Today Z is in kindergarten. She didn't luck into a spot in the Spanish immersion classroom, so she's in a regular class of 18 with a wonderful, experienced teacher. They line up for lunch, recess and their extra-curricular classes and they work on their letters. The goal, by the end of the year, is for each kindergartener to tie their shoes, recognize 20 sight words and write 2 simple sentences about a picture.
If you know my daughter, you know she's already reading chapter books.
I'm fortunate that her school has recognized her gifts early in the year and they're having her assessed by the gifted and talented teacher this week. We have a meeting scheduled with her teacher for Friday where they'll tell us our options, but it looks like they're going to recommend skipping her ahead to 1st grade.
After much soul-searching, I think moving her ahead a year is the right thing to do. Z conquered the kindergarten curriculum (and more) in her third year at Montessori preschool and she's the kind of kid who craves new challenges. She's already complained about being bored by "sitting and coloring" -- she'd rather read or just play with the great toys in the classroom. She knows a handful of 1st graders and her teachers agree she's ready socially.
The only drawback is her size. In the 10th percentile for her age, she'll look positively puny next to 6 and 7 year old 1st graders. Once again, she'll complain about "always being in the front row for the class picture." Yes, I'll be swimming against the cultural currents, which seem to favor "redshirting" children so that they'll be the biggest/strongest/smartest.
It's been interesting going through this process while reading Monica Holloway's parenting memoir Cowboy & Wills: A Love Story
. Although on the face of it the challenges Monica Holloway deals with raising a son with high-functioning autism are quite different from mine, we both see the incredibly important role school (as well as the companionship of a wonderful dog) plays in a child's success.
. Although on the face of it the challenges Monica Holloway deals with raising a son with high-functioning autism are quite different from mine, we both see the incredibly important role school (as well as the companionship of a wonderful dog) plays in a child's success. In the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I received my copy of Cowboy & Wills for free as a part of the From Left to Write online book club. The link to the book is an affiliate link.
13 comments:
I think you are doing the right thing by moving Z ahead to 1st grade. You are sending her the message that school is a place where she can be challenged as opposed to warehoused.
And fwiw, I think being the youngest / smallest in class is easier for girls than it is for boys.
Big, big decision! As a former 1st grade teacher I have very mixed feelings about this. I do think that Zoe is ready educationally and socially but she will always be the youngest when kids are dating, driving and going to college and probably the smallest. Robbie started school when he was just 5 so he is younger than others but already is being taken out of class in 4th grade for gifted activities. Are these things available for Zoe. Also what about physical changes as others are maturing in her class and she isn't. I would th ink Montessori could work with her on so many things without skipping her ahead. Just my opinion! I am surprised that she is being "warehoused now". What about other school options. There must be places for gifted students within grade levels at other schools, I would think.
@Anonymous Z isn't in a Montessori school anymore, she's at a well-respected public school. They do have a gifted and talented teacher who pulls kids out for extra enrichment, and she's been evaluated by him. The official meeting isn't for a couple more days, but from what we've heard so far, they think skipping her ahead will benefit her more than extra enrichment assignments.
My girls are both among the youngest and smallest in their class, and they've learned to accept it. I also started early, and was glad of it throughout my scholastic career. But I wasn't the youngest. The youngest I knew in our class just turned 16 before graduation, and she was also the smartest in our class (valedictorian). She is now a writer for a non-profit organization that helps feed the world's homeless. Being the youngest never held her back from doing amazing things.
I think this is great and don't be surprised to see she is ahead of many of the first graders academically. And I think moving her in NOW is way easier than revisiting the issue mid year, next year, the year after. (What can I say, I have issues.)
Also, my nephew skipped a grade despite his bday making him prime redhirt material. He is the smallest kid, but he's a freshman in high school now and just made the football team! He's the statistician and gets to put his mad FanFootball skills to work.
Congrats!
My question is: What does your daughter want?
Thanks for all the input and support. Z is going to spend tomorrow afternoon in a 1st grade class, doing math while her kindergarten classmates rest. I'm looking forward to hearing what she thinks.
My twin sister and I were in a gifted program in kinder, 1st and 2nd grade and we skipped ahead to 3rd halfway through our 2nd grade year. It was fine. The only thing was that when we reached middle school and high school, we were...young. Maybe hung out with people too old for our maturity. But we did well and it did a great deal for our self- confidence, a gift that stays with you for life. Good luck with your decision and I can see why you made this connection for the fromlefttowrite.com book club for Cowboy & Wills. Great post!
This is huge! But I know Z and I think she will hold her own. Too many parents are trying to get a competitive edge by "redshirting" IMHO and I am not sure it really will matter in the end. Thanks for sharing your story!!
Nick made the cutoff for his class by 1 day. Many people recommended that we hold him back because he was a boy. So glad we didn't. Yes, he wasn't 21 until after he started his senior year in college and he was only 90 lbs as a freshman boy, but he was challenged, he excelled, he had tons of friends, and it would have been a travesty to have held him back.
I think your thought of moving her forward is smart. If you don't, you run the risk of her being bored out of her mind and hating school. Even with enrichment there is only so much that can be done to challenge them.
You know your child best. Do what feels right.
I am on your side with moving her up. Boredom is the worst when being in a learning situation and can sometimes make a child slide backwards.
Not that this relates to your child, but I have read so much about kids being diagnosed with ADD, Asperger's, etc., when they are in fact gifted.
I was moved ahead and believe me ... I don't feel slighted by having had to stand in the front row for awhile. It's NOT a big deal that I was the youngest for driving and such ... trust me ... she will meet others in her same boat. I turned out JUST FINE and thank my parents to this day.
Z. sounds AMAZING! And she couldn't look more confident. Smart is good. It's very, very good.
I have come to learn from so many parents that all of us worry about something -- ALL OF US. And it's the good stuff that we hopefully go to sleep with at the end of the day. Her size is - well - enormous - because it's based on who she is -- this child with much to give and receive. XXOO
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