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We've been thinking about transferring DS7 to a new school. This is literally a brand new school that a home schooling father of seven children owns and will start this fall. Besides himself, who has an Phd in engineering and focus on math teaching, There are a couple of teachers he hired from a Montessori school. Those teachers are so good that half of this new school's student are those following their teacher from the Montessori. The school is pre K to 8th Grade and currently enrolls 90 kids.

I went yesterday to check out the school facility and spoke to the owner. I showed him DS's testing results and some portfolio and asked what do they do with kids like this.
He said he is going to design a custom curriculum for him and challenge him as far as he can go. He will also bring them to participate in competitions when they are ready.

I am still not sure about this, as it lacks a track record. Also, it does not really offer much else other than rigorous academic programs. It won't have programs which a public school has, such as a band, a speech team, athletics clubs, or chess club. It's like another extreme of public school, where my DS currently attends at 2nd grade and does not learn a thing.

Is keeping a child adequately challenged so important that so it is worth to give up all other school activities?

I guess that depends on a few things:

- how poor is the fit at the current school? The worse that is, the more likely I'd be to try something like this

- do you have opportunities in your community for extracurricular enrichment of those things that would be lost (sports teams, drama classes, or whatever he'd enjoy)?

- does the new school have any position on religion in education and how does that comport with your world view and educational desires for your child?

- can you go back to the current school if this doesn't work out and how would your ds deal with that?

- do they have enough students enrolled for this to continue to be viable?

Our local public doesn't offer clubs until high school. If a child is unhappy due to no academic challence and not learning how to learn then I think it is worth taking a chance. I wouldn't let lack of clubs stand in my way but maybe that's because there are so many afterschool clubs around here.

Excellent teachers are the seeds and soil of excellent education.

Can you start an afterschool club for your childs favorite activity? I would find that easier than creating academic challenge after school.

Best wishes
Grinity

Cricket, those are questions I have been thinking. The good thing is it has the flexibility to pay tuition monthly, so if it does not work out, we should be able to go back to public school.

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity. best of luck.

He is in second grade now. His friends are now either in different classes or transferred out. He has not complained so far, but I can see his spirit is a little low now, maybe I am being too sensitive for him. he rated the regular math and reading class at 2 out of 10, while enrichment classes 7 out of 10. I am letting him work on EPGY 4th grade math and language at home, but that seems to have to many repetition to really interest him.

How often is that enrichment class? Is 7 of 10 good or bad based on your boy's picky/please you level?
If the friends are not around, then maybe now is a great time to experiment.

New schools are tough because there are always bumps to be ironed out, but in 2nd grade I wouldn't be worried about extracurriulars, I'd be looking for wonderful teachers who get him.
Good luck,
Grinity

with 90 kids they could easily start some cultural and/or sporting events - even if just inhouse. Maybe you could suggest it and even run an activity to get things started?

Unfortunately they are doing assessment for enrichment classes for every kid at second grade and it can take months for classes to begin!
DS is waiting for that to start NOT so patiently! Today his teacher left a lengthy voice message about his behavior at math class today. He could not stop reading a book although the teacher asked him a couple times to listen. She sounds very frustrated. I am going to return her call tomorrow.. What should I say? Should I just tell her that he is bored! His first grade teacher used to allow him read books at math class as long as he read quietly. This teacher seems to be a bit intense.

I just sent out DYS application today. I hope he will be accepted this month so at least we have some additional resources if we need to in communicating with school.

If nothing works, then we will try that new school.

I would try the new school now, particularly if she doesn't seem willing to let him read when he needs more stimulation. He's quite young to have to manage his appearance while managing his need for 'more input.' The best case scenario for this school just doesn't seem very good.

If there is some reason why it's important to give this teacher a fair shot, you'll have to explain that he needs mental stimulation the way other kids need air and food, and that reading during class is as least disruptive way for him to get it as he was able to figure out last year so the teacher was ok with it. You can ask this year's teacher to talk to last years teacher.

Best Wishes,
Grinity