Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy If you or your child skipped a grade...

My DD10 skipped 5th Grade. She has still had straight As all this year, but it has actually taken her more effort. It was a good move for this year but is only a temporary fix. The curriculum at her school is very repetitive from year to year and she just really doesn't need that so, she is getting really bored in Math and History. Also, the Science covers too many subjects in very little depth each year which is also frustrating. Next year we are going to homeschool her so she doesn't have to do so much repitition and can engage in more depth.

It solves part of the problem, the need for younger kids to skip ahead. It does not really solve the issue for older kids, who don't need to skip, but just move faster (see HKs thoughtful comment above about compressing rather than skipping). Even with my daughter now, I see gaps where she's missed stuff from having skipped so much (it's primarily in history and social science, but also in grammar).

I could image a system where grade school is completely cross age with students allowed to skip into whatever classes they are ready for and with the opportunity for a student to enter middle school whenever they are ready academically without regard to age.

I would assume a choice of middle / high schools: a) normal pace (as per current) b) accelerated pace (for students who can go faster and either graduate early or go dual credit at a local college). The middle / high school would be equally cross age. I think this would be doable with current staffing and facilities (if you already have adequate staffing and facilities, many places don't).

It still doesn't really solve the problem for an 8 year old ready for middle school learning, but without the capacity to handle the middle school workload. Our kids are always going to be outliers and the very best solution for them would be placement in schools specifically for HG and above kids (like Davidson, but for all ages) where the highest potential students would get the support they needed. Admission would be by test results only, with no regard to economics OR achievement (which are so unfortunately linked in our society).

Of course, now we're really talking fantasy land and no such "elitist" and "non-egalitarian" idea would ever be embraced in the US.

On the other hand, the USA may actually be the first place such educational reform may occur, allowing curriculum and pacing choices which may supplant skipping.

The fact that homeschooling is legal in most states, that forums exist to exchange ideas and build support, and that private schools, specialty public schools, and charters exist... all lend hope that we can help inform society that we as individuals are and remain equal despite our considerable differences including age, stature, intellectual profile.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is potentially different for each individual. Each person or family may sacrifice, strive, and weigh opportunity costs in choosing to set personal priorities and gravitate toward a unique mix of intellectual, athletic, spiritual, political endeavors.

Kiddo is probably HG and in private school with lots of MG(+) kids, but still bored. I think our next steps may be testing to see if he a possible DYS and to help with advocacy. Unfortunately we are in an affluent area so the teachers are weary of hearing about "special" "accelerated" "underchallenged" children and thus tend to tune out our concerns.

Does your child enjoy classmates, friends, and teachers? Boredom arises from the curriculum & pacing? Information at the following links on the Davidson Database may be of interest, in learning about some of the best approaches in advocacy...
1- Advocacy - Working with your child's school http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10558.aspx
2- Choosing the right school for your gifted child http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10511.aspx
3- Basic educational options for gifted children http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10270.aspx
4- Guidebook - Advocating for Exceptionally Gifted Young People, plus lists of other resources http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/browse_resources_165.aspx

Wishing you all the best.

My son skipped third this year (only wanted math acceleration but ended up doing full grade skip).

He is doing well academically and socially.

He is probably going to do 5th grade at his school...and then home school middle school,

DD13, now in 9th grade, has skipped 2nd and 6th grades. First skip done because she already was well ahead of grade level and we wanted her challenged before she mentally checked out.


Second skip was done because, as happens with many HG kids, the first skip was only a temporary fix. By the end of 5th, she was once again well ahead of grade level. No plans for a formal third skip as subject acceleration in MS and self-choosing of classes in HS have kept her occupied.

Have the issues been resolved? Not fully. We still have to push her a little bit to be open to failure. And I still can't convince her she is good at math. (One of our repeated conversations: "DD, you say you are not good at math. Do you consider me good at math?" "Yes, you are way better at math than I am." "I did not take geometry until I was 15 and a sophomore. You are taking it at 12 and as a freshman..."). But, overall, we're in an acceptable least-worst scenario.

--S.F.