School is asking to bump DD to the next grade

[Anonymous]

Is anyone surprised that they are offering grade skip without having administered a full evaluation-- (Cognitive: WISC-IV, SB-5, DAS-II Achievement: WJ-III, ITBS) Usually schools want this. Usually schools protest grade skips even with high scores on these tests.

What are her MAP scores?

I would at least get her an achievement test like the ITBS. See exactly where she is. I would want her reading and math to be near sixth grade levels if she is to be skipped into fifth. But, even better would be a full nuerospych eval along with a psych's recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A birthday in the fall means she is about to be 10, so that's on the older side for 4th grade. It sounds like she would graduate at age 17, which is still well with normal for maturity and age distribution. I would let her get bumped up, assuming that she is willing. If she wants to stay at the current grade, they need to give her more challenging work. Even rotate to the 5th grade for certain subjects. If she is hesitant because of the social stigma, I'd see if they could implement the 5th grade curriculum and make the grade jump to sixth grade next year. She won't stand out as much when everyone is making a school change.

She is actually 8 turning 9, not 9 turning 10. It turns out the teacher has been offering her harder work, actually offering it to the entire class, and DD has been doing that all month, but doesn't feel challeneged by it unless there's research involved. I had not realized (she is our oldest) that her work was so different from her classmates' work. She has been going to the fifth grade class for math since school started as well.

I am just dumbfounded by this whole thing. All this time she's been doing more than the other children in her class and I had no idea. I thought they were all working on reports the way she has been. Still am not over the shock that they're not upset with her for misbehaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone surprised that they are offering grade skip without having administered a full evaluation-- (Cognitive: WISC-IV, SB-5, DAS-II Achievement: WJ-III, ITBS) Usually schools want this. Usually schools protest grade skips even with high scores on these tests. What are her MAP scores? I would at least get her an achievement test like the ITBS. See exactly where she is. I would want her reading and math to be near sixth grade levels if she is to be skipped into fifth. But, even better would be a full nuerospych eval along with a psych's recommendation.

Not everyone is in the DC area, don't forget. Different schools do things differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was bored to tears in the 4th grade and was put in 5th grade where I had to work. If she is bored,.she isn't learning anything, is she. You know your child, let her decide. It was great for me because I did have to pay attention and study and school was no longer boring. I'm sure her teacher gave this a great deal of thought before making this recommendation.

I skipped 3rd grade; the only detriment was that I had to learn the times tables over the summer and felt at a disadvantage with long division. To this day, I'm crap at math...who knows if this had anything to do with skipping 3rd. Other than math, I still did very well in school.

I also skipped 3rd grade, and with a fall birthday I ended up being the youngest kid in my class. My experience was mixed--I'm not sure I was really mature enough to move up with kids a grade older (some of whom were 2 years older than me), and it seems like they teach *everything* in third grade (long division, cursive, fractions, you name it). But, I felt a lot more challenged and likely did a lot better in school than I would have if I had spent the next decade fighting boredom. I agree with PPs--talk to a developmental expert, and consider talking to the teachers about how other kids at your school have handled similar situations.

[Anonymous]

Your gut feeling about the meeting, that it was for behavior, worries me. My biggest concern is that what if 5th grade isn't the right fit for her? What if that work is too easy? Will she continue to act up? What if it is too hard? Will she act up? Really by this age she should have her behavior under control. I worry that if she can't handle the social expectations of 4th grade that putting her in 5th grade may really be hard for her.

I would do further testing and definitely talk to pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone surprised that they are offering grade skip without having administered a full evaluation-- (Cognitive: WISC-IV, SB-5, DAS-II Achievement: WJ-III, ITBS) Usually schools want this. Usually schools protest grade skips even with high scores on these tests. What are her MAP scores? I would at least get her an achievement test like the ITBS. See exactly where she is. I would want her reading and math to be near sixth grade levels if she is to be skipped into fifth. But, even better would be a full nuerospych eval along with a psych's recommendation.

Not everyone is in the DC area, don't forget. Different schools do things differently.

I see, that would explain the odd cutoff. (Dec 1?) Most of the country's schools have a cutoff around Sep 1. So most eight-year-olds are going into third grade. Also, it sounds like this is a private school. Publics are just more reticent about doing what you describe above. Which is great. It sounds like you have a very open minded school. I would still push for testing.

Algebra usually starts in eight grade for the brightest 13 and 14-year-olds. She will be 11 when she starts that. Will she be able to keep up in order to take Calc I her senior year? She will be 14 turning 15 her senior year of high school. She will not be able to drive her first day at college. She will be dating boys many years older than her.

