Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Question for those that have grade skipped

Currently we are homeschooling, and that's working perfect for us. But I have a question on the logistics of those that have grade skipped. Our PS system has a primary school (K-2nd), an elementary (3rd-5th), them middle(6-8), and high (9-12). If DS was in PS he would be in 2nd grade. He is working at 3rd grade and up levels. Writing at 3rd, science and geography 4th, math at 5th/6th, and reading 8th. My question is, those of you who have skipped, how was it done. Pulled out for certain classes? Skipped to a whole other grade all together?

My school system is very against grade skipping, so I know it would be a huge fight if we ever tried. But I'm thinking even if we decided to go back to PS in 3rd or 4th grade, they couldn't accommodate where he will be at that point.

My son is all over, too. He was whole grade accelerated once (skipped K when first entering school). But then the next year we had to subject accelerate math so he was in 2nd grade with 3rd for math. Then this year while he moved on to 3rd grade he is now privately tutored for individualized math and is just finishing up the 5th grade book.

MrWiggly is very happy right now in the 3rd grade classroom although he complains of everything being too easy. I've asked about subject accelerating for science as the 3rd grade science is really quite limited and slow for him. But he doesn't really want to leave his friends now. Which, by the way, is one reason we strongly advocated to skip K. We know our son and how attached he gets to routine and familiarity! Interestingly enough the whole school team now agrees that he would probably do just fine academically if we skipped him to 4th all the way around. But we aren't doing that right now because MrWiggly says no. So, one year at a time with a little "thinking outside the box" for planning and options. Sometimes flexibility is what is needed most versus finding the "niche" where your child fits.

I was skipped at three different districts. But we moved a lot and I started the process all over again with my age peers.

The first was in Montessori and the first skip was into 2d after K, and then into grades 4-7 from 2d in the middle of the year. There was no testing the waters.

In another district, they put me into reading for 6th and then into Math for 5th before I skipped.

The last time was from 7th to 10th. I was tested when I first arrived in the district and placed with my academic peers. I did PE first period at Jr High then walked over to the HS for class starting 2d period. I also played on the Jr High football team and freshman soccer team at the HS.

There were other districts that did not skip.

My DW was skipped from K into 2d at the end of K. No water testing either.

The testing and then placement with his academic peers might be the route to take.

More data is definately better. I get the impression that deccelerating(is that even a word?) is what the schools are concerned about. Meaning you skip a kid up and then at some point the kid is held back.

I would guess this is why schools make it difficult to do. They want to make darn sure a kid won't be put back down a grade later.

Admittedly, that doesn't sound like a real good situation.

Perhaps more data convinces the school that scenario is unlikely to happen.

I skipped second grade. I'd already had subject acceleration for reading the year before -- I read with the second graders as a first grader. So the transition to third grade wasn't difficult; I already knew plenty of the kids, since I'd spent time with them the year before. That was sort of a mid-term skip; I spent about 3 weeks in second grade before getting bumped to third.

I think since your ds would be coming in from homeschooling, there's less to worry about socially. It likely won't be immediately apparent that he's a year younger, since kids grow at such different rates (both size and maturity level) anyway. Subject acceleration is good and you may need that as well, but I think I'd initially try for a full-out skip right from the get-go, and then add subject acceleration as needed.

I skipped a whole grade (7th) when I entered a GT school with an accelerated curriculum. When I returned to public school in 11th grade, I was placed in some senior courses like Calculus and 4th yr German. I then "ran out" of math and German so I ended up taking a bunch of electives to fill my schedule the next year.

DS skipped to 1st from K in the spring last year. He is now in 2nd and doing well. We are considering subject acceleration in math to 3rd.

Sorry, I used the wrong term. I don't always have the lingo down.

I skipped grade 4. There were about 8 of us in an organized program.

Contrary to what you think about 5 years in high school, I did high school in 3 because I could choose my subjects and I was already ahead in math and sciences.

Looking back, I was rather young and the drinking age was 18 then, so it wasn't the best thing, but I chose subjects that I wanted, rather than thinking I should hold myself back.

Your child may not want to "decelerate" in high school, just for the social reasons. They will probably want to move along with their friends.

Ren

Plus you can possibly take advantage of free college classes through your public high school. Might as well stay as long as they'll let you in that case!

Sounds like your high schools are good place with lots of options/opportunities. For me, I think it's a waste of time for the most part. I would rather them subject accelerate in middle school (especially if you can get some high school credits earned) and stay there longer (smaller, more secure environment, more enthusiastic students), and then speed through high school.