Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Funny story...

I was at the grocery store today, and I overheard two ladies talking. One said to the other: "There's nothing wrong with skipping a grade. They don't learn anything in second grade anyway. Besides if she's reading on a fourth grade level and every other subject is at least 3rd grade level, what's the point in sitting in second grade for a year?" Go Mom! I got the impression she was defending her case to her friend.

Funny because you don't hear those kinds of conversations around here too often. It's usually about how great it is to give your child "the gift of a year" referring to redshirting.

I'd have to restrain myself from running up and giving her a high five. It's good to know these conversations aren't just limited to this forum. I was in a redshirting pro/con conversation with some local moms last week. I brought up the example of the 1st grade boy I'm helping with Study Island. He was red shirted and told me he'd been doing multiplication since before K. I thought to myself, "...and you'll be lucky if you get to see it at school before 3rd grade." Sigh

I know Inky! I did have to hold myself back from joining their conversation! My son repeated PK4 at the recommendation of his school because of social immaturity despite admitting that he was ahead of the others academically. The following year, we had him tested and found out he is gifted (in hindsight we should have known, but we thought all kids were like him!), and we could have kicked ourselves. I really wish we'd known more back then. Once he made it to KG we had to pull him completely because it was a nighmare. He was quite insulted that he was asked to do babywork all day. I came to the conclusion that ds hadn't learned anything in 2 1/2 years at that school, and we cut our losses. Now that I've spent some time homeschooling, he's solidly in at least first grade. He will begin Montessori school in January, and they assure me if they see that he's way ahead of the first grade curriculum, they'll cut his time in the primary classroom (1st-3rd gr) by a year. It's the best we can find right now, so we're really keeping our fingers crossed. I so wish I hadn't listened to EVERYONE'S advice of giving my son the "gift of a year." What a crock!

Of course, I feel like I should have known better as well!

It was a gift that didn't fit, so now you're returning it! LOL!

That's true Kriston! Haha! I'm so glad that we are able to "undo" the damage. I'm still praying that first grade is a good fit for the rest of this school year. You just never know. The asynchronous development just throws me for a loop. There's no clear definitive grade level for him, so an environment where ds6 is able to work at his own pace in each subject is ideal. Now I'm keeping my figers crossed that this new school will live up to their promises to do just that.

ur...sounds funny!
would u plz give us more funy story ,i dont like a forum which is too serious,general discussion is a good place to me

Jen,

I am laughing thanks to you! It very well could be my daughter's teacher that was in that store saying that! She lives in Florida, and she went out of her way to convince us that skipping second grade was appropriate for our DD who is reading at 4th grade level and all other subjects at 3rd.

:-)