I want to do that!"
I'm sorry to be so all over the place but my mind is racing. I need to get my ducks in a row. Do I initiate something right now? My gut says yes. Do I email the teacher and cc the principal about a student study meeting or something. I think I've heard that term used on this board. With my oldest we ended up going through her school counselor and then the principal got involved and the school's instructional coach. The IC ended up testing my oldest. I am also considering having my 2nd grader take the CTY test. I thought this could be used as back-up however by the time we get results we will be into 2009. I want action now.
What would the wise parents here do?
