Gifted Child - Jacksonville,FL

Have you considered homeschooling? This is a great option for children who will be left behind by the public school...labeled trouble because they are bored, and she will have more social experiences, and a lot more fun. She can just take off from where she is now, and expand where she needs/wants to without restrictions. And the cost is a lot more affordable...

Here is a great thesis paper that may interest you..:)

http://jacksonvillehomeschoolkids.yolasite.com/socializat...

I think you need to hold your horses.......

Never make crucial decisions based on your emotions. WAIT until you are willing and able to look at facts and base your decision on factual information.

I'm not saying you don't have the next Einstein, many factors go into play with skipping grades, etc. You have to look at social, age, ability, etc.

$7000 a yr for private plus all your driving, wear and tear on car, gas money, etc............ think about it.... this child needs a college fund and you are going to spend that now?

Calm down and good luck.
Take it slower and then decide.

Well from the tone of your question, no I don't think you should spend the money because you will probably find something wrong with the private school as well.
I have worked as a classroom aide and playground supervisor (as well as spending many, many hours volunteering) and I can tell you schools are on a very tight budget, everywhere. It cost precious resources for specialists and testing.
Skipping a grade is more than academic, it's about social and emotional maturity. Parents blaming their kids' acting out (excessive talking, for example) on being bored is the oldest most tired excuse I've seen. Sorry, I know that's harsh, but you need to look beyond your daughter's reading and math skills and look at her as a whole person. My experience was working in first grade, and there were several kids who were reading way beyond grade level. But they were still 6 to 7 year olds and they did best with other 6 to 7 year olds. Everyone was challenged to do their best, at their level.
I have a daughter who is almost a year younger than the rest of her class and now that she's almost 16 I can see what a big mistake that was to give her that "head start" in kindergarten (she had a late birthday.) So please, step back, calm down and stop taking it so personally.

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Perhaps you could have her come proof this post, it is very unreadable. So I pretty much scanned it.

You have gone on ad nauseam about her reading skills, her art ability. Even some writing. Please don't take this the wrong way but woopty freaking doo. That is one of many subjects. Yes it is one that is beaten into the ground in kindergarten and first because reading is the key to learning but that doesn't mean squat long term.

That is why they test all subjects and not just the one she excels at. She is good at a loner subject because she hasn't been in social situations as much as some kids. That does not make her gifted. It makes her temporarily ahead of the game. What do you think would happen to her self esteem when she bonds with the new grade and then must be held back because she cannot handle the course work.

Anyway, don't waste your money on private schools. If you really want to nurture her abilities take her to the library. Sign out books at higher levels if the library doesn't allow it. Teach her the extra stuff yourself.

As someone who was actually gifted it isn't that bad being bored in school. You learn how to read under your desk. My older daughter tested off the charts but I never allowed her to advance grades. I allowed her to learn what she wanted where she learned best. Let your daughter be a child, don't live vicariously through her.

this is actually a great site with lots of good help available. are you really that incensed over one or two blunt (not nasty) comments? because that is life on an open forum. -or is it that so many (very nicely) disagreed with you? either way...you have now given up any pedestal you have put yourself on, by being catty and rude right back. hate to say it but you are now part of what's wrong with sites like this. congratulations!

Talking out of turn is as much a sign of social immaturity as boredom, social immaturity a common problem with 'giftedness'. There is WAY WAY more to a child's education then test scores.

It might be better to implement extra stimulation at HOME, and work on social skills, rule following at school.

Plus, what's the big RUSH, you need her to start college at 15? Are you financially prepared for THAT?

Mostly relax, enjoy her!

:)

I think it's better to save all that money for college. Future employers aren't really going to care about primary school, but secondary and post-secondary education will follow her forever.

I don't like nastiness on here either.... But I read through every one of the posts below trying to figure out what your original question was, and I didn't find nastiness. Maybe some were blunt but nobody seemed nasty. In fact, most of them were good food for thought.

Wow!! Does you daughter throw tantrums also like you do???
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There is a lot you need to consider about skipping grades. Look to her future, how will she feel when she is much younger than her high school friends? Will she be able to always keep up in the future?

My husband was gifted and as soon as he started going to the gifted classes, school went down hill for him. Maybe it's different for girls, but I honestly do not see any good in a kid skipping a grade. I don't think you should be so upset with the school.

As far as the private school goes, that is a lot of money that you admittedly do not neccesarrily have and all of that driving time is ridiculous. Why not keep her in the grade she's supposed to be in and continue to teach her things at home? This way, she'll be very prepared for high school and can start on college credit courses.

I honestly think you are jumping the gun and are acting based on your emotions right now.

