Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Not sure what to think...

I just visited my son's K class this afternoon. They're learning their letters and figuring out what sound starts the word "cat," for example.

No, it's not normal. It's just normal for your child.

Reading at 3 isn't normal But that doesn't mean it's bad by any means.

Apparently I learned to read at 3 and I have loved reading ever since. My son started at 3 but wasn't much interested until about 4 1/2. At 4 1/2 he picked up reading very fast and went from lvl 1 readers to 2nd grade level in about 3 months. He still lacks the interest in reading bigger chapter books but he will read anything and everything all the time.

That being said in his K class they are working on letters and numbers. Each week is a new letter (they did go over all the letters in the first 6 weeks but now they focus on a letter each week). He enjoys the songs they sing and sometimes the crafts they do for each letter but thankfully she has him doing harder worksheets in phonics group and whatnot.

Definitely sit in on a K class or 2 (each school could be very different so it might be worth checking out a few) and if you think your son will need more start talking to the school before he gets to K. I didn't do so and somewhat regret not having a few things in place before now.

From what I can see if K is 1/2 day it tends to go ok for advanced/gifted kids. If it's full day then it can be more of a problem. I'm worried about next year when my 'advanced' 4 yr old goes to K since it may be full day next year. I guess I'll get a plan in place for her when we get one in place for my son for 1st grade, lol.

Get over your denial:), I am slowly getting over mine too. DS4 started reading at the same age yours and now reading at second\third grade level. I volunteered a few times at his school last year before the summer started(class of 3-6 years old) and believe me he was at par with 6 years old. Now this year we keep wondering what to do with him as even a grade-skip won't help, not that we are thinking about it as he already has a summer birthday and we do not want him to be bullied by older kids or be exposed to the information which is not age-appropriate.

So.. the earlier you get over your denial, the earlier you can start worrying;)

We had a great thread here a while back, about the stages of grief and how many of us go through them as we discover the extent of our childrens' giftedness. It can feel very overwhelming.

I second the observation suggestion.

When we were looking around for Mr W's daycare earlier in the year, DW and I observed a lot of age-peer classes at so-called top schools in Dallas. We found it shocking to say the least. The typical group of toddlers was so far behind him we just cringed to think of him in with them.

I also work with a lot of extremely bright people and we periodically do company picnics and Mr W gets to interact with a lot of other kids his age. He is way ahead of his age peers in the kids in this group as well.

We've also met two couples at work whose sons (5 & 6) were tested as PG this summer. Mr W is appears to be ahead of the milestone lists the parents shared with us.

So, comparisons help a lot. But its also disorienting.

He is 21 months right now and he hangs out with 3 year olds and toddlers at an in-home daycare/HS location. Its not perfect, as I think he is ready for - and wants - daily reading instruction, but its much better than age-peering him. The owner tells us all the time that,"I keep forgetting he is not 3 years old."

I'm going to make a new thread and post what is expected from Kindergartners in our district so you can have an idea.

Edit - I'm not able to figure out how to attach a file so I don't think that I can post his report card.

Don't forget about recognizing numbers 1-20.

And for the record, if I could've had my DS5.5 tested at 18 months for the kindergarten end of year "test", he would've been in like 5th or 6th grade now. LOL

Welcome Molly!

And no, it's not normal!

I would love to see this!

Many of us have experienced this 'big adjustment' and many of us have lost years of our lives because we didn't 'get there' the first time around. Some of us still haven't. It is a myth that advanced kids will be ok no matter what. This is much of what motivates us to get our children into 'reasonably challenging' learning setting at least by middle elementary school. Other kids have years and years of learning the character strength it takes to sit there and work at learning stuff. Why shouldn't my son get that opportunity too?

Then there are those of us who are here because the child themselves acted up so terribly in the classroom, or staged a sit down strike against school. It's hard to watch your kid be miserable because they can't handle a situation that is more painful that what any other kid there age would be expected to handle.

It is really good, Molly, that you are able to notice that your son is different early, and that you are able to talk about what it might (or might not) mean here with us. For me, it just went round and round in my head.

Love and More Love,
Grinity