Reply to Question regarding algebra in 5th/6th grade

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Our school recommended the acceleration (First grade teacher, principal, and AART).  In second grade, our principal coordinated one-on-one testing of our child's math skills with someone from Gatehouse.  Using those results, as well as the routine standardized tests, our principal created a specialized plan for our child to telescope in math to a class 2 grade years ahead.  It was our preference that he remain with age based peers for the rest of his day.  The school has asked our permission each year to have our child take SOLs above age level to continue to monitor progress and make sure our child's needs are met.  Next year we are discussing an additional acceleration that will involve our child starting the day in middle school with busing provided by the county back to our elementary school and then an independent study during our child's usual elementary school math time.  Interestingly, our school has so far offered to provide the transportation, but perhaps that will end up falling to us as it did for the prior poster.   [/quote]

It's wonderful that your school is so proactive with highly advanced students.  I want to reassure OP and other people that if your school does not take action on their own, it doesn't necessarily mean that your child isn't worthy of skipping.  It might mean that your school just isn't very proactive or they're too busy with too many struggling kids to notice your child's ability.

Like PP, my kid skipped 2 grades in math.  We emailed the principal, said that the kid was absurdly advanced in math, and asked what could be done in terms of enrichment.  The principal then had my kid pulled by the math resource teacher for 1-1 testing which resulted in the math grade skip.  At the meeting with the principal and math resource teacher after the testing, it was clear that they had not been paying any attention to the iready scores and were too overwhelmed in general with the struggling learners to pay any real attention to the outliers at the top.  Had I not initiated the process, my child would only have been skipped ahead one year in 4th grade as part of the regular "6th grade algebra" track.

If you think your child is far ahead in math, and you have some concrete evidence, like absurdly high iready scores, it's okay to advocate for your child.  Not every school is paying attention to the off the charts iready scores or perfect scores on the math beginning-of-year exams.  Not every classroom teacher is noticing which kids are bored out of their minds.  Many principals would rather keep your kid in grade level math if you appear to be content with the situation, because the logistics of grade skips can be challenging.  Sometimes, you have to be the squeaky wheel.  [/quote]

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