I understand you are frustrated and want to do what's best for your daughter. I urge you to take a deep breath, relax, and give everything a bit more time. I know you feel you've already "wasted" a year, but if your daughter were advanced and she wasn't emotionally prepared for it, that could also be a wasted year coupled with a feeling of embarrassment if she "doesn't make it."

I was labeled "severely academically gifted" in fifth grade after many moves. (I'm an Army brat, now a Navy wife.) My mother refused to entertain any conversation about advancing me grades. She felt the opportunity to develop emotionally and socially on a "normal" curve was invaluable. I read many books (both at home and under my desk in classes that were less-than-stimulating.) I tutored.... A LOT! I've made a lot of great friends over the years starting as a tutor.

I admire you for wanting to provide the best for your daughter. I would weigh the cost/benefit of the money and travel investment into a private school at this stage in her development. Talk to her teacher for next year. See if she can work with you to stimulate your daughter without the frivolous title and formal structure of a "gifted" program.

Most importantly.... BREATHE! Try to project an air of serenity. Your daughter can and will feed off of your anxiety and frustration.

Looks like your all set then. Just remember that socially, she will have difficulties, especially if she is in a higher grade with older kids. By the way, not every kid talks in class when they shouldn't. Behavior and Intelligence have a lot to do with the other. I really am not judging you, and you are obviously frustrated.. I am just letting you know that it may be a different story when she comes home crying, or is frustrated, or isn't able to make friends.

My daughter sounds JUST like yours... literally. She's brilliant- and didn't have schooling prior, etc. (except some basic home learning from us) She exceeded 1st grade level when she entered K. She is being put in the gifted program. I highly suggest doing that instead of skipping. The gifted program will allow her to be with kids her age for other class activities (trust me, it is so much better cause kids are "growing up" sooner socially), and then she will be challenged on her own individual level. It would give her more attention because gifted programs are a lot of one-on-one (at least with our school).

...and really, socially it is better to stay with the age group. I hate hearing about all the stuff the older kids are doing now... they are still so young:(

I here what you are saying. I over taught my dd going in to school too. The other kids, quickly taught up, because she was ignored. It wasn't until 3rd grade, my above average child was able to take off from the class. In 3rd grade the read to learn, instead of learn to read. They study things like heros in history, endangered animals. The reports given by the children were so different, because of the their reading and comprehension levels. Math took a bigger turn with fractions, geometry, division, and multi rather 1 + 1. This was the first year my dd wasn't bored and excelled even more.

Don't have time to go into your whole question but just wanted to point out that you really need to think a lot about this before you do it. By law public schools must accomodate gifted (and I do't know about your state but your school would be in violation of PA law here. Look up the law on your state dept of education website). Private schools do not have to accomodate. Unless this private school is exceptional (and Monessoris are not) I would really look into your own school district. Tell them that you are going to talk to your lawyer about why it took all year to test her after you requested that she be tested. This might make them reconsider advancing her.

Whatever you feel is the right thing is the way you should go. Go with your gut. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to go. If the tuition and drive is too much for you, then try another way. Maybe the Montessouri school is the right one. Are there charter schools there? What about homeschooling? I know my son tested 2 grades ahead of where he was at when he was younger and was bored. My other daughter finished her kindergarten school before she even started so we skipped to first grade. They're homeschooled so I didn't have the issues. But with both of them, they seemed more at the normal level when they were older, even though school seemed like a breeze compared to my other kids. I wish you the best and hope you get what you want for your daughter.

what happened-I've been gone for a few days?

I hear and understand your frustration!

~My youngest son's best friend (they are 5) is WAY brilliant...like WAY gifted! He taught himself to read at 3, does serious math in his head and is a little sponge about learning! His handwriting is impeccable, he taught himself to play piano and LOVES sports! Anyway, they have been in 2 yrs of preschool together and this next year will be entering K together. In our area, they do not do any thing for gifted kids until after the 3rd grade, when and only if they have past all the 'gifted' tests (1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade) his mom, like you, is worried about him being challenged...her plan is the same as what she has done throughout his preschool career...she sends extra stuff to school with him, for him to work on when he is done with the regular assignments. Sometimes it's workbooks, some times its college age math books...whatever his lil' brain is currently focusing on at that time in his lil' life. It works for them. Maybe it will work for you?

I can not tell you how surreal it is to walk in to talk to the sweet lil' boy and have to be like 'Sorry buddy, I don't mean to interrupt your reading of the mechanics of rockets...or the latest issue of popular science :) My friend is used to it and got many a pointers from her MIL, apparently her husband was like this as a child also, very independent learners who need absolutely NO outside help as far as being 'taught' things!?

