My daughter has always been advanced for her age. She attended a "gifted" pre-school and is currently enrolled in public school for Kindergarten. The school she is in has a good reputation, however there are no "gifted" programs available in our district. Here is my dilema: My daughter reads on a 2nd grade reading level and has already been exposed to much of the work in the Kindergarten curriculum. While I realize there are many areas she can improve, I can see her frustration as she is expected to repeat work she has already done. It's only the second month of school and she has aready told me "school is boring, we don't learn anything". I have scheduled a conference with her teacher to discuss this, but I have no idea what to say without stepping on any toes. I don't want to come across as a pushy parent, but at the same time I don't want my daughter to think that school is for re-learning what she already knows! Any advice on how to approach this? (Private school is not an option financially at this time)
So, I spoke with my daughters teacher who was quite surprised my daughter could read, but very receptive. She has been sending home extra homework to challenge her. (Not too sure how I feel about that one yet, but my daughter seems enthusiastic). She is now being sent to a first grade class for reading, and has been asked to read aloud to her own class a few times. In the meantime, my husband and I are investigating private schools...just in case.
Be VERY pushy if you need to, after all this is your child's education and she has a right to learn no matter what her age! Don't be "afraid" of your school district, because they will bully you if they feel they can. Also, you shouldn't rule out private schools. A lot of them offer scholarships and/or other financial programs. Do some research and ask your pediatrician to give you a recommendation. Good luck.
check out the brooklyn free school. brooklynfreeschool.org - it's relatively new, i don't know much about it, but when i was researching schools in brooklyn, it popped out at me.
Hi, I have a gifted girl too. She started kindergarten at four and is now in seventh grade. I understand your frustration and the only advice I can offer is what you described your were already planning on doing. Talk to her teacher. If she's got even a 1/2 way decent one they'll understand and try to accomodate. Maybe they have some first grade workbooks she can work on after she's finished with her classroom assignment. Maybe the teacher will know of other options like private school grants or financial assistance programs where she can have the opportunity to work with kids at her level. I would call around to the area private schools. They may have programs for situations just like yours. Good Luck.
B.,
I am a school psychologist in a Connecticut school district. I think that it is absolutely appropriate for you to speak with your daughter's teacher about your concerns. Explain that you want to make learning and school a positive and happy experience for your daughter so that she continues to enjoy the learning process. If you approach the school in a "let's work together" manner, I am sure they would be more that willing to pull their weight. I do know that in the state of Connecticut, we have the legal obligation to test/identify "gifted" students, especially if the parents request, but the law does not mandate that we provide programming. The best thing you can do is forge a good working relationship with the school now, so your daughter will see home and school working together for her benefit. Remember too that school is not only about reading, writing and math, it is also about social development. Sometimes we focus so much on where they are academically that we lose sight of their social emotional development. Make sure that she is staying socially engaged with her peers.
Good Luck!
H.
I am also having a similar problem. My daughter started Kindergarten this year. I pulled her out of a private school because that school acknowledged that they would not make any special accomodations for my daughters level. I put her in public school where the principal (in a private meeting) assured me that they would definately accomodate her level, and it could possibly result in bumping her into 1st grade. My daughter is reading 3rd and 4th grade level. She can tell time, has started counting money, and is doing math. The Kindergarten teach was aware of my concern from the beginning. During parent teach conference my concern was raised again. Two months later my daughter didn't want to go to school anymore because she was bored - so I raised my concern again and provided math books for her at school. It has been a month since bringing the books and my daughter is telling me that she is still bored and the teacher hasn't given her the books I brought. Met with the teacher again yesterday, and she giggled telling me that they do math everyday. Later that day my daughter told me that the teacher is lying. Now I'm waiting to hear from the principal. Half of the school year has passed, and she could have been in 1st grade (what a waste of time). My daughter reads books to the class to keep her interested, give students advise on topics they are unfamiliar with, and doesn't hesitate to correct behavior with chidren. I find it amusing that the school has made no effort to engage my daughters interest to be challenged. I will be seeking a college student who is pursuing a teaching degree to tutor my daughter since I can't rely on the school system. What happen to teachers embrassing advanced children. I would be flattered to have an advanced child, knowing that I could take part in stimulating that childs knowledge.
you should be assertive and not back down. and shouldnt care mauch what they think.
push and step if you have to because no one has your child's interest at hear like you do.
talk to the teacher and see if she can give your daughter additional work while in class, and if she doesnt feel like it, go to the principal
PUSH AND STEP
you don thave ot be rude about it, but you absolutely have to get something from them.
I would keep at this. Discuss with her teacher often. Ask to have her assessed by child study team or better yet, have her tested yourself. This can be expensive but might work in your favor. I have a friend who's daughter is very advanced and she attends the Princeton Day school as a scholarship student. Her parents pay nothing (tuition is >$10,000 for kindergarten). Good luck.
Hi.
I disagree with the advice of being pushy. People tend to react defensively when being pushed. I think you should merely tell the teachers that you noticed that your child has lost interest in school and when you asked her why that her response was because she already knows the material. Then ask them what do they(the school) suggest that you do. This way they feel included in coming up with a solution and at that point you decide what is best.
Hope this helps
M.
