Anonymous
Post 04/24/2024 14:09     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Anonymous wrote:Enroll him in other things to challenge his brain beyond just moving ahead. Coding class, language class, music lessons. All of these will make his brain work without increasing boredom in school.

All bright kids are bored in 1st and 2nd grade. Things don't really level out until 3rd for reading.


This is the truth. Until 3rd, advanced kids (often just early readers) are bored. Try music lessons, send in books so he has more options during free reading time, and view this as an opportunity for him to build confidence by being a leader in his class. Don't worry, he's not missing anything. No school in the area, public or private, is focused on "advanced" k-2.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2024 14:35     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Anonymous wrote:Hi! I'm really just looking for advice from all you experienced parents on what to about a 1st grader who at the top of the class. He is enrolled at ACPS where TAG has been dismantled. They actually have not even tested advanced academics yet. Who knows of the school ever will... I'm not sure what to do with him and have been scared to teach higher level math directly to him for fear he will be more bored than he already is in class. Although he regularly pushes ahead to learn math concepts on his own. He's reading somewhere between a 3rd- 5thth grade reading level and somehow has at least an hour of free reading times in class because he finishes class work so quickly so comes home with his library chapter book already read. What should I be doing with him? Am I doing a diseevice to him by not pushing him academicly? And how would I even do this outside of a private school? Are there recoembed extra curriculars? Would private school even be equipped to differentiate learning for him? Advice please.
Get him on Beast Academy (start at the beginning of level 2 at most). A private school that doesn't teach him any math and lets him either read or go through math on his own would still be better than the public school situation.

For English, you can get the book Deconstructing Penguins and the Poodle level of Michael Clay Thompson.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2024 12:54     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Supplement with enriched activities and instruction outside school if you can. Agree with chess suggestion and other strategy thinking. Point out interesting thing and ask what he thinks of that and what he would do in situations etc. Introduce music and art and sports and other outlets and see what he takes to. Spend some free time in library.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2024 12:50     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Anonymous wrote:I would switch him to private school asap and look into outside math enrichment. I think many parents are doing a disservice by not providing the support that above-average kids need for fear of "accelerating too much" or "not letting kids be kids."


+1.

I was that bored kid in public ES. Learned nothing in (a different) public school for several years. So much happier when parents moved me to an academically challenging private. Would have been happier still if I had after school enrichment while stuck in the public ES. We could not really afford private, but parents cut spending in other areas to make it work.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2024 11:57     Subject: Elementary school advice?
you have to pick the right private for your kid. For academically advanced kids, there are tons of options, includind St. Albans and WIS in DC, Basis IM, Nysmith, and Edlin in VA.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2024 10:32     Subject: Re:Elementary school advice?
My kids are in a private, in elementary, and they are bored. I give them access to math and science outside of school, and I teach them coding at home. They are also competitive chess players. If I could manage not working, I would homeschool. Best I can do is supplement and find them a more academically rigorous school for middle school. Do not assume that private will meet your child's needs.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 16:34     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Sounds really advanced and may benefit from homeschooling if that is an option. I liked the other suggestions above about language lessons, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 16:13     Subject: Re:Elementary school advice?
I know of no one who speaks highly of ACPS. Seriously, no one thinks that is a strong school system or that it is a great place to send kids to school. The people I know who had kids in that area either moved or sent their kids to private or did a lot of outside enrichment.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 16:11     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Anonymous wrote:I would switch him to private school asap and look into outside math enrichment. I think many parents are doing a disservice by not providing the support that above-average kids need for fear of "accelerating too much" or "not letting kids be kids."


Which private schools are good for academics? Do you recommend any?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 13:57     Subject: Elementary school advice?
I would switch him to private school asap and look into outside math enrichment. I think many parents are doing a disservice by not providing the support that above-average kids need for fear of "accelerating too much" or "not letting kids be kids."
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 10:46     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Thank you! I appreciate these responses. Yes, we are already regulars at the library. Music and foriegn language and chess are great ideas to look into.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 10:05     Subject: Re:Elementary school advice?
Introduce him to chess. From your description there is a significant chance he'll like it and may want to pursue it seriously.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 10:04     Subject: Elementary school advice?
I wouldn't push him or teach him, but I would give him access to activities and subjects if he is actively seeking them out. Khan Academy has lots of stuff for math, and other areas. If he is a big reader, bring him to the library every Saturday and let him get out everything he wants. There are plenty of ways to feed whatever he is passionate about.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 09:57     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Enroll him in other things to challenge his brain beyond just moving ahead. Coding class, language class, music lessons. All of these will make his brain work without increasing boredom in school.

All bright kids are bored in 1st and 2nd grade. Things don't really level out until 3rd for reading.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2024 09:44     Subject: Elementary school advice?
Hi! I'm really just looking for advice from all you experienced parents on what to about a 1st grader who at the top of the class. He is enrolled at ACPS where TAG has been dismantled. They actually have not even tested advanced academics yet. Who knows of the school ever will... I'm not sure what to do with him and have been scared to teach higher level math directly to him for fear he will be more bored than he already is in class. Although he regularly pushes ahead to learn math concepts on his own. He's reading somewhere between a 3rd- 5thth grade reading level and somehow has at least an hour of free reading times in class because he finishes class work so quickly so comes home with his library chapter book already read. What should I be doing with him? Am I doing a diseevice to him by not pushing him academicly? And how would I even do this outside of a private school? Are there recoembed extra curriculars? Would private school even be equipped to differentiate learning for him? Advice please.