P.H. asks from Pomona, NY on May 18, 2010
Trouble Finding a 1St Grade
We have been interviewing numerous schools to find a place for our soon to be 1st grader. (Original decision was made last year, about a month ago the selected school informed us that based on his academic progress this year they did not feel they could effectively fulfill the challenge presented.) Our son is currently in Kindergarten in a Montessori school. He is currently doing multiplication, beginning division and reading for comprehension. The problem is the standard 1st grade curriculum does not support his current academic level. We have taken the school tours but have found that the schools which are able to meet his academic needs are not located locally. We are looking to find a school that will provide a well rounded experience, i.e. academic, social and athletic opportunities. To further complicate the situation, we are looking to relocate (out of Rockland County NY). We are looking for an area that will have a good school district able to meet his educational needs while offering him a social network of children his age. My husband feels that our poor choices in choosing a home location should be corrected by allowing our son to choose the school he wishes to attend. This will require 2 or 3 additioanl school visitations. Please remember we are speaking about a 5 year old and are in the middle of May. Although I feel our son's opinion is valued, I think it's our responsibilty to look after his education and make this decision. Lastly, time is running short as we are in the middle of May and many schools are looking to finalize their class rosters. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
So What Happened?™
First, thank you all for your heart felt feedback. We have made a decision. We found 3 schools all with equally high academic standards and reputations. We visited each school, our son spent the day at each school as a student and we made numerous follow-up calls to each school until we had all our questions and concerns addressed. We reviewed how we had worked with our son to expand upon his current school studies and the overall need to be "Well Rounded". For those of you who are concerned that our son is a bookworm and has no time to be a "kid", please understand he is also very active in sports (brown belt in TaeKwonDo, swimmer and participates in soccer) as well as getting into mischief and playing in the park with his friends. All the normal kid stuff. Of the 3 schools, we settled on a Catholic school with Academy status. The school goes to the 8th grade, has an excellent reputation, high number of scholarship recipients, focused on overall child development (academic, social and religious) and family oriented. Although the ultimate decision was ours, for those of you who are wondering, we did give our son a vote. 3 for 3 we picked the same school. Again, thanks for your feedback.
More Answers
N.D. answers from New York on May 19, 2010
I have a radical suggestion. Why not let your kid be a kid? What is the point of a 5 y/o doing multiplication problems anyway? So you spent a small fortune sending him to Montessori so they could teach him beyond his peers and now he will be bored with his peers and you are considering moving to a place with other little geniuses? I dont think there are any public school districts that teach multiplication in first grade. Well maybe in China.
Sorry for sounding sarcastic, but when your son enters Harvard no one will care about his accelerated math skills in Kindergarten.
2 moms found this helpful
T.S. answers from Sacramento on May 18, 2010
Hi P.,
I don't know anything about your area, but want to point something out to you. Your son is extremely advanced academically and likely gifted (I'm sure you know this) and regardless of the quality of school system, the mainstream curriculum is not going to meet his needs. Even a "gifted and talented" program is going to be populated mostly by kids who are performing well below your son. Rather than look for school systems with good reputations (since these reputations are for educating "average" children, which your son is not) I'd reccommend finding a specific school with a program that WILL meet his needs. (You're probably looking at something private, but not just a run of the mill private school or you'll run into the same issues as in public school).
Also, remember that school ranks and reputations are largely based on the number or students they have performing at or above grade level. They do not speak to the quality of education being offered (by that I mean that schools with highly educated parent populations have high performing students which may or may not have anything at all to do with the classroom instruction, many of these students would have excelled wherever they went).
Good luck.
T.
1 mom found this helpful
J.C. answers from New York on May 21, 2010
My only advice is that you not forget about your child's social education. It's so important that your child is able to be a social being. Being exceptional in his mind will be meaningless if his heart and soul is not cared for.
And as for him making the decision... he's 5. He can have a say but you need to do your job as a parent and make decisions for him.
Good luck!
C.C. answers from Fresno on May 18, 2010
I live all the way across the country from you, but my suggestion is to visit a Carden School near you, if there is one. I was a Carden student and both of my girls go there, too. It's a fantastic curriculum that really allows bright kids to excel. We've been so happy with it.
C.O. answers from New York on May 19, 2010
Try Rockland Day School in Congers, NY. It is a private school.
R.Y. answers from New York on May 19, 2010
My kids are not in school yet but I know there is a Waldorf school in Chestnut Ridge. We visited several years ago because my husband was interested in teaching. They are not exactly advanced in academics but focus a lot on hands on learning. I have seen many private schools advertising in the Parent Paper but I couldn't steer you to any specific one.
As for your son deciding, I would give his opinion strong consideration but have the parents make the final decision. There are so many things to factor into a decision like that that a 5 year old doesn't have the life experience to consider.
K.H. answers from Utica on May 19, 2010
I recommend homeschooling since you can't continue in the school you are in. Your son sounds like a bright kid who wants to learn and he will be able to do anything he chooses, what a blessing that is!!! I put our son in school knowing how to read and boredom was prevalent and after many talks and much frustration they moved him out of K to 1st, but ... We finally found a private school where they worked at their own pace. Policy was to test all children for grade level. My son at 1st grade age, tested out of 4 grade, and was placed in 5th grade material. He finished grades 5,6, and 7 that year through P.A.C.E. For the most part it was much better than trying to work with the school system. Today he is a lawyer writing contracts for the US government. That program is available for homeschoolers as are many other excellent programs.
I homeschooled my twins because the school was no longer available. I used a variety of materials. They homeschooled through high school and are now in college. One for art, and the other journalism. It took work and determination but when I see their success & and their character I am glad I took the time.
God bless you as you make the decisions you need to make.
M.M. answers from Jacksonville on May 19, 2010
Have you thought of homeschooling him?
If you really want him in school then skip him a grade. Bring all his progress to the principal. She won't want to do it, but you are the parent, it's your right.
I wouldn't let your child have any say in where he goes to school. THey get to pick college, if you let them choose what elementary schools they go to then they will never get to the college they really want.
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