What does your school do for advanced learners?
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Anonymous
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I'm lucky to have an early elementary child who is 2+ years ahead of her peers in reading and math. I'm not here to brag about that. She loves school but is often bored.
I'm looking for information on what other independent schools do to meet the needs of kids like mine. Her school seems to have her read alone in a corner of the classroom often, and I'm looking for more. Please share examples of what works well in your school. I think the administration and teachers for my child are willing to work with me, but I'm not sure what I should ask them to do for my child. Thanks. |
Anonymous
| How is she in non academic areas? |
Anonymous
| I have a 1st grader. He is pulled out for math applications as a supplement to to math. Lots of logical thinking and using math to build things. For reading, he had a small reading group with other students at his level. It's less decoding and more comprehension and understanding the big picture. For writing, he is pulled out and the focus is on organization of ideas and developing writing that makes the reader want to read the story. The writing also works with the reading text and he's moved from responsive writing to open ended questions. |
Anonymous
OP, if you as her mother have to solve this problem, then she's not at the right place. You are paying for her education from professionals who presumably know how to deal with kids at all levels. |
Anonymous
Disagree. Look into Duke TIP or similar programs. That's how parents deal with it without making a total stink and alienating the schools. |
Anonymous
"My kid can do more" usually works. My DD school does different reading level groups and different classrooms for math. We were at another school that didn't do differentiation and it was not motivating for my child. This is our 3rd year at this school and DD is motivated and engaged, and not the best one in her class. 
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Anonymous
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"My kid can do more" usually works. My DD school does different reading level groups and different classrooms for math. We were at another school that didn't do differentiation and it was not motivating for my child. This is our 3rd year at this school and DD is motivated and engaged, and not the best one in her class.
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Anonymous
| My child is in an enriched math class with other kids like him (2 grades ahead) and has a cohort of kids reading around his level, which is also about 2 grades above. We supplement at home with algebra and science stuff, and his school has a strong STEM specials program. But we are in public. These routes were chosen for him by the school, not us. |
Anonymous
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Go to Nysmith. Your advanced child will be with other kids of the same or more advanced levels. Edlin has similar programs. E.g., Third graders have three level of math classes.
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Anonymous
She has average social skills, I would say, as a non-expert. She is great at music, less so with visual arts. |
Anonymous
| My kids school had a great library in every classroom. When he was finished his work he could read whatever he wanted and take the books home (or, just bring his own books). He's in college now, but honestly, I cannot think of any better way for DS to have spent his time. I don't see a big need to push math unless your kid is so into it he wants to do supplemental CTY or something similar. The real math kids are taken care of in both public and more academic privates. Not the most structured solution, but if your kid is a self starter and a reader the ability to finish up and read makes school a joy. |
Anonymous
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At our elementary school, at least with some homeroom teachers, slower or avg kids may get a weekly homework packet that's 3-4 pages while the more advanced kids get an much larger/longer (e.g., 8-10 page) homework packet.
Starting in 6th grade (middle school), there is a separate advanced math class. |
Anonymous
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If I were you I would simply ask the various schools about how much differentiated learning they offer, and talk to parents at those schools about how much the school is able to vary the pace and curriculum for different kids.
I can't speak for all schools but we're very pleased with how well Barnesville is able to provide differentiated instruction. From the earlier elementary school grades they did a good job meeting all the kids where they were in certain subjects (reading, spelling) and in the last few years have offered more differentiation in subjects like math as well. It's not totally across the board (it would be nice if they could offer more differentiation in Spanish, for example, because the entering kids often have very different levels of previous exposure coming in) but in general they've been able to accelerate in most areas, and also to provide additional review work where needed. |
Anonymous
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I had the same issue, both in private and public. My son's private school teacher customized a reading list for him, but could not do more. The public school placed him in the most advanced math, reading and spelling groups available. Still not challenged in writing, but I have not found any school which does this to my satisfaction. He writes essays over the summer with me. Be it public or private, at some point, OP, you have to fill in the gaps. |
Anonymous
| At our school, one kid was skipped a grade mid-year for this reason. |