Have you looked into explore testing? Hopkins CTY? EPGY?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone surprised that they are offering grade skip without having administered a full evaluation-- (Cognitive: WISC-IV, SB-5, DAS-II Achievement: WJ-III, ITBS) Usually schools want this. Usually schools protest grade skips even with high scores on these tests. What are her MAP scores? I would at least get her an achievement test like the ITBS. See exactly where she is. I would want her reading and math to be near sixth grade levels if she is to be skipped into fifth. But, even better would be a full nuerospych eval along with a psych's recommendation.

Not everyone is in the DC area, don't forget. Different schools do things differently.

I see, that would explain the odd cutoff. (Dec 1?) Most of the country's schools have a cutoff around Sep 1. So most eight-year-olds are going into third grade. Also, it sounds like this is a private school. Publics are just more reticent about doing what you describe above. Which is great. It sounds like you have a very open minded school. I would still push for testing. Algebra usually starts in eight grade for the brightest 13 and 14-year-olds. She will be 11 when she starts that. Will she be able to keep up in order to take Calc I her senior year? She will be 14 turning 15 her senior year of high school. She will not be able to drive her first day at college. She will be dating boys many years older than her.

Have you looked into explore testing? Hopkins CTY? EPGY?

I was 17 when I went to college and although I had a DL, freshmen were not allowed to have cars on campus. So being able to drive or not is not always relevant. Maybe she'll date boys (or girls) in her grade, in which case they'll only be 1 or 2 years older than her.

[Anonymous]

My dc, now 9, skipped a grade at a top local public es. We were appalled by the negative reaction from some other parents. My advice to you is to ignore all advice on this board (except mine ) and speak with the gt educators and families that have btdt on the gt-families listserve.

Good luck! Its great fun having this type of kid.

[Anonymous]

There's no one right answer. Is this a public school? If so, I'm a little surprised they offer skipping a grade as a solution. I thought that went out of vogue in education circles several decades ago.

[Anonymous]

They should be providing enriched curriculum. Is there a gifted magnet program in your school system? Also. Look at johns Hopkins center for talented youth program for enrichment. I would be hesitant to move her ahead bc next year she would go to junior high (gulp). Definitely have the school do WISC testing in the meantime. GL

[Anonymous]

I was an army brat and skipped 2nd grade. I also have a December birthday-meaning I started high school at 12, turned 16 my senior year of high school and went to college at 16. Academically and socially, I was absolutely fine. I think it completely depends on the kid and the situation. I went to private school all the way through.

Both of my kids are advanced as well. It has been important to me to put them in small environments where they can be challenged at grade level. If this were not possible and they were in public school, I would not rule out skipping ahead a grade. I would possibly hesitate for my DS just because he's already young for his grade with a summer birthday and the fact that he is a boy.

Regardless, there is no clear cut answer. Test scores are not going to answer the social development question. How thick skinned is your DD? Girls in middle school can be mean regardless of her age and if she can let that roll then she will be fine. Academically to me, challenge is pretty important. You know your kid best and you have to make the best decision you can.

[Anonymous]

My father skipped a grade, he went to college at 16. He is very socially awkward. Watch for that.

[Anonymous]

I could have skipped a grade. School asked my parents to skip me from 3rd to 5th (skipping fourth). My parents decided not to. I still did great academically and socially in life. I think either way the outcome could go in different directions.

[Anonymous]

18:42- THIS. Parents can be very jealous of what they think they should have too (WHAHHHH!) Often worse than the children. In the D.C. area, people are not often in a high emotional or social IQ; it seems age is irrelevant, frankly.

Also in the D.C. area (where are you OP?) parents often hold their children until the following year in the interest of (nothing they would admit) sports advantage (in hopes of an unusually rare scholarship perhaps??) - for example. So, this area is not the norm, but many are overcompensating for (well, use your imagination here).

Get other opinions, OP. Most seriously, ask your daughter what she thinks. She may be all for it!

I was verty bored in school and ended up graduating "early". Things turned out fine for me. Actually, very well.

[Anonymous]

I skipped second grade and still feel behind socially. Could be just my introvert personality, but I would think long and hard before doing this.

I also skipped a grade in elementary school and it definitely affected me socially in a negative way. Please consider this part of your daughter's personality/development as well. In high school, all her friends will be able to drive, see R rated movies, etc. and she won't. (Maybe this was a bigger deal 20 years ago.) Anyway I hope she is stronger than I was and will be able to deal with this.