The Gregarious Child and Strangers - Page 2

[moominmamma]

 

Originally Posted by MomofSev 

I have read many, many books and articles on the topic of gifted children and the importance of seeking out peer groups instead of age groups. With this information I have read, I guess I have this idea of how it is supposed to be. My husband, as also echoed the importance of socialization with our son, which I agree with since he is a very social boy. It is important, for him, that he is in a school with other kids. 

I don't want to dissuade you from your Plan A, but I did want to reassure you about what might end up being a Plan B for you some day. Like you I think that peer groups are more important than age groups. School is built very much around age-groups levelling though, even when there's a secondary attempt to stream for ability. By homeschooling we have been able to step completely outside that age-levelled format, and it has been very freeing for us -- not only educationally but socially. "Peer groups" for us generally means multi-age interest-focused groups and activities where my kids are among the youngest, and are able to gravitate to interaction with older people and receive instruction at a level that is more appropriate to their needs. It meant having my youngest in a community orchestra with teens and adults at age 7, taking my 9-year-old aspiring scientist a series of adult-oriented natural science lectures, having my 12-year-old in an adult choir, getting involved in an aikido program where my kids could move up to much older groups based on their focus and mastery, having them mentored by older homeschoolers and adults who share their passions. Despite the fact that we live in a tiny community, my kids have found meaningful social relationships as a result of our community-based interest-led approach to homeschooling. Not with agemates, for the most part, but healthy long-standing friendships with people of a variety of ages who share their interests.

Miranda

[MomofSev]

I, personally, can see all of the benefits of home schooling. It would be my husband who needs convincing. After much discussion, we finally agreed to get our son tested and see where we go from there. We are hoping from the discussion with the Dr., we can finally decide what would be best to do for him educationally.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by MomofSev 

We are hoping from the discussion with the Dr., we can finally decide what would be best to do for him educationally.

Sounds like a plan. But expect "what would be best to do for him educationally" to be a moving target over the years. Emotional development, social affinities, interests, attitude and motivation ... these things will all change many times over the years, and an IQ profile alone won't help you make sense of those things. What makes sense at age 4 may make no sense at all at age 6.

My 12-year-old has absolutely thrived as a self-directed homeschooler. She finished pre-algebra, and read an AP biology textbook cover to cover at age 9. But in 6 weeks she's going off to high school and she'll be taking ordinary 9th grade science and 10th grade math. Even though there will be little intellectual challenge I think for a variety of reasons that it's the best choice for her right now. Kids' needs change.

Miranda

[MomofSev]

I am completely prepared to end up home schooling, or supplementing with work at home. I will try, for my son's desire to want to go to school, to have the teachers work with him. Surely if he is in kindergarten and doing first grade or second grade math (we're working on basic multiplication now), they should be able to teach him that (not that I expect them to give him individual attention the entire time, but they can at least give him self-directed work and I can supplement at home to make sure he stays challenged.) I want to make sure that I am able to make sure he stays challenged if school does not.