Gifted Child

I was feeling at peace about the plan for my ds7, and now I'm suddenly anxious again! For those who weren't around when we had our dilemma last year...  ds7 is very good at math, and his school suggested sending him to second grade for math last year (when he was in first). In our district, accelerated math starts in third grade, so we could have sent him to regular third grade math this year (and then he could have joined his same-grade peers in accel next year) or had him try out for accelerated (in which case he'd do fourth grade math with a subset of the third graders). We went round and round about what to do and finally decided that if he qualified, we'd place him in the accel group. He did, and we went ahead, figuring that we'd decide what to do in fifth grade when the time came (because at that point, he'd need 7th grade math). I wasn't too worried about the transition, because he knew most of the kids from math class last year (though not necessarily the ones who qualified for accel math).

Well, yesterday, the principal called and told me that they ran into a scheduling problem (the issue with attending class in other grades). He was super nice about it, but basically said that the way things are scheduled, he really can't miss his second grade class to go to third for accel. He suggested that instead, ds could go to math with one of the fourth grader regular math classes - who are using the same curriculum as the third grade accel.

I am meeting with the fourth grade teacher, his second grade classroom teacher and the principal this morning, but I'm just not sure. Ds7 is a great kid, but only average maturity. When I look at him compared to ds9, he's definitely not there. Not to  mention, ds9...  he's excited that his brother might be coming to his grade (but not to his math class, because ds9 is in accel, doing 5th grade math in fourth). However, I wonder if the other kids will just see him as "ds9's little brother." And I knew the third grade math accel teacher - she was ds9's teacher last year. I absolutely LOVED her - she was one of the reasons we thought it'd be successful.

School starts TOMORROW and all of a sudden I am discombobulated when two days ago I felt like everything was so good and settled.

Sigh...  just venting. Nothing is ever simple with these kids!

Theresa

Even though they are teaching the same curriculum, there might be a lot more repetition of basic skills in the fourth grade class that the accelerated 3rd graders might not need

I thought the same thing, but when I mentioned it, the principal refrained from rolling his eyes, but did say, "Oh Mrs. H, I would hope that there might be at least one fourth grader on par with, or perhaps even, beyond where ds7 is..." It was clearly a bit of sarcasm although he tried to say it sincerely. :(

I KNOW that my 7 year old might not already know more than some of these kids, but that doesn't mean he doesn't "get" math more. I replied rather sharply that my senior had the highest GPA in her math class and just got a 32 on her ACTs but that doesn't mean she'll EVER like math as much as her three siblings (a fact she bemoans but takes a secret pride in, I think :)). For ds7, it would be great for him to be in a class with other folks who think like he does!.

I DO appreciate what the school is doing, and I had a fantastic meeting with the fourth grade math teacher today. Everyone at the school has been wonderful, but it's awkward and I know it will be awkward for some of my friends who have fourth graders in that class. Two of my friends were upset when ds9 got into accel math and their kids didn't. Now my second grader is in class with their kids. I just hope it goes well tomorrow.

Thanks for listening :)

Theresa

Keep in mind that really, there isn't going to be all that much socializing going on. You don't come across many group projects in 4th grade math. You pretty much get some instruction, get your assignment and work on it individually. As long as he's mature enough to work independantly, he'll be fine.