I agree with onthegomom about trying to attend some of the new school's events this spring. That might also provide for more chances to walk around the school and get familiar with the settings. But, of course, those would be recommendations for anyone going to a new school.
Specific to a grade skip, I would make sure that you are ready for the adjustment from always having the top grades and the top test scores. I know that, eventhough I was very pleased to have my child be more middle-of-the-pack, it did take me slightly aback when she wasn't at the very top. I had to remind myself that it was just a transitional phase. After some time your DD will likely work her way back up to the top of the pack, but it probably won't be at first. (BTW: It wasn't at all that I was upset with her not being at the top of the class, but more that it was merely new.)
Another thing is to remind her that there will be times when a problem or two is difficult, but that that is how all her classmates have felt all along and that this is normal. I remember that we had a few times when my DD would encounter a problem she didn't know instantly and she would melt down. In her case it worked to let her feel the emotions, give her some space to calm down, and then help her with the problem later if she still didn't understand it.
Even with the adjustments, we never questioned any of our skips. In the long run, challenge is a good thing, which you know since you've advocated so well for your DD.
Last edited by mnmom23; 02/01/11 07:18 AM.
