- She would probably be bored to tears in another 4 year old class. Boredom is a cause of bad behavior in school, and I don't want to do that to her. She's so wonderful.
- She already does well socially with kids who had their 4 year old birthdays in the spring and summer.
- She is academically above the other 4 year olds in her class.
- She can read and is getting better all the time.
- Not so good is that Inwe just figured out how to swing all by herself. Her peers could do that at the end of last school year. So, she would be behind a bit physically if in a kindergarten next year.
- As parents, we also have to consider the consequences of the age difference as she approaches her teen years. Issues like driving, dating, etc. are bound to cause some fricition. Or will they? Will she always understand that she is special?
- And, those of you who know my daughters really well, picture this in your head: Inwe in the four year old class with Larien in the three year old class next door. Is that a situation you can picture? Larien is wonderful, but Inwe is not just a year academically ahead of her. To me (and to Phill) that would be a serious injustice.
Please let me know what you think. I need either some support or sense knocked into me.
4 comments:
Talk to Mom. As a person who raised a very intelligent person herself, she can help you a lot. As a teacher who talked gifted students, she can also give you advice. And as a mother and grandmother, she has seen a lot. My two cents - why would it be an injustice to have her sister one grade below her? Megan is smart enough to understand that for clearly enrollment purposes their are cutoffs and that is what happens. It is not an injustice, just one of those things.
To me the boredom must be addressed. You of all people know what boredom does (remember 7th grade!) But talk to Mom - she can advise the best. And as the lesser intelligent daughter, don't treat Audrey any different because she isn't like Megan - that will really hurt her and take a few years for her to understand a "get over."
Difficult decision. I am not a mom, so I am not sure what I would do. That being said, I think the world in general is in too much of a hurry.
molly
You do have a problem but think about if you put her in private kindergarten, will you have to continue the private school or will the public school let her in first grade at her age then. Alexandra's private school would not let her in first grade because she lacked a few days being six.Of course, Lori knew this several years before so preparations were made. However the volume of material that she is expected to learn is so much more than what my children had to accomplish. The school prepared her very well in kindergarten for first grade.The teachers are using different teaching techniques than Lori was familiar with. The teacher told Lori "Do not try to teach her how to add two columns. I will do that".I think Lori got the idea that the teacher will teach math the way they want the students to learn it. So maybe being now seven and in first grade will be a positive for Alexandra.
If you put her in public school and they do not have a more advanced curriculum or a gifted program that she can go into, then Megan may not reach her potential.
She probably needs the social interaction with other children but another suggestion is home schooling. I had some very smart students from home schooling.
Mark's birthday fell into a time period that he was allowed to go to school early.He was five in the first grade. We always regretted that we did not wait a year so he would be eighteen when he graduated. We think he would have done a lot better if he had started a year later.
Another idea would be to have Megan tested next year to ascertain what level can be predicted for her academically, socially, psychologically, etc to meet the demands of kindergarten and/or first grade. Solid data may help. Alexandra was tested before they let her in the school.
Oh, and by the way, Audrey will catch up and just be Audrey.
Just a little side issue. I think, at least for me, it is time to start a blog, or at least put him in the picture, for Baby Jack. I do not yet know if he is growing and developing on a small or large scale. Also has he decided to sleep less and be more social? Don't you just love that little boy? JM
My opinion is totally free and worth what you paid for it.
Having said the disclaimer, here are my thoughts:
Find a 4 year old class that she can be in (again) which is different than the last. The mere presence of new students, new teacher, and new routine will offer a challenge. Once you start down the road of enrollment in a private school, you face all kinds of issues:
1. Can they ever convert back to public school without being stepped down a grade? If not, or not at least for a while, can you afford to keep this up until the time to transition presents itself?
2. How do you explain to your younger children why their older sister got to go to the private school for 1+ years but they had to go to the public school? This may seem silly but children look for any signs of favoritism when spoiling for a fight.
3. I don't think that she will consider herself "special" when she is in the middle of teenage angst and can't understand why she has to wait ONE MORE YEAR before she can start dating, wearing makeup, whatever. She will think that she is unlucky. No teenager wants to be a "brain" at the expense of their "social life". Sure she will understand the driving deal is state mandated but what about all the things mandated by PARENTS? If she is so SPECIAL, why can't she do what her classmates are doing? *sheesh*
I guess where I am going here is that you need to address - and can address - the boredom issue without enrolling her in school. You are a pretty smart lady yourself and should be able to find lots of challenges for your daughter.
I don't believe that having her sister one year below her is - in any way - going to be an unfair set back. Not at all. Besides she will probably be taking AP classes and college-level courses at the Junior College her senior year and thus will be seem much older than her sister in every way. She will in fact have one foot out the door. In addition summer camps are available for academically advanced students. So before long, you will have the opportunity to challenge her through those programs as well.
Trust me, honey, you will make enough mistakes as a parent without worrying over this issue. Either way you will get pinged on it and on many other issues by your kids. But they will still turn out JUST FINE and LOVE YOU.
So stop stressing and roll with it. You are a good mother :)
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