Bright child in early elementary- what are my options?

[Anonymous]

My DC is in 1st grade; however, has been in the 99% in the MAP (math) the past two tests and reads at an almost 4th grade level. As a new parent to MCPS, what enrichment pathways are available to keep DC engaged and excited about learning? DC is already pulled out for reading and math. No clue as to what opportunities MCPS offers. FYI- we read at home, but do not do any math enrichment at home.

[Anonymous]

He is still very young. My kid did pretty phenomenally on the MAP test and was reading far above grade level until mid to late elementary. And he’s not even at the top of his class. It’s really not that uncommon.

[Anonymous]

Early elementaries, whether private or public, do not cater to precocious children. In 3rd grade, your child will take the entrance exam for the Center for Enriched Studies. In the meantime, you can homeschool if you wish, or enrich at home (lots of people do). My child asked for violin lessons and I encouraged her to practice a lot, as it was a lot more challenging than anything at school. She is now in an MCPS magnet and the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is still very young. My kid did pretty phenomenally on the MAP test and was reading far above grade level until mid to late elementary. And he’s not even at the top of his class. It’s really not that uncommon.

Op here. Ok, thank you- it’s not that uncommon. Any suggestions for enrichment within MCPS at early elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is still very young. My kid did pretty phenomenally on the MAP test and was reading far above grade level until mid to late elementary. And he’s not even at the top of his class. It’s really not that uncommon.

Op here. Ok, thank you- it’s not that uncommon. Any suggestions for enrichment within MCPS at early elementary?

In first grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in 1st grade; however, has been in the 99% in the MAP (math) the past two tests and reads at an almost 4th grade level. As a new parent to MCPS, what enrichment pathways are available to keep DC engaged and excited about learning? DC is already pulled out for reading and math. No clue as to what opportunities MCPS offers. FYI- we read at home, but do not do any math enrichment at home.

What school is doing pull outs for reading and math? I would love if my school did that.

In MCPS your kid can test in 3rd grade to see if your kid gets into a center of enriched studies for 4th and 5th grade. Other than that, it seems like supplementing at home is your best bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is still very young. My kid did pretty phenomenally on the MAP test and was reading far above grade level until mid to late elementary. And he’s not even at the top of his class. It’s really not that uncommon.

Op here. Ok, thank you- it’s not that uncommon. Any suggestions for enrichment within MCPS at early elementary?

NP. PP is saying that it's not uncommon for kids to be precocious in reading or math early on, but then many of these kids even out later in elementary. Given this pattern, it makes sense that schools wouldn't provide much in the way of enrichment early on. Kids that young are still learning how to be in school and master socioemotional basics.

That said, OP's kid is at a prime age for adding an instrument (Suzuki method) or a language, as possible outside enrichment options.

[Anonymous]

I think at that age it’s on you to supplement outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is still very young. My kid did pretty phenomenally on the MAP test and was reading far above grade level until mid to late elementary. And he’s not even at the top of his class. It’s really not that uncommon.

Op here. Ok, thank you- it’s not that uncommon. Any suggestions for enrichment within MCPS at early elementary?

In first grade? [/quote

Prime learning time, PP.

Beast Academy online, with the physical textbooks. It's the best math program around for elementary!
Encourage the reading. Select children's classics, they're more challenging to read and great for culture.
Enroll him in art or music classes.
Visit museums often.
Teach him cursive.
Play board games.
Buy him SmartGames or ThinkFun toys.

So many fun things to do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is still very young. My kid did pretty phenomenally on the MAP test and was reading far above grade level until mid to late elementary. And he’s not even at the top of his class. It’s really not that uncommon.

Op here. Ok, thank you- it’s not that uncommon. Any suggestions for enrichment within MCPS at early elementary?

In first grade?

Prime learning time, PP.

Beast Academy online, with the physical textbooks. It's the best math program around for elementary!
Encourage the reading. Select children's classics, they're more challenging to read and great for culture.
Enroll him in art or music classes.
Visit museums often.
Teach him cursive.
Play board games.
Buy him SmartGames or ThinkFun toys.

So many fun things to do!

[Anonymous]

Isn't that pretty typical in this area? You can supplement with workbooks, private school or what ever you think.

[Anonymous]

He's in school many hours per day. Perhaps you should let him have time to play and discover his own interests, instead of pushing him.

[Anonymous]

At that age, it’s best to keep things fun and encourage curiosity. Lots of trips to the library, museums, children’s theater, nature centers.
Don’t expect a parade from the school. It’s not that unusual for young children to s ore a few grades ahead. But he also needs to learn social skills, routines and other things that kids learn in the early years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age, it’s best to keep things fun and encourage curiosity. Lots of trips to the library, museums, children’s theater, nature centers.
Don’t expect a parade from the school. It’s not that unusual for young children to s ore a few grades ahead. But he also needs to learn social skills, routines and other things that kids learn in the early years.

+1 All of this, plus the suggestion about a language or instrument so that your child develops the "habit" of hard work.

But also remember this - reading "at a fourth grade level" just means hitting the benchmark that MCPS wants every single child to be able to hit by that age. It's not that your child is reading at the level of an advanced or even "normal" 9 year-old. It is that they are reading at the baseline level that every 9 year-old, including those who came into school with no pre-school, should hit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in 1st grade; however, has been in the 99% in the MAP (math) the past two tests and reads at an almost 4th grade level. As a new parent to MCPS, what enrichment pathways are available to keep DC engaged and excited about learning? DC is already pulled out for reading and math. No clue as to what opportunities MCPS offers. FYI- we read at home, but do not do any math enrichment at home.

Your child is in a good company. If you ask the teacher it will most likely turn that about 35 to 40 % kids are right at that level.

It is because many kids are more prepared for school then others and by the 3 grade this will level and then you will
know if your child being ahead is the result of your over prepping or his talent of catching material and processing
it at the lighting speed over the peers.