School "Too Much" For 5 year old? - Page 2

[cyberfish]

Well they're not going to change the free time/recess thing.
My daughter has been reclassified as "on grade level for K" while noting that she does some exceptionally complicated things in some areas. This is in direct contrast to what they told me a few weeks ago. I guess they don't want to deal with us any more.
They don't consider kindergarten kids for gifted things until way into the spring so they can put them in an advanced 1st grade group.
They have one part time person to take care of all the gifted kids in two elementary schools, with each school having probably 400 to 500 kids total.

I'm going to wait a few weeks, see how my daughter is, and then take appropriate action for her. If it means pulling her, then I'll do it.
I can find someone to watch her at what I think is a more than reasonable rate, but any little bit of money is a big issue for us right now. I may be re evaluating that stance soon.
Unfortunately, talking to the principal has not been an option. They're on their third one this school year.

Thanks, mamas, for your support. The picking up a child from school who is miserable to the point of tears just is breaking my heart.

[ecoteat]

They have had THREE principals THIS YEAR?! Oh, what a mess. No wonder they can't meet everyone's needs. Are there any private schools you could send her to? Is there only one K class in her school? If you had documentation that she was identified gifted, would they have to provide accomodations? In other words, would it be worthwhile to spring for outside testing, or is the school in no position to do anything about it right now anyway?

MsBirdie, gifted kids are absolutely special needs. Cyberfish, if your daughter was as below average as she is above average, the school would be making an IEP for her and working toward getting needed accomodations in place (hopefully!). What are the gifted laws in your state? Do gifted kids get IEPs? I think that usually that doesn't kick in until later, but if you could document that she had an exceptionally high IQ, they couldn't ignore that, could they? (Well, maybe they could. But let's just go with my optimism...)

[ecoteat]

Oops... double post.

[cyberfish]

Originally Posted by ecoteat

They have had THREE principals THIS YEAR?! Oh, what a mess. No wonder they can't meet everyone's needs. Are there any private schools you could send her to? Is there only one K class in her school? If you had documentation that she was identified gifted, would they have to provide accomodations? In other words, would it be worthwhile to spring for outside testing, or is the school in no position to do anything about it right now anyway?

MsBirdie, gifted kids are absolutely special needs. Cyberfish, if your daughter was as below average as she is above average, the school would be making an IEP for her and working toward getting needed accomodations in place (hopefully!). What are the gifted laws in your state? Do gifted kids get IEPs? I think that usually that doesn't kick in until later, but if you could document that she had an exceptionally high IQ, they couldn't ignore that, could they? (Well, maybe they could. But let's just go with my optimism...)

Love the optimism But no, they changed their policy to only identify kids as gifted who are either good in reading or good in math. Overall high IQ is not, technically, a "gifted" criterion. There are multiple kindergartens but my daughter was placed in the one based on what was initially her "high" reading ability and what is now apparently her "average" reading ability.

Yes, let's hope we hold on to this third principal.

The school is willing to test her this fall but recommends waiting until spring when they'll be testing a bunch of other kindies. She'd be the only kindie testing in the fall if I went for that and it's a long, involved process. Plus, they won't necessarily do anything about it if she does pass the test.

There's a Montessori in town but they're notoriously expensive. Plus I can't get a hold of people there. They don't answer the phone or return phone calls.

Looks like we'll be elsewhere next year anyway so maybe we can stick it out. I don't know yet.

[domesticidyll]

Hugs, mama.

I don't have the time for a long reply, but short-term, could you send in a book for her to read and call it enrichment or "challenge work," but let it actually be an excuse for quiet time?

Similarly, can you send in workbooks for her to do instead of the regular worksheets? There are some great ones, not just drilling.

Good luck,
Heather

[rachelsmama]

Originally Posted by cyberfish

My daughter has been reclassified as "on grade level for K" while noting that she does some exceptionally complicated things in some areas. This is in direct contrast to what they told me a few weeks ago. I guess they don't want to deal with us any more.

One of my daughter's friends is gifted, and when she went to school the main thing she learned was how to hide her abilities from her teacher and classmates in the interest of fitting in. I would be highly suspicious of the newer classification.