Expecting too much from K (and school)?

[Anonymous]

To OP, I have 2 highly gifted children in FCPS. It can be very fustrating when you feel that your child is more advanced than others, but you haven't even given K a try yet. This area has an incredible amount of highly educated people and smart children. I think you may be surprised, just as i was, how many children are intelligent and how a teacher can create small learning groups. If you really feel your child is so advanced and you can't afford private, then you should ask for a grade skip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you not believe there are any children that are at the levels I descried academically and socially that are entering K?

There are a LOT of kids like this entering K. Face it -- the metro DC area is VERY well educated, and there are many kids going into K not only reading, but doing math in their heads, speaking two (or more) languages, etc. It's hardly that uncommon.

[Anonymous]

OP, I understand your frustration and concerns. I also understand the reasoning behind another PP's view(K teacher). I think it really depends on your DD as an individual(level of giftedness, personality, social situation etc). You know her better, anyone else only gives suggestions based on his/her past experiences(which may or may not be relevant to your situation).

I do think that there are plenty of high-achieving kids in this area, but I also think there are only very limited number of truely PG kids. For the former, it's relatively easier to find a peer group(maybe small) within a K classroom setting. For the latter, it will be very difficult to find the right fit even in the best school within FCPS and with best K teacher who has the best intention.

I agree that a child deserves the opportunity of learning and being academically challenged, and learning social skills and academics shouldn't be exclusive of each other, though sometimes a compromise has to be made.

Take a step at a time and make your best decision based on what you know about your child. If it's financially possible, I would suggest having IQ or achievement testing done. Not only that will help you understand your own child, it also gives you solid evidence of your DD's ability. Principal and teachers may see "pushy" parents a lot, but numbers do speak loud by themselves.

[Anonymous]

For what possible reason would you want to give a 5 year old an IQ test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what possible reason would you want to give a 5 year old an IQ test?

As stated in my previous post, at least it will help one understand his/her child better. If you do a search, you will see there are tests suitable for children of this age or even younger(e.g. WPPSI-III or SB-5).

[Anonymous]

I think some gifted schools in the country request testing scores from such tests(or their own versions of similar tests) for enrollment purpose.

[Anonymous]

I was the poster who suggested looking into skipping ahead - my parents had an IQ test administered when I was 5. It is my understanding that these are used in private schools around here for admissions.

I don't see the harm in having her tested. I skipped into first grade and remained with that group all the way through college. For me, it was NEVER a problem. It really depends on your child. I was always rather mature and quite social, so I never had the dreaded social issues/adjustment people always warn about. I'm not saying this isn't a concern, but there are children who are quite capable of fitting right in with kids who are slightly older.

If you get her tested and she scores at an highly advanced level AND you feel she could handle it socially, I honestly would push to start her in 1st grade. That way, she starts there immediately and there is no weirdness being the kid who was skipped mid-year or something. I think that takes SOME of the stigma away. Yes, she will always be the youngest and probably the smallest, but again, this is not a huge problem for certain kids. It honestly never phased me.

[Anonymous]

Let me rephrase the question: unless your concern is that your child might be mentally handicapped, what would intelligence testing tell you about your child that you, as the parent, would not already know through direct observation? Is this some kind of contest to you where you need to prove that your DC is better than somebody else's?

And as for GT placement (at 5? Really?), I would challenge anybody to show me a study justifying the claim that high-ability children benefit from being segregated from children of average ability at that age.

[Anonymous]

For OP and for those who are interested, here's an article on acceleration:

http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/nation_deceived/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For OP and for those who are interested, here's an article on acceleration:

http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/nation_deceived/

I did my college admission essay on this topic. Didn't have this report, but I argued for better gifted education.

[Anonymous]

OP - I think your biggest shock is yet to come...wait until you get to school.

You will discover that your child is similar to many, many other children in the class.

Actually that's what the parents will tell you at least.

I used to believe parents like you. Until my child went to Kindergarten. And that child that read Harry Potter...couldn't even manage to read the basic early reader books.

Give it a rest. Oh yeah and don't be too suprised when everyone's kid went to some amazing preschool/daycare where the teacher was a (fill in the blank with: former teacher, former genius, former Harvard PHd in Education, blah, blah) and idenitifed your kid as the smartest one ever!

[Anonymous]

I know several rising Ks who are reading and understanding
chapter books. Your daughter sounds bright but not uncommonly bright. She will definitely have a few same level peers if you are in a typical high achieving pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you not believe there are any children that are at the levels I descried academically and socially that are entering K?

There are a LOT of kids like this entering K. Face it -- the metro DC area is VERY well educated, and there are many kids going into K not only reading, but doing math in their heads, speaking two (or more) languages, etc. It's hardly that uncommon.

This is what I THOUGHT until several friends had a different opinion and strongly suggested I contact the school before the fall and just ask about differentiation opportunities. I had assumed the school would tell me that typically at least a few kids entering K would be at similar levels in reading, math, etc and there is different reading groups for these kids, etc. When I didn't get that response I was a little surprised and wondering if I should have some concerns about her needs being met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster who suggested looking into skipping ahead - my parents had an IQ test administered when I was 5. It is my understanding that these are used in private schools around here for admissions.

I don't see the harm in having her tested. I skipped into first grade and remained with that group all the way through college. For me, it was NEVER a problem. It really depends on your child. I was always rather mature and quite social, so I never had the dreaded social issues/adjustment people always warn about. I'm not saying this isn't a concern, but there are children who are quite capable of fitting right in with kids who are slightly older.

If you get her tested and she scores at an highly advanced level AND you feel she could handle it socially, I honestly would push to start her in 1st grade. That way, she starts there immediately and there is no weirdness being the kid who was skipped mid-year or something. I think that takes SOME of the stigma away. Yes, she will always be the youngest and probably the smallest, but again, this is not a huge problem for certain kids. It honestly never phased me.

Thanks for the advice. The poster responding to you doesn't seem to understand that the testing isn't for bragging rights, but to better understand our child and how to meet her needs.

[Anonymous]

You'll find other highly gifted kids in K. But I don't think your daughter will get the attention that you think she needs/deserves -- because what there seems to be a disconnect between what public K will teach and what you want your daughter to learn.