Anonymous wrote:People are at all levels. I knew of a preschooler who was like an ultra absorbent sponge for information, devoured knowledge like an insatiable bottomless pit, not kidding. It was difficult to keep feeding the information he sought to him. He really should be in middle school. Anyways maybe you can skip grades if they’re socially and emotionally ready for that?

I think when you find a child who has a talent, like a talent for learning, you should be saying "ah great, now I know I don't have to focus on helping them with that. Where can I help them instead?"
Not wonder how you can cram more down their throats.

People are at all levels. I knew of a preschooler who was like an ultra absorbent sponge for information, devoured knowledge like an insatiable bottomless pit, not kidding. It was difficult to keep feeding the information he sought to him. He really should be in middle school. Anyways maybe you can skip grades if they’re socially and emotionally ready for that?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

Anonymous wrote:Is there any classes/program like that in ES for first grader to apply? I bumped into my kid's daycare teacher at supermarket the other day, and she told me that I should have looked into those opportunities for my first grader if there is any.

She says that my child is the smartest kid she ever seen in her 9 years teaching career at daycare, and we should look into it. I was flattered, and I think it is quite exaggeration on her part. Her first strength is math and second is reading.

She said the same thing about my kid last year. He's now failing out of 1st grade. I think she's just a people pleaser.

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of eligible kids get in (and don't get in) via the G&T lottery? That sounds like a nightmare if you have a very high achieving kid and suddenly you lose your cohort when they get in and you don't.

One person's nightmare is another's equity-driven dream.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any classes/program like that in ES for first grader to apply? I bumped into my kid's daycare teacher at supermarket the other day, and she told me that I should have looked into those opportunities for my first grader if there is any.

She says that my child is the smartest kid she ever seen in her 9 years teaching career at daycare, and we should look into it. I was flattered, and I think it is quite exaggeration on her part. Her first strength is math and second is reading.

None. She will be screened for placement in a lottery in third grade to start a magnet program in fourth grade (called CES now), but that’s the earliest. There is also compacted math (there years of math curriculum in two years, grades four and five) offered at most ES but also starts in fourth.

Just enrich at home and let her be a kid. If she is brilliant now, she will still be brilliant when she is older.

Things also tend to even out over the early years. Kids who read early seem so advanced in pre-K and K. By the end of second most kids are reading fairly well.

What percentage of eligible kids get in (and don't get in) via the G&T lottery? That sounds like a nightmare if you have a very high achieving kid and suddenly you lose your cohort when they get in and you don't.

NP. I agree with most of the PPs, though I wanted to add that there is a Gifted Education Committee of the MCCPTA which is the county's association of PTAs/PTSAs. Please do join your PTA and if there isn't already a gifted liaison, consider volunteering as one--apparently not a lot of work/time commitment. Here is their web page. It contains links to the 'know your rights' document, as well as the MCPS policy on gifted education, which I think are very helpful in terms of setting expectations for both parents and schools.
But I do agree that prior to 3rd grade, you would ideally be able to provide enrichment for your child as much as you could. It's not as complex as the differentiated instruction that would be needed in later years, like the enriched math, etc.. But no harm in also exploring what the school can/should provide now (my gifted kids joined MCPS after 4th grade). https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XfaATVeeTFoa12qYxzXsxPZuQEoZLhiFQmki7XfkvVI/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

ES teachers are *supposed* to be able to differentiate the experience within the curriculum to match a student's learning needs. For language, this may be less clear, especially in early grades, as the curricula available vary a bit across schools (Benchmark Advance, Enriched Literacy Curriculum, supplements like Jacob's Ladder, William & Mary, Junior Great Books, Lucy Calkins, etc.), and many options start in later grades. MCPS' Eureka math curriculum has some built-in variations available, and MCPS follows a 4-tiered enrichment model, culminating with acceleration to the following year's curriculum (limited circumstances after the other tiers are exhausted).

Unfortunately, there is variation in teacher training on enrichment and in the amenability of local school administrarion to accommodation, in addition to the variation in peer ability within a class that can limit the time/attention a teacher can pay to each student's need. The year is just starting, and teachers are still evaluating students, but you should feel free to request a meeting to discuss your thoughts well prior to the scheduled period for parent-teacher conferences and to pursue the matter within and above school administration if you feel needs aren't being met.

Public schools are pretty basic in early ES. You'll need to handle this yourself.

Anonymous wrote:Awwww...

IMHO, you need to be the one who spends time with your kid and give the enrichment, exposure and acceleration that your kid need, during the early ES stage.

Anyways, ES magnet programs usually start in 3rd grade for which you apply in early 2nd grade. However, now it is all lottery, so unless you are the demographic - FARMS, URM- you don't have too much of a chance.

The program starts in 4th grade, and you don't have to apply in 3rd grade because there is universal screening now.

I would focus more on what her current teacher is saying and how you feel she is in her current situation.

Awwww...

IMHO, you need to be the one who spends time with your kid and give the enrichment, exposure and acceleration that your kid need, during the early ES stage.

Anyways, ES magnet programs usually start in 3rd grade for which you apply in early 2nd grade. However, now it is all lottery, so unless you are the demographic - FARMS, URM- you don't have too much of a chance.

Is there any classes/program like that in ES for first grader to apply? I bumped into my kid's daycare teacher at supermarket the other day, and she told me that I should have looked into those opportunities for my first grader if there is any.

She says that my child is the smartest kid she ever seen in her 9 years teaching career at daycare, and we should look into it. I was flattered, and I think it is quite exaggeration on her part. Her first strength is math and second is reading.