Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Here we go again -- accelerate more?

DS7 (a Davidson Young Scholar) goes to 4th grade math with the 'gifted cluster'.

DS loves math and claims that it is 'not too hard and not too easy'. In the past he has been very resistant to doing any kind of computer math curriculum – he likes working with a real teacher. The G&T teacher (whom we respect) would like him to continue on to 5th grade math next year.

Here’s the rub: DS gets 80-100% on all the pre-tests and scored at the 86% percentile for end-of-year 5th graders on the GMADE Math assessment. The G&T teacher says not to worry -- the GMADE math assessment does not cover all of of the 5th grade math curriculum.

Here are the options we have come up with:

1. Stick with the 2-year acceleration plan, which DS and the administration would be happy with.
2. Request additional acceleration (bus to the middle school? Push for a computer math curriculum despite DS’s resistance?)

What would you do? Am I missing any options?

Thanks,
Ul.H.

Stick with the plan that your son and the administration likes; sounds like the G&T teacher is engaged with him.

If they aren't engaged in math competitions, then I'd think that would be the only additional piece to look at as increased complexity of problem solving seems like a greater thing to progress in than linearly pushing forward.

Percent score on an acheivement assessment is a standing relative to students at that level rather than a percent of material mastered.

My DS7 is at a similar range, and he would really like to be getting more math at his interest level from a teacher, but he also finds he really enjoys video content in math.

I would choose this option - primarily because your ds is happy with it, and also because the GT teacher seems to think it's a reasonably good fit.

While he would most likely do a-ok with another acceleration, I also don't think it's going to hold him back in anyway at this point in school not to push for another grade-level subject acceleration in math. If you find that once he hits middle school he would benefit from another bump up in math, you might find it easier to make the bump by sending him to a course in the summer or he might be more willing to take an online course.

Best wishes,

polarbear

This is where we are with my DYS DD9. She, too, really likes to engage with her GT teacher. If she were to engage in the online curriculum available, I think she could be much further ahead that she is, but she just really needs that connection to a formal classroom teacher. For now, we are sticking with where we are. I like the fact that she is getting a lot of one on one instruction, which allows for some real in depth study. I think it is important to take note of the fact that your child is happy and resistant to change the current program.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

I am going to ask that DS be given the year-end test for 5th grade math and go from there. That will be give us a better sense of how to proceed.

My DS was promoted to 5th grade when he was about your son's age. The next year DS was sent across the street to middle school. DS was tested algebra ready but because of the concern of "too much" age difference and other scheduling issues, he settled down with 6th grade pre-algebra class. The school GT teacher and principal initiated the promotion, so we did not have to do any advocate work. DS was happy to fit in with the math kids. DS joined math team and participated the math contests with the elder kids. The experience being a mathlete in competition math made huge difference in DS. Now as a rising 5th grader, he will have to commute to high school for 9th grade geometry class.

We have decided that next year we will try a hybrid approach: DS will attend 5th grade math with the gifted cluster and in addition do 20 minutes of EPGY a day in school. We hope that the EPGY will allow DS to get used to computer-based learning in a low stakes way. If all goes well he will do all EPGY the following year. Frankly, we don't think it would be worth it to go to the middle school and upset his whole schedule just to sit in on a low-rigor Everyday Math class.

Ul.H.