DS (also known as B) 5, in K - v. bright, & we all love his current placement in a terrific private K. He's able to delve into things as he chooses there, has a wonderful teacher who supports his interests and is able to provide additional challenges. He taught himself to read, I guess I'd nominally say last year, at 4. Likes playing around with mathematical concepts & with numbers, very dextrous and likes to see how things work. His visual-spatial skills are more obvious than my daughter's, though I've begun to think that she is oriented more that way than auditory too. Only problem with B is that we've been planning on public school starting next year, but there are no additional services available until 5th grade in this district. I'm debating whether to start talking to the principal about him now or not. It would be nicer just to enjoy B & not borrow trouble, but I'm wondering if starting now might help in the long run. I'm also hoping that the school's awareness of his sister's academic ability will help smooth the way for him. (She is in the GT program that they offer.)
Congrats on getting such a great placement for B right now. Sometimes getting things right in the short term is all we can ask for. I'm thinking that if he is Ruf Level II, then getting a good tradition of afterschooling going while he is young enough to obey you, plus Saturday/Summer programs may be all you need until 5th grade. I wouldn't bring it up to the Principal now IF you are comfortable that it's a Level II story. I would do everything possible so that you've built a relationship with the Principal, because if you are allowed to handpick the teachers you will do better no matter what the Level.
If you have "B" at Ruf Level III or higher, then I reccomend individual IQ testing, private and not local, and this is a "test one, test them all" reccomendation. If the current teacher would accept him next year, you can go for the "hold back and double skip ahead" path. I've found that a wonderful classroom teacher is ...wonderful!
Best Wishes,
Trinity
