1st grader (fall bday) reading 3rd-4th grade level. Ask to skip a grade?

[Anonymous]

OP,
Unless there are other issues, I would leave her be. It is not at all unusual to have kids in first grade reading way above grade level.
I taught first for years. Only once did I recommend a child be placed up--but she moved in from a state with an earlier cutoff. She was the age of second graders (this was a long time ago). She was also extremely mature socially and big for her age. We made this adjustment about two weeks after she came to my class, I think it was in September. She stood out above the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many people recommending you don't advance her. They have never met your kid and are quick to dismiss her talents.

Take your own counsel OP and that of your DH and her teachers

Good luck.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest is currently in kindergarten and far ahead of all classmates in reading and writing, but is average maturity-wise and missed the cutoff by four months. Nobody was interested in skipping a grade. But her teacher proposed to send her out to do certain reading and writing instruction with higher grades a few times a week. I don't know if something like that would be possible at your school (ours is a small private).

This is a good idea, OP. Our public school had a reading specialist who pulled out advanced readers for special (and fun) projects several times a week, so this is not just something only a private school would do. Ask for this and if it's not available--can you step up and volunteer to start a book club at school, maybe in coordination with the school librarian?

And find out now about whatever advanced academics/gifted programs lie ahead in your school system that your DD could access in coming years. Get to know what makes the program different and how your DD could best take advantage of what it offers.

Unless a child is exceptionally mature, skipping a grade creates issues that may not be apparent until a child is older. A middle or high schooler who is a year younger than peers can really run into pressures and social issues she isn't ready to navigate. Unless multiple teachers and testers were uniformly saying my kid was so far advanced in ALL areas that nothing but skipping would do--I would avoid it and focus instead on using the school gifted program and providing enrichment at home, going to museums, doing reading-related fun activities in summer, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Former teacher here and parent of sixth grader reading on 12 grade level on latest test. This is not a reason for skipping a grade. If you think your child is gifted get a WISC test (IQ) from a neuropsychologist.

I appreciate everyone’s perspective. The school has sent me a letter saying they want to get her tested, but they need my permission.

Then have her tested. Both my kids read far above grade level and still do, but neither one is sufficiently advanced in all academic areas to recommend skipping a grade.

I'd strongly lean against doing this unless it's strongly supported by the school and outside testing/consultation. Your kid may statistically be the outlier that's eligible to skip a grade, but it's more likely that statistically she is not.

[Anonymous]

I think my oldest was only a year over grade level in first but is one of the youngest in their class. By 3rd however, they were reading at level X and by 4th they were doing middle school work.

[Anonymous]

Executive functions are a big part of academic readiness for upper grades. They are also the last cognitive area to mature.

How is your child with organizing work, particularly for complex tasks like mathematical problem solving or writing? Can she figure out vocabulary in context and look up words? Is she showing an ability to memorize information independently when it comes to math facts and sight words? How is her social maturity? Consider all of these things in addition to reading level.

[Anonymous]

I have a nephew who skipped kindergarten and is now in 3rd grade. He is 7.

He doesn’t have a best friend.

I don’t think he has friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Former teacher here and parent of sixth grader reading on 12 grade level on latest test. This is not a reason for skipping a grade. If you think your child is gifted get a WISC test (IQ) from a neuropsychologist.

I appreciate everyone’s perspective. The school has sent me a letter saying they want to get her tested, but they need my permission.

Then have her tested. Both my kids read far above grade level and still do, but neither one is sufficiently advanced in all academic areas to recommend skipping a grade.

I'd strongly lean against doing this unless it's strongly supported by the school and outside testing/consultation. Your kid may statistically be the outlier that's eligible to skip a grade, but it's more likely that statistically she is not.

My son’s fsiq was in the highly gifted range. In kindergarten and first he was miles ahead. He’s in 6th now and while a bright kid, there are at least 2 kids (maybe more) ahead of him in the grade level. I didn’t push him ahead (other than aap being ahead) and have no regrets. My friend who pushed her daughter ahead (left for private and then returned in third a grade ahead) now has a very young ninth grader and said she regrets it. Academically the kid is fine. Her friends are all a fast crowd for someone who is 13. She’s hanging out with kids who drive, including her boyfriend.

