Thanks to everyone for the experiences and comments that you have provided. I realize there is no easy answer. I agree that I don't want the reason for holding him back to be gym. He is involved in baseball outside of school and that is age based so not a problem. He is actually big for his age...but I often forget as I often see him with older children. He is even bigger than a 4th grader in one of his classes now. I agree CFK There does seem to be more opportunities for older kids in the high school and older grades, so we are looking forward to that.it seems far away but I realize HS classes will be here very shortly in some fashion.
SPG-yes the centers complicate things, he will be moving to a new school next year that is 3rd to 5th and then will have to go to another school again for math at the middle school. He would be able to go down a grade for gym next year, but I don't know if I would bother because in a year or 2 he will be at another school and not able to go down a grade for gym. Plus, the goal would be for him to be with his class more for all subjects, even though he would get acceleration for math (and I am sure science and english soon enough as well as 2 year acceleration aren't going to be enough for those I am sure). I love you DS's school set up. It sounds so awesome. I am so glad to hear things are going well!!
Shari-Yes, I agree our sons do sound quite similar. And the part about the behavior improving would be great. He isn't that bad now...but still is goofy a little bit. But again, he still isn't fully challenged. It is so hard to know about the bullying issue. I read somewhere that kids more often bully kids their own age and not as much with a 3,4 year gap..but this would only be a 2 yr gap. Oddly enough one of the kids that has befriended him in his 4th grade class this year is a boy who has been a bit of a bully to other kids, but somehow is super nice to DS. The school is really happy about the positive changes they have seen in this kid with all the kids. DS's 4th grade class this year is really great with him...but next year the kids would be a year younger as this group will be moving up to 5th. I really love your DS's school set up. That must be such a great feeling to be able to know that when he is ready for the college stuff they can meet his needs.
Howler Karma - ride the train til the tracks run out. I like that, I am hoping that they keep extending the tracks though and they never run out : ) I also like the idea of super modified acceleration. They are doing a lot of that now so I am really hopeful this will continue.
So the other day I took DS to lunch after a dr. appt and we were playing around and chatting. We talked about school and I asked him what class he feels the most comfortable in, 2nd or 4th. He says he likes them both but he feels more comfortable in 4th. He never could explain why. I also asked DS6 a hypothetical question about what grade he would pick if he had the choice to move to 3rd or 4th next year. He thought about it for a while and then asked what I would do. I explained that I couldn't answer that because I am not in that situation and never had been. He continued to ask things like "but what if you were in that situation..." but I didn't answer. Then after a while he said..."well I guess I would just go third because I already skipped once and I can't keep skipping my whole life." He wasn't definite, it was kind of just him coming up with an answer. He is a very easygoing kid about things...but I still don't want to make the wrong choice. Good thing I have another whole month or so to dwell on it, lol.
