long story...
DS just turned 7 on july 31. We moved to Ohio from New York state 2 years ago exactly, right after he turned 5. Because the cut off for K is 5 by dec. 1 in New York, we were planning on him starting school. Since we had just moved, we decided to start him in a virtual charter school, but after half the year, it seemed good for him to get out and meet some kids, etc, so he went to a private K for the second semester.
In our district it is extremely common for boys with summer birthdays to wait til 6 for K. The cut off in ohio is sept. 30, but I have been amazed at how ds is the youngest by far in his classes.
After K, we got him into first in a public magnet school, as we couldn't really afford the tuition or transportation involved in the private school. This school has a great reputation, has waiting lists to get in, etc. He got the "bad" 1st gr. teacher (more flaky than mean), had 25 other kids in the room with no aide, and the transition was horrible. He cried every day for 6 weeks, at school, at home, on the way, refused to take the bus etc.
After 6 weeks I pulled him and put him back in the private school he was in for k. He was overjoyed. He spent the balance of the year there. The school was really easy. He is a little theologian (seriously) and loved the religious content, but the rest of it was like advanced K for him.
OK, so for grade two we would like him to be a little more challenged. He is gifted in language arts, reads about 4th grade level, hates math, does not like to work. Now that we have been in our city for a while, we have learned that another magnet school in our district is maybe more his style, it is a arts focused magnet school. Unfortunately, he did not get a spot in grade 2. They fill it by lottery and he is second on a waiting list, with no signs of any spots becoming available.
There is a spot in grade 1 at this arts magnet school. Both grade one teachers are great. Since he did little work in 1st at the private school, and since they integrate the arts into every thing at this school, I think he'd get a lot out of it. I told the principal I'd like to place him there, and she agreed, but she warned me that if he gets really bored, she can't move him up to second, due to no space in those classes.
He will be among his true peers in 1st grade this year, and I have talked to him about how his old school was far too easy for him. He agrees and I know he feels he can handle first grade at a public school much better this year. But my friend who knows him thinks it is ridiculous to have a gifted kid repeat a grade!
The alternative at this point is our neighborhood ps, which has 2 second grades with small numbers, but one teacher who, by all reports, is a "screamer." The other is reported to be likable. This school has had some issues, though, and I am not that excited about it, though if we want ds in second this is where he has to be. Private school is out of the question for us financially. I would love to homeschool, but I know I would really struggle, and he is the kind of kid who needs to get out of the house, mostly because he would stay home, navel gazing, if he could.
Am I crazy to put him in first again at a different school with a very unique program? Of course, I can wait and see what happens (first day is in two weeks), but I would rather avoid starting him and changing him right away.
Sorry this is so long. If you are still reading, feel free to share your thoughts!
DS just turned 7 on july 31. We moved to Ohio from New York state 2 years ago exactly, right after he turned 5. Because the cut off for K is 5 by dec. 1 in New York, we were planning on him starting school. Since we had just moved, we decided to start him in a virtual charter school, but after half the year, it seemed good for him to get out and meet some kids, etc, so he went to a private K for the second semester.
In our district it is extremely common for boys with summer birthdays to wait til 6 for K. The cut off in ohio is sept. 30, but I have been amazed at how ds is the youngest by far in his classes.
After K, we got him into first in a public magnet school, as we couldn't really afford the tuition or transportation involved in the private school. This school has a great reputation, has waiting lists to get in, etc. He got the "bad" 1st gr. teacher (more flaky than mean), had 25 other kids in the room with no aide, and the transition was horrible. He cried every day for 6 weeks, at school, at home, on the way, refused to take the bus etc.
After 6 weeks I pulled him and put him back in the private school he was in for k. He was overjoyed. He spent the balance of the year there. The school was really easy. He is a little theologian (seriously) and loved the religious content, but the rest of it was like advanced K for him.
OK, so for grade two we would like him to be a little more challenged. He is gifted in language arts, reads about 4th grade level, hates math, does not like to work. Now that we have been in our city for a while, we have learned that another magnet school in our district is maybe more his style, it is a arts focused magnet school. Unfortunately, he did not get a spot in grade 2. They fill it by lottery and he is second on a waiting list, with no signs of any spots becoming available.
There is a spot in grade 1 at this arts magnet school. Both grade one teachers are great. Since he did little work in 1st at the private school, and since they integrate the arts into every thing at this school, I think he'd get a lot out of it. I told the principal I'd like to place him there, and she agreed, but she warned me that if he gets really bored, she can't move him up to second, due to no space in those classes.
He will be among his true peers in 1st grade this year, and I have talked to him about how his old school was far too easy for him. He agrees and I know he feels he can handle first grade at a public school much better this year. But my friend who knows him thinks it is ridiculous to have a gifted kid repeat a grade!
The alternative at this point is our neighborhood ps, which has 2 second grades with small numbers, but one teacher who, by all reports, is a "screamer." The other is reported to be likable. This school has had some issues, though, and I am not that excited about it, though if we want ds in second this is where he has to be. Private school is out of the question for us financially. I would love to homeschool, but I know I would really struggle, and he is the kind of kid who needs to get out of the house, mostly because he would stay home, navel gazing, if he could.
Am I crazy to put him in first again at a different school with a very unique program? Of course, I can wait and see what happens (first day is in two weeks), but I would rather avoid starting him and changing him right away.
Sorry this is so long. If you are still reading, feel free to share your thoughts!
