Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Repeating Kindergarten or Skipping to 1st Grade?

I have a gifted son who is 5.5yo - just for details sake he scored a 144 overall on his WPSSI - when he just turned 4, his Montessori pre-k suggested we move him up for last septemeber to kindergarten, instead of staying in pre-k as he was suppose to. we agreed to do this and he did great - doing what is essentially a 1st grade public school curriculum. Issue is now we have to decide weather to continue him on to 1st grade or have him repeat K. If he goes to 1st grade, he will be more challenged for sure - but will be youngest kid in the grade (he is Dec b-day and its Sept 1 cut off). If he goes into K, he will be one of the 2-3 oldest kids and will be repeating alot of material + we will be paying a lot of $$$$ of tuition. What to do?

You know your child best, but I think a 144 IQ kid who could handle the 1st grade curriculum is certainly ready for KG. In fact he may be ready for 1st grade.

Is the 1st grade montessori as well? Will they let him continue where he left off? If it were my kid, I'd want him to continue to 1st. My only concern would be that there will be repetitive info in 1st grade as well. I don't think it would be too beneficial to essentially keep an HG kid back a grade where he will be among the oldest. He probably will find a better fit in 1st (or 2nd...) Also depends on the receiving teacher. If you think there may be better differentiation in kindy, then maybe that is a good option.

My son has a Jan. birthday, so I can relate. We did not have a Montessori type option, and we ended up sending him to kinder with age mates and then having him skip 1st grade. That plus a move to an HG school midyear worked for last year.

I wish I could go back in time and allow my son to go to 1st instead of K. Kids with scores like yours are very bored in K. My son hated K.

Kate

I'd go with 1st grade. DS had a fantastic pre-k teacher who let DS work at this own pace. After starting the K year full of enthusiasm at our local public school, he quickly got bored and frustrated. We had a long spell in Jan/Feb where he didn't want to go to school because he wasn't learning anything. He kept asking to stay home and saying that school was a waste of time since he'd learned all of this stuff last year.

I agree with the others that he should start 1st grade. My previous reply was based on a misreading of what you wrote.

First for sure.

My daughter 5.9 (no obvious signs of giftedness, reading at a second grade level and thinks out of the box) just finished public kindergarten from a Montessori preschool. Her preschool teacher told me she was a year ahead, so I assume that she was receiving some kindergarten instruction while in class 12 hours a week.

Though she wasn't challenged a LOT in public Kindergarten, they are all at such dif levels in Kindergarten that she was able to read her own books in class. She didn't get much instruction in reading, but wasn't forced to read what the other kids were reading. (She was the youngest in the class by the way ....cutoff in Jan...and a lot of red-shirted kids).

She WAS taught how to form her letters and numbers and loved learning songs. Some of the Math was new to her (even though it was taught VERY slow). She was in no hurry, and she enjoyed many of the social aspects of school. She loved the building materials and the bars. I also think that the teacher was a little more patient with her "organizational skills" (lunch card, snack card and transition times) because she was the youngest and smallest in the class.

So, my daughter may not be AS ahead as your son, BUT being the youngest in the class was a benefit to her. AND don't forget to look into how many kids are redshirted in your district before making your decision. there were SIX in DD5's class of 16 this year!

My DD was in the same boat. She was 5.5 and was ready for 2nd grade but we settled for 1st grade and she did fine. She was the youngest (2nd to last was 1 yr older than her). Your DS will be fine in 1st grade.

Just a suggestion: Have a look at the state standards: these are usually published on the State Dept of Education website. See what kids are supposed to be able to do at the end of K, and at the end of 1; compare what your child can do to these lists, and make your best guess.

Good luck!

DeeDee