[Anonymous]

I entered K reading at a fifth grade level. I was always at the top if my class, but as I got older had a lot of peers. I’m no genius, just above average. No one talked of skipping grades back then and it turned out fine. Plus who wants to be the last one to get their license?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many people recommending you don't advance her. They have never met your kid and are quick to dismiss her talents.

Take your own counsel OP and that of your DH and her teachers

Good luck.

+1

That’s because reading at this level is not at all uncommon in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Former teacher here and parent of sixth grader reading on 12 grade level on latest test. This is not a reason for skipping a grade. If you think your child is gifted get a WISC test (IQ) from a neuropsychologist.

I appreciate everyone’s perspective. The school has sent me a letter saying they want to get her tested, but they need my permission.

Then have her tested. Both my kids read far above grade level and still do, but neither one is sufficiently advanced in all academic areas to recommend skipping a grade.

I'd strongly lean against doing this unless it's strongly supported by the school and outside testing/consultation. Your kid may statistically be the outlier that's eligible to skip a grade, but it's more likely that statistically she is not.

My son’s fsiq was in the highly gifted range. In kindergarten and first he was miles ahead. He’s in 6th now and while a bright kid, there are at least 2 kids (maybe more) ahead of him in the grade level. I didn’t push him ahead (other than aap being ahead) and have no regrets. My friend who pushed her daughter ahead (left for private and then returned in third a grade ahead) now has a very young ninth grader and said she regrets it. Academically the kid is fine. Her friends are all a fast crowd for someone who is 13. She’s hanging out with kids who drive, including her boyfriend.

As a person who went to college at 16, I can attest to this as being not so great for kids. The exposure to certain things at a much younger age isn’t worth it. More importantly- it just gets worse in college with drinking and drugs.

Try to get some differentiation for your kid and supplement with camps. But don’t skip grades unless absolutely necessary.

And double check all statutory rape laws in your state too.

[Anonymous]

Taught in a school where there was an exceptionally gifted kid who was skipped ahead a grade from third to fourth. He was placed in a fourth/fifth split. The teacher loved him and the kids were nice to him, but he was treated more like a "mascot" than a student. He did not fit in. And, he was still the brightest and most advanced in the class.

My personal opinion: he would have been better off left with his age peers. He was not able to develop social skills. Granted, with his intellect, there was no great place for him.

As a teacher, I know of a couple of other similar situations, but not as drastic as this one. There are exceptions to every rule, but, kids are better with their age peers for the most part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I entered K reading at a fifth grade level. I was always at the top if my class, but as I got older had a lot of peers. I’m no genius, just above average. No one talked of skipping grades back then and it turned out fine. Plus who wants to be the last one to get their license?

Not sure this is as big a deal as it used to be. There are still kids eager to get their licenses but surprisingly, there are many who aren't. Things have changed since I was a teen.

[Anonymous]

There is so much more to life than being advanced, regardless of what you read here on these forms. There is a social and emotional component that is very important especially for young kids. Advancing a first grader to Third grade for the heck of it, is just not advisable. Your child might be brilliant at Reading but first grade has a whole lot more to teach them than just that.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think most people don't understand your kid doesn't fully fit in either grade. He is too old for his grade and a bit to young for the next grade up. Your child isn't really that advanced and it is common for kids to read up several grade levels, if not more. We had this issue and did skip a grade. It hasn't been an issue socially or academically and child gets very good grades. Child much prefers older grade and being challenged. Do what is best for your child and not others opinions as the trend is to hold back vs. appropriately challenge kids. Personally, I prefer the grade up. I saw when my kid was with younger kids, he acted much younger and now while he has to keep up, he is more in line with what he needs.

However, I would do it now if you do it. There is a huge jump in 2/3 grade and K/1 are painfully slow (actually 2/3 were painfully slow too but not as bad).