Ok I am asking on behalf of my neighbor. Her son is a 5yr old who is extrmely smart. He is reading at a 2nd grade level , knows all the presidents in order , most states and capitals it is amazing. Is anyone in the situation? Do you have a gifted child? Know of a good school? Thought I would investigate for her. Thanks any advice would be helpful.
Can always try homeschooling so that age is not a factor and the teaching can go at the child's pace.
J.
Your friend should first probably have her son tested first. I'm not an expert, but there are differences between Academically Talented, "Gifted" and just really motivated to learn. Truly Gifted kids will need some more serious accommodations for their curriculum. For that, I'm not sure how best to approach it. The other classifications given to kids who excel at academics can usually be made within a public school, private school or home-schooled setting. It's not always easy to convince the teachers or school to make the accommodations, but it's feasible. Also, kids of that age (5)are so different depending on what they were taught at home or preschool. I know kids who were thought to be super smart in Kindergarten and 1st grade because they could already read, but by 3rd/4th grade the ones who learned some things really young through extensive preschool or homeschooling before starting school and those kids who didn't are evening out. Also, don't forget the social and life skills education that are often second and third on the list when you are just beginning to raise children. As my kids are getting older, I find those things are just as important if not more. It would take a lot to convince me to move my child up a grade. It's easy when they are 4-6 years old to have the ages mixed, but when you have an 11 year old in class with a 13 year old, academically they may be equals, but the age differences can make a bigger impact on the younger kids feeling smaller, less confident, less mature, etc. Good luck!
I'm a father of four dauthers 21-18-15 and 3, you might want the teachers at your local school decide his I.Q level besides reading there maybe a skill like math,history,science that he may lack in.I find with the no child left behind program that all public and private schools are using the teachers know what to look for. If a child excels in all subjects in most cases they will move them up a grade.I guess the bottom line is what can they afford
Check out the public school's gifted program first. Otherwise try if money is not a factor Avery Coonley is an outstanding school for gifted children.
I would encourage your friend to consider homeschooling her son. I ran into the exact same problem with my "gifted" daughter, and just wasn't satisfied with the substandard education she was receiving at public school. As a stay at home mom of two, private school is out of our price range, and I have found homeschooling to be a fantastic experience for the whole family. I wish people would put a higher priority on their children, and a little lower on their income.
I am in exactly that same situation. I was so lucky to find an understanding principal at Immanuel Lutheran School in Palatine. She tested my daughter when she was four and put her directly into kindergarten (two years early). She started first grade reading at a fourth grade level and doing third grade math. If you want to accelerate at all, public schools won't do it, but private schools will. The two gifted schools by me are both over twenty thousand dollars a year. I just don't see how any elementary school can be worth that.
Has she tried checking out a monasory( not sure if the spellings right) in your area. It's a very small, hands on type of schooling. There's always some sort of waiting list, plus they get expensive, but well worth it.
I can tell you from experience, that many of the public schools "gifted" programs don't come close to the type of curriculum this little boy may need. I would advise your neighbor to contact a private school with an excellent reputation for "gifted" kids and they can do an evaluation. One thing to ask her, is he comprehending what he is reading? If so, that is even more amazing to be reading at that level at his age. Does he have a desire to learn? Again, jump on it while you can and if you can afford it. If you can't afford it, public schools aren't bad by any means, they just lack the funds needed to help advance the gifted and the ones that may need a little extra help. Just my experience. : )
