I contacted my daughter's instructional supervisor yesterday after having another difficult day of homeschooling. I told her how much I hate Calvert curriculum and how crazy it is that my daughter is doing the same exact work that she did last year. To my surprise, she told me to go ahead and just do the tests with my daughter and she'll move her into second grade. We were going to do this at Christmas time but it seems that none of us are going to be able to last that long LOL I enjoy the fact that we have the freedom to do this now and I am proud of my daughter's academic abilities but I'm not so sure what I think about skipping grades. So, I'd really like to know: What are your thoughts on skipping grades?
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We've never been big on "grades" in our homeschooling adventure. While my daughters now would typically be a freshman and junior in high school for some of their courses they are into college level work and in others they're a bit behind those grade levels.
The beauty of homeschooling is that you really can work with your child to help them master the work before they move on to the next level.
I'm new to homeschooling but I think advancing your daughter sounds good since she already knows the work.
I agree. It's just that cyberschools push grades and it's something that I'm trying to get use to. Then you've also got everyone asking what grade your child is in. It's going to be really interesting when she's in third grade next fall and should only be in second. Let alone try explaining why she's no longer in first but is now in second LOL I'm just imagining the looks and explanations and things, which I shouldn't worry about but you know how some public school parents simply like to demand answers. I'm also really hoping that I'm doing what's best for my daughter.
Keisha, I think that it's better than arguing with her every time we sit down to do the school work but it's what I was saying to Annette, which I shouldn't worry about but do, that's going to make things really interesting around here LOL
Do it. There's no sense in boring your daughter. Just be very sure she is really ready for the next level because you don't want her frustrated all the time, either. I skip kids through books all the time at my cottage school (http://cottageschool.tumblr.com) . That's the beauty of home schooling! But again, I can't stress enough the importance of not pushing her before she's ready. You want her to feel successful not stressed. And HAVE FUN!
Karla I agree with you and know for a fact that we did this material last year so that's not an issue. Thanks for the reminder though.
I'd say advance her. That is one of the perks of homeschooling - allowing them to work at a pace that suits them.
As far as explaining what grade a child is in I just way "We homeschool. I think kids her age are in second grade but we don't really worry about that. My kids perform at different grade levels depending on the subject."
Also I believe you'd get more comments if you add an identity for those who host our own blogs on our own domain. I had a hard time leaving a comment because I don't use google, blogger, a wordpress hosted account, etc.
I've skipped my son ahead a grade level because he was bored and needed the challenge. He's always being asked how old he is (8) and what grade he's in (4th) when we are out and about. Then they want to know why he isn't in the grade he should be and he tells them it's because he's homeschooled. :) Most people leave it at that.
Do what's best for your daughter and forget about everyone else. If people want answers, give them a short, simple one. They don't need the full story. Good luck!
I don't really worry about grades. My son is "behind" in math, "ahead" in reading. It's about finding their level. Not to easy, not to difficult. If your daughter is breezing through, I'd go ahead and skip her. The beginning material is often review, so I imagine it would be good.
soaringmountainsacademy thanks for sharing that with me. It makes me feel better to hear that some people will leave well enough alone.
LeisaWatkins sorry about your having a difficult time leaving a comment - blame it on Blogger as this is all they offer LOL
Anyhow... I've given the answer you've suggested and boy did some heads spin like I was in Mars. Have you ever had that happen?
Do what's best for her! It seems to me that you could have her do whatever grade level work she needs to be doing, but that if you needed to, you could keep her at her