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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here.  10:16, your previous post is very thoughtful and helpful in teasing out whether BFCD is the right school for our DC.  Thank you.  I fear DC is the type of gifted child that will love getting extra recess time.   :)

As a parent, my dilemma is trying to figure out if it's okay just to let this be or whether we should encourage (rather than push) DC to do more with said gift.  Ideally, we'd like a balanced environment where there's strong encouragement to excel and challenge oneself, without that turning into an excessively pressured environment where grades are all.

Which do you think are the schools that are better "geared for their level of ability right from the get go"?  In particular, are there schools with teaching environments that encourage doing one's best and challenging one's self, rather than competition with others?  We want to avoid schools that foster a zero sum game approach to academics.

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Hello OP.  I should say upfront that my child is definitely NOT extraordinarily bright ... just normal above-average bright and exceedingly cute.  ;)  Thus, I am not the best person to tell you what schools would be best geared to meet your child's needs!  I know there are schools out there that make such claims, Nysmith for example, but I have no firsthand knowledge of that school or any other private in our area for that matter.  A school that encourages students to do their best, challenge themselves, and not compete nor worry about grades?  Well, Burgundy says those types of things all the time but so do many other schools.  It is an admirable goal for sure.

The one thing I would say to you is that it is pretty difficult to determine what type of learner you have when choosing a school for a 3-5 year old.  ALL little kids start out loving school and thus will be highly motivated and engaged under almost any scenario.  It's not until around 4th grade that a child's personal level of motivation to work hard will be truly knowable.  At that point, you may need to reassess your school choice no matter which school you settle on.  I know some parents who choose a school that goes all the way through 12th grade just to avoid having to go through the terrible application process all over again at 4th, 6th  or 8th ... yet again, selecting a school that is just the right "fit" for a child for all those years when you're looking at a 3 year old ... what are the odds you'll be completely happy all the way through to college?!  I also predict that your child will be heavily influenced by YOU as to whether school is fun, interesting, and worthy of investing personal effort.  Acorns don't fall that far from the tree and you are clearly someone who is thoughtful, engaged, and interested in a balanced approach to schooling and life.  Your child will learn those same skills and outlooks from home, I am certain.  Burgundy certainly makes learning fun and engaging ... children "extend" their learning all the time without realizing that they are doing so.  And that's the secret, in my opinion:  to encourage a love of learning and seeking new information just for the joy of knowing something new.  Wanting to go to school everyday is half the battle won.  And since I volunteer in the school library, I can tell you that nearly all Burgundy students devour books ... they truly love to read.  I have no idea how that might compare with other schools but it has to be a good thing.

I can only speak about Burgundy but there are many wonderful schools in our area and I imagine you will find many choices that will provide your child an excellent education.  So take a look at what each school can offer and be sure to include "time to smell the flowers" as part of your criteria.[/quote]

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