Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion re-thinking acceleration again...

I�m now second guessing myself about the grade skips for my daughers next year. Miss 7 is skipping and all is well with the decision, but I�m not sure about her younger sister.

My 4 year old is enrolled in a playbased kindy program. She attends 3 days per week and has an absolute hoot doing role play, imagination, cooking, gluing, painting, etc. All great stuff. We decided not to accelerate her this year as per the specialist's recommendation because I�m a strong believer in the benefits of play based kindy programs. She used to �hide� her reading at school from her friends and I thought this was a sign that she was somehow uncomfortable with being different from her peers. But her reading has really taken off in the past few weeks. When tested, we were told that she was reading at 7 years 3 months. I doubted this. But everything has just fallen into place over the past 2 weeks and she�s started reading basic chapter books and is reading very fluently. With this new confidence, she�s now reading at school openly and in front of others (making me think that perhaps her prior reluctance was about perfectionism, not about comparing herself to others). Her maths is going great guns at home too and she�s just blossoming, especially having a homeday school on Thursdays.

School has approved a grade skip into a year 1-2 combined class next year. Her reading and maths are going really well but her handwriting is still pretty weak � I mean, she�s writing but I�m the only one that can understand it! I guess her handwriting is perfectly normal for a 4 year old, but I suspect she might struggle in a year 1-2 class. If she�s got perfectionist tendencies, then maybe 6 months in pre-primary with 1-2 homeschool days with me might be a better option than full time in a year 1-2 class?

Have I got the yips? Do you think I�m mad to consider pre-primary (which in Australia is learning the alphabet, learning how to read, letter formation, counting, etc.) Will it be hard to move her mid-year once she�s engrossed in the class? Is there a better or worse year to accelerate?

Open to thoughts/ideas/opinions�

jojo

All I can tell you is our own experience. DS showed a similar skill level to what you describe at age 4. We had him in a private Kindergarten program at that time and his writing was very rough. Three months later, he started the public Kindergarten. They did lots of coloring and writing practice which I think was really beneficial for him and paved the way for a successful skip to first grade midyear. In his case, he had not formed any close friendships in the Kindergarten class and was eager to try first grade. So moving mid-year was not a problem.

When you say "next year", when does that mean? January? And when do you think is the very last minute when you could make the decision? Writing could come together very quickly, like days, if our experience is anything to go by.

And what limits her writing at the moment, would you guess? Fine motor skills, or examples, or interest, or what? Does she do detailed drawings, neat colouring, etc?

And how closely did the school consider the grade-skip: can you take from their willingness that they think her writing will be good enough for the year 1/2 class, or do you think noone's really thought about it properly?

Good luck. (We have similar issues: DS5 is not accelerated, but had it not been for his writing we might have considered it.)

Jojo -
very glad to hear about the reading coming together! Also glad that your daughter is having fun now.

First question - the 'learn your letters' kindy - how many hours a day? This seems to make a huge difference. Kids seem to be able to tolerate the half days and bug out with the full day programs of 'b' says 'buuu'.

Too bad you can't keep her in 'play-based' pre-kindy until she is ready for the 1-2 year combined program. Or 3 days in the 1-2 class, and the other 2 homeschooled. Or half days in the 1-2 program. Get the idea? Try to think of the school's offerings as a menu, and put together a plan based on her needs.

As for the handwriting - I would try 'hothousing' a bit at home with the 'handwriting without tears' materials. They are quite good, and you can pretend to be working with Miss 7, and let DD4 'demand' a turn. If you want to spend a bit more money, there is a cool 'print tool' that breaks down the elements of good handwriting in a simple, clear way that made a huge difference to my DS12, getting an overview of the goal that was more 'how the page looks' than 'how the letters look.' Your insurance may even cover visits with an occupational therapist to help with handwriting if it's beyond what you can do. (not sure how this works in Australia - or if you can find a therapist who would see things your way - but it doesn't hurt to ask)

On the plus side, one approach for HG and beyond kids is to take ANY offered skip, even knowing that there will be rough spots, just to try and get near your child's readiness level. Early skips have the advantage of giving kids the best chance of having long, strong friendships. Afterall, a 4 year old playing with an 7 year old is a lot less scary than an 11 year old playing wtih a 14 year old - so you might want to make the most of the years that are 'easy' to age mix.

Another advantage is that the teacher have 'permission' to attribute her differences to giftedness rather than to 'bossiness' 'spoiled' or 'ADHD.'

My best advice ever is - "Go Sit in the planned target classroom" sit in the classroom 1 year older as well. Sit and observe and imagine. You know much more about your daughter than you can put into words. Observing the activities in the target classroom and mentally adding a year of development isn't a perfect plan, but it is the best you have. Also you might get a feeling of the teacher - how flexable, how much of a sence of humor, how self-confident - all important for our kids! The teacher matters much more than the number on the door.

I would plan the visit now, order the HWT books, and if you can defer the decision for a month, then get started hothousing handwriting before you open your mouth.

I was early enteranced with terrible handwriting, and I think it would have gone better if folks had been very upfront with me about - handwriting is a motor skill that will come in time - this classroom has the most to teach your mind - there is no perfect classroom for you, but this is the best we could do, and that will be ok.

Love and More Love,
Grinity

Thanks Grinity - I like the notion of school offering a "menu" of services. Nifty!

I see Moo's handwriting really just being a developmental issue. She's certainly keen to write stories and notes and concert tickets and love letters, etc. And I certainly don't want to dampen her enthusiasm by always correcting everything little she writes. So I'm walking a fine line. I suspect a little hot-housing in this department might not be a bad idea. And I don't have to get too creative. Tonight I just printed out some letter formation worksheets and she was happy doing them, as long as we were sitting together. She needs some of those 3 sided pencils to correct her grip though. Must add them to the shopping list.

I'm going to take some work samples into the 1-2 teacher to get her opinion. I'll also do a formal observation this week too to make an achievement guestimate about her handwriting too.

All fun and games!!! jojo

Just wondered if anyone has read A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students -forgive me if this has already been discussed - I'm new here. It advocates acceleration. I found it fascinating since I am new to the topic. My mom did not allow me to skip grades even though it was recommended by the school (this was in the late 70s). She was concerned that I would suffer socially and emotionally, I think. She only told me this as an adult. I had no clue at the time.

Jojo,

Sounds like you got it covered, but don't be too afraid to skip. I started out in K at a normal age, but then jumped to 1st while in K then in 2d jumped to 4th. All I can recall is being very small compared to others, but after the first day, I settled in and enjoyed it.

Handwriting was my weak link on my grade skips. I also had to learn note taking as well once I went into HS classes. The only other issue was learning how to pronounce the big words I was reading.

I'd say we're big fans around here. It certainly changed my view of grade-skipping. It's nice to have actual research rather than myths and misconceptions!

Yep. I gave a copy to our principal. Just before DS got his gradeskip