Child Skipping a grade

As sort of a spin off to holding a child back, What about an advance child and the school district wanting to move them up?

My DD is a June girl so right smack in the middle of the year, however, she far exceeds the kids in her own grade level and the grade level above hers. She is currently doing work 2 grades above hers and the school is talking about having her skip a grade in september. Academically I know they are right, but socially we're very concerned.

Any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated?

Child Skipping a grade

To me you would be having the same issues that the previous thread was discussing. Is your DD in the Gifted and Talented program? Are they offering her enrichment courses during the day or special projects to enhance her interests? G&T children are technically in the "special education" category and while we focus on the lower end special needs child in giving them programs to ensure they get the correct education the district also needs to focus on the higher end of special needs to make sure they are also getting enough challenging work to help them to continue to succeed as well. Most schools have a Special Education PTA that deals with both or they have a seperate G&T organziation that you can field these questions too and to see what other parents in the district have done.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

I was skipped ahead in kindergarten in 1982. I didnt think they did that anymore. I had NO issues being with peers that were 1-2 years older than me until senior year when everyone was driving except me.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

I wouldn't consider it for my own child. The social pressures of today are ridiculous and i wouldnt want a child to have to deal with them at all, much less at a significantly younger age than her classmates.I think it's best to keep a child with his or her peers and differentiate the curriculum to meet his or her needs.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

Message edited 1/1/2013 4:45:13 PM.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

I think CouponKT has a DD who just went through this.

Honestly, I don't think I would worry much about skipping a child 1 year ahead as long as you are comfortable with their social performance.For the school to be suggesting it, I'm guessing your DD is pretty far ahead. I would be more concerned about it coming from the parents. Schools do not do this often so I would think they have a strong reason to suggest it.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

Thanks for all of your replies. Our school district does not have a gifted and talented program but does have special clubs and groups outside of the school day for extra enrichment. As for the regular school day the teacher teaches and when she breaks them into smaller groups(based on ability) for reading and math, my DD is in her own group and doing 2 grade levels above on everything. I struggle with this as I do have another child who is a November bday and should have been held back socially years ago, but intellectually she is where she should be. In some ways I feel I let her down socially, but academically she's in a good spot. I just don't want to feel this way with my other DD if we choose not to or choose to move her up a grade.

I was able to share some of my concerns with the district and as a trial they are going to be pulling her ou ot her class now some areas and putting her in with kids in the next grade to see how it works.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

Re: Child Skipping a grade

We were offered this option before we put Robbie in school. They actually said that once he was IN school, moving him up probably would not be an option.

He is now in 6th grade. He does a lot of work well above grade level - but he participates in SEED and other activities at school and home to keep him challenged.

In my own opinion, I don't think it's necessary to move a child up beyond their own grade (it adds pressure, creates social chasms and doesn't a 'better' education.. just a faster one). The EXCEPTION being if your child is one that is college level advanced in elementary school. I mean.. if my child had an IQ of 180, understood string theory, was doing complex chaos math and was capable of writing fully fleshed out literary thesis - well chances are that he'd be BEYOND miserable and bored learning normal el ed/secondary ed material. In that case I'd move him up. But otherwise.. I'm content to allow him to feel like a big fish in a little pond and to supplement with teaching him bit by bit at home.

BUT every kid is different! You know your child better than anyone here.. so do what feels right for you and your baby!

Re: Child Skipping a grade

My dd is in first grade. Academically, she could be in third grade. Easily. But I would not put her ahead. While she is mature for her age, she is not mature enough to skip even one grade when I think down the line. I'd rather her be enriched right now. Eventually it will catch up to her. She is being challenged by her teacher on her own level, but I am sure that other students will catch up to her and the curriculum will get harder as she goes along. My feeling, for my child, is I'd prefer her to not skip. There's so much more that goes on in an educational setting than just reading, writing and math. So many skills that can't be tallied on paper that a child learns in each grade.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

I would not skip a child unless they were one that was originally held back. I think work aside the social aspect is tough. Better to be a big fish in a little pond then a little fish in a big one. I would instead look into supplementing what the school can do with outside ways to challenge them. You could also if they are gifted look into a private school like LI school for the gifted.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

my daughter skipped Kindergarten. it was not a decision that we or the school district took lightly...but at the end of the day it was more about keeping her engaged and excited about school. thankfully she has integrated well into 1st grade.

looking back i think that this was the best decision we could have made. She would have been too bored in Kindergarten.

Marianna has a January birthday, so she isnt as young as your daughter would be, but she did fine. Only you know your daughter and no matter what other parents tell you, only you can decide if its the right choice her. Good Luck with your decision.

Re: Child Skipping a grade

It is quite important that they are BOTH academically and socially ready for the next grade. Just because she is ahead now doesn't mean she won't even out at some point and then wind up even behind.

My DD skipped Kindergarten this year, but her birthday was ONE DAY after the school cut-off. So, in some districts (depending on cut-off date) she may have been in 1st grade anyhow.

I would only skip Kindergarten. Anything after that I feel like they lose too much. Even though DD was in K for only a few days and then put into 1st, I very much felt like *I* lost out on Kindergarten and the experiences that come with it. All of a sudden, she was thrust into daily homework, tests, etc. It's more than what they can do now, it's if they can handle what's coming down the pike too!

FM me if you to talk

Child Skipping a grade

I would definitely take the opportunity and move her up! It will help her in the long run. If she stays in the grade she's in now, with time it will be too easy for her and she won't be challenged enough. Children need to be challenged to motivate themselves to do better. A friend of mine has a child that skipped two grades and even though it was a bit awkward in high school, many classmates took him under their wing and helped and looked out for him.

Child Skipping a grade

Sports have always been important in my life. Making school teams have become very difficult and skipping a grade may make your child not as physically up to par with the others (if you think sports may be important to your dc)...