I wish you all the luck! I am with you on your thinking about keeping her challenged and letting her continue to learn and grow at her speed!!

Pft! To the librarian! What the heck? That woman sounds frustratingly dumb!

Hmm, I think Montessori might work but I suggest you try a few things first. My Nephew was a genius. Seriously, he could blow us all away. I'm a young Aunt and decided when I was 8 and he was 4 I better just enjoy the ride, set aside any ego and have fun with it, because he was explaining positive and negative ions and what caused Thunder and Lightening to me as we lay in the top bunk and he held his blankie (surreal fun memory :-)! He was NEVER allowed to act out because he was bored. What is the difference if we act out because we are bored or just don't want to do our work? All of us have responsibilities and have to learn to navigate through life, consequences, all that fun stuff ;-). He was also NEVER allowed to act superior to anyone else. This has served him well. He has a great sense of humor, is happy, he's introverted but enjoys people. If he was allowed to either hole away and read or work on the computer (or act out!) that wouldn't have happened. It also got him into programs such as Stanford at 14 because he could handle it (ALL of it). My sister also found a teacher that looked out for him and helped set the curriculum for him. The goal was to keep him with his peers for as LONG as possible so he did as much work as possible in his grade level class and visited the high school. They were in a very small town in an agricultural community. Education is valued but it IS a small twon. I have NO doubt this would NOT have happened if he had been a "problem" child. My daughter recently pulled the "bored" card and the "it's too loud card" at school. She tested borderline as your child did. I let the teacher know acting out was NOT acceptable and she either needed to be sent to the principal or I was to be called to come discipline her if need be. I didn't want her to be a part of the classroom management nightmare I see today. They were hesitant to do this because most of the time she is cooperative and gets her work done and for some reason there is NO discipline or much consequence in the classroom. Anyway, I also agree with another post. I don't push her, or do any extra work over the summer. She is the youngest in her class due to redshirting (she entered K at 5 years). She seems emotionally less developed than her peers (not sure since she's a good year younger than most of her classmates) so it will not serve her well to advance her. Her first grade teacher tested her reading AND Comprehenion at 8th grade but didn't go further because at that point it just didn't matter. I can't hand her a novel she's able to read and comprehend that she's not emotionally ready for. One way to look at this. Your daughter is not going to lose intelligience. Supplement and find ways to motivate within the constrains of the current situation and use this time to teach her how to deal with others and to be a gracious caring person. Approach the teacher as a partner, be supportive of her for the challenges your child brings (good and bad) to the classroom. It may turn out that you do eventually put her in Montessori. Staying put now will give you time to find out the positives and negatives about the program beyond the drive and cost. Also, about the test. It is VERY regulated, and there is a cost to administer it. My understanding is it can't just be given by a teacher. Another position and red tape so to speak adds cost. Anyway, All the best!

Update:
Wow! If you didn't get anything but negativity from all the answers than you were looking at them negatively. This may be because you are so frustrated right now, but I have a feeling it's an ongoing problem. Too bad as you need to partner with whoever you decide teaches your child. To be successful I think you'll need to be more open and less sensitive to others opinions.

I think you're doing the right thing.
Public school won't do a thing for gifted kids till at least middle school, sometimes high school, depending on the school system.
And gifted programs get cut first and most often when budget problems arise.
It turns the elementary years into a time when you spend SO much energy fighting boredom, and repetition while the class moves in lock step at the pace of the slowest kid.
Or they have the brighter kids assisting the slower kids.
Socially, gifted kids tend to get along better with older kids.
My son (gifted) got along alright in elementary school, but he's really blossoming in middle school now that his peers have finally matured to his level.
And in taekwondo he gets along very well with high school kids (my son is 12).
The Montessori private school should be a lot better.
But if it's more than you can afford, homeschooling might be a really good option for you and your daughter.

I hate the label "gifted" and think it is widely over used for kids that have just had more teaching from parents before school started to put them ahead. Most kids who start K reading at a 2nd grade level are right on track with the rest of the kids by 2nd or 3rd grade when the other kids catch up, and often are not ready socially to advance with the older kids before than. If she was board in class the teachers should have been finding her something to work on, but the job of the teacher is to get all the kids ready for the next grade, so I would not blame them for giving your child less attention since she did not need it and other kids may have. This is a huge part of the reason I have not pushed my very smart kids to learn beyond their age level, it just sets them up for problems when school starts.

At this point you have to do what you feel is best for your child. I do not know her so I do not know if she would have the maturity for the next grade, but if she is not being skipped than maybe you should talk to her next teacher about ways to keep her interested so she does not disrupt the other students if she gets done early, ect.