skipping a grade

[friendtoall]

What is the genereal opinion on skipping grades these days? Is it in or out of style?

We are moving in March to a district that starts school earlier than they do where we are now. My daughter is 5 weeks younger than the cut-off age. She has tested high recently in a few areas. I'm debating having her tested by the new school and possibly having her put a grade ahead if they still do that. I think she is ready emotionally and intellectually, though she may not have the stamina for that much schooling.

What do y'all think?

[CarrieMF]

They don't generally advance kids here. They give them enrichment & higher level work than the rest of the class.

Is she in school now? Is she 5 weeks younger than the cut off where you are now, or where you are moving her to? If she is already in school they will most likely keep her in the same grade & I probably would anyhow as moving to a new school is hard enough, but having to play catch up on grade work would be very stressful.

[kmeyrick]

As a teacher I have a real problem with skipping grades. It's just a cheap way of handling gifted education that takes no money or effort. Heck it saves the schools money- if a school spends, say, 15K a year per student, a student who skips a grade will graduate early and the school has just saved a bunch of money.

There's a dark side to skipping grades. Just because a student is academically advanced doesn't mean the student is at the emotional maturity or physical strength that older kids are. These young students often have trouble forming friendships, can become isolated, and are targets for bullies.There's more to school than just grades. And a friend of mine who went to college just before she turned 17......while her parents gushed at dinner parties at how their daughter was in Montreal because she was so brilliant, the truth was they sent an under-age teenager to live on her own in a different country, and the results showed. She never graduated.

Parents of gifted kids get so excited when they are advised to skip a grade, their egos get so swollen of the prestige that they don't stop to think about unintended consequences. It's what happened to my friend and my dad.

A lot of schools skip grades, but they SHOULD spring for gifted education and enrichment. It's just the right thing to do.

[journeymom]

First ask, why do you want to do this? Is she suffering in this grade level? Is she bored to tears? Or is she still having a good time? Can the teachers in the new school simply supplement her work with more challenging stuff? Do they have an at-grade-level gifted program?

I was an assistant in my son's 1st grade. One girl was in the advanced reading and the advanced math level. She was very articulate, well balanced, happy, sociable girl. Most importantly I'd say she was socially more developed than her classmates. So when 2nd grade started, she'd been moved ahead to 3rd grade. It is an excellent fit. She's thriving. My own son is academically ahead of his classmates, but socially he's right where he belongs. His teacher gives him challenging school work.

My impression is that this girl is the exception. You know your child best. Be a little conservative here. If it is really clear to you that she's suffering because her grade level isn't meeting her needs, then you should consider it. But if it just seems like a neat idea, then you should probably consider it a little longer.

==========

I'm debating having her tested by the new school Absolutely, go for it. The results will be interesting regardless.

she may not have the stamina for that much schooling. This is important. You don't want her to be worn out and start hating school. It shouldn't be a drudgery. Just because she can do math and whatnot ahead of her grade level doesn't mean she should be doing that 6 hours a day, 180 days a year. These little people still get tired.

[TiredX2]

Personally, I wouldn't skip a child unless I was sure they would still be "ahead" (as in the top 1/3rd of the class) in their new grade as well. Is your DD way above everyone else in her grade? Also, take into account the district she is moving into--- do you expect it to be harder, easier or about the same?

Both of my kids are young for their grade. DD started 2nd grade when she was 6. Oddly enough, though, she was in a 1st/2nd split where there was another 2nd grader younger than her (by three weeks--- also skipped) and a 1st grader who did not turn six until December (our cutoff is Sept 1). DD & the other 2nd grader both did great. The younger boy was definately academically ready, but had a really hard time with the discipline (it is also a "gifted" class). But, he is now in 3rd grade in the same program and he is definately in the right place.

Last year, in 3rd grade there was actually a 3rd grader who had skipped TWO grades. He is back this year in the 3rd grade again--- still the youngest kid in the class but a much better fit (he has a 9/5 b-day).

DS has an 8/31 bday so he barely made it. In kinder there was a child w/a November b-day after his and this year there is also a different child who is younger than him. They have both done fine. I am sure the child in kinder was advanced for a 4 year old, but she was definately near the bottom of the class for kinder. The younger child in DS's class this year is right in the middle. 1st is definately a better fit for her than Kinder would be.

It is such a personal decision.

What is the cutoff in the new district? What is DD's bday and what grade is she in now? Do you know the curriculum for the new district?

[Mary]

I would expect the new school not to do it because they have no experience with her and nothing to base the decision on. I've only heard of teasting in in certain situations for kindy, but I've never heard of it for other grades.

We are looking at skipping my son to 3rd next year, but he has been at his current school for the year and his teacher reccommends it. He is in a 1st/2nd split class and doing all of the 2nd work- reading way ahead of that, and is doing lessons with an advanced 2nd grade math group (he's the youngest and one of the strongest in this group). Socially- most of his friends are a year or more older than him.

Based on this year I think he will be ok, although I am still hesitant. I just worry about the social situation. Even though he is a mature kid for his age, I worry about older situations in the future that he might be thrust into that he's not ready for. We'll see. I think a more ideal situation would be if he goes on to another mixed grade class next year, so there would still be a mix of ages.

Anyhow, I think it all depends on the child and the school.

[journeymom]

Friendtoall, you might consider posting this over in the Preteen and Teen thread. See if there are some parents who did this, so you can get their perspective.

[kmeyrick]

Originally Posted by Mary

Based on this year I think he will be ok, although I am still hesitant. I just worry about the social situation. Even though he is a mature kid for his age, I worry about older situations in the future that he might be thrust into that he's not ready for. We'll see. I think a more ideal situation would be if he goes on to another mixed grade class next year, so there would still be a mix of ages.

Anyhow, I think it all depends on the child and the school.

You're right, Mary.

I wish there were more options for gifted education.

[friendtoall]

The main reason I am considering this is that there is a spot open in the SK class but the JK class is full. So technically she would be "skipping" 6 months of kindergarten. But I really would like her to be able to attend French Immersion, and if the only way is for her to skip ahead, I'd do it as long as I'm sure she's ready, which I'm pretty sure she is at this point. Of course, I'd try her in the SK class but if it wasn't working, I'd pull her out (luckily these grades are not mandatory) and put her in again in September, but we probably wouldn't be able to get her in French Immersion. But a spot may open up...

[velochic]

Can you speak a little more about the language immersion? Are you in Canada, where French immersion is more wide-spread or are you in the US?

I ask because dd is in foreign language immersion (in the US... as in, 100% of her schooling is in a foreign language), and I would push for foreign language immersion even if it seems counter-intuitive. It's worth it.

[ChristaN]

We are looking at a grade skip for my 4th grader for next year (sending her to 6th). The research I have read does show grade skipping to be beneficial socially, emotionally and academically for some children, but not all. (Take a look at www.nationdeceived.org)

I have to disagree with the pp who said that:

Parents of gifted kids get so excited when they are advised to skip a grade, their egos get so swollen of the prestige that they don't stop to think about unintended consequences.

This is not about me. It is about my daughter. I have told the school that, if it doesn't appear to be in her best interests, we don't want to do it. I do, however, agree with Tiredx2 who said that she'd only skip a child who would still be close to the top of the class to which she is advancing.

We all have anecdotes. Anecdotes are not research. My grandmother skipped two grades and, for her, it was a good choice. I have a good friend, who is quite a bit older than I am, who was grade skipped and regrets it. I don't know if either of these women's experiences will be relevant to my daughter's experience, though.

For us, the school dd would be entering (a middle school) is using an Iowa Acceleration Scale to determine how good a candidate she is for a whole grade skip. This requires input from her current teachers, parents and the receiving teachers and school as well as IQ scores and achievement scores. Personally, I would not be comfortable skipping a child without test scores. I want to be sure that my dd isn't just a high achiever. The research really only supports grade skipping as a long term benefit for gifted children.

[Kushali]

I skipped a grade when I was in school. I went from 4th to the honors track of 6th. It worked well, although I still wish I had gotten subject accelerated for math, science, and computers in high school. I'm sure some people saw me and thought I was "socially isolated" because I skipped a grade. Really though I'm not one of those people who wants three hundred casual friends. I much prefer interacting with small groups and having a couple very close friends. I doubt my social behavior would have changed any if I had been with my correct "class".

In college met a lot of people who'd skipped a grade or started early. By and large they were indistinguishable from those in the correct grade. About the only generalization I could make was the ones who left high school early to enroll in college.

If your daughter can do the work I'd say push for the skip. Be supportive if she has troubles now or down the road, but don't expect them. I've heard K cutoffs ranging from 5 by June 1 to 5 by Dec 31 so I cant help but feel they are entirely arbitrary.

[NeedsTylenol]

There's a dark side to skipping grades. Just because a student is academically advanced doesn't mean the student is at the emotional maturity or physical strength that older kids are. These young students often have trouble forming friendships, can become isolated, and are targets for bullies.

:

My husband skipped a grade in elementary school, and he was never able to fit in with the other kids in his class because he was emotionally immature compared to them even though he was doing advanced work.

[RomanGoddess]

Originally Posted by friendtoall

We are moving in March to a district that starts school earlier than they do where we are now. My daughter is 5 weeks younger than the cut-off age. She has tested high recently in a few areas. I'm debating having her tested by the new school and possibly having her put a grade ahead if they still do that. I think she is ready emotionally and intellectually, though she may not have the stamina for that much schooling.

It sounds from your post like you daughter would be just starting school early rather than skipping a grade. Two different things, in my view. You don't miss material when you just start early.

I think the best judge on whether starting earlier is appropriate or not is you. In England, all kids start grade one at age 5 and in other systems, they start at age 7. Forget about trends. Do you think she would be capable of doing the work well? Will she be able to play well with the others? Will she adapt? What will she be doing if you have to wait another whole year?

Alternatively, if feasible, you could put her in a Montessori programme in which ages are mixed and all children go at their own pace.

[tuffykenwell]

Originally Posted by friendtoall

The main reason I am considering this is that there is a spot open in the SK class but the JK class is full. So technically she would be "skipping" 6 months of kindergarten. But I really would like her to be able to attend French Immersion, and if the only way is for her to skip ahead, I'd do it as long as I'm sure she's ready, which I'm pretty sure she is at this point. Of course, I'd try her in the SK class but if it wasn't working, I'd pull her out (luckily these grades are not mandatory) and put her in again in September, but we probably wouldn't be able to get her in French Immersion. But a spot may open up...

Well I know in Ontario since Kindergarten is not a required grade they can't disqualify you for the French Immersion program just because you didn't do Kindergarten in French Immersion. They can't require it since Kindergarten is an "optional" program.

The way I am understanding you your DD is the correct age for SK at the new school district so even though she is currently in JK she would only be skipping to a grade that has same aged peers. Is that correct?

If that is correct then I would probably go ahead and skip her if she is doing well and you can give her the necessary support to help her succeed.

Steph

[MamaOutThere]

There's a dark side to skipping grades. Just because a student is academically advanced doesn't mean the student is at the emotional maturity or physical strength that older kids are. These young students often have trouble forming friendships, can become isolated, and are targets for bullies.

Yes, but then there's the opposite of that. My dd has the emotional maturity to skip a grade. And she is currently socially isolated because of it.

But, we still won't be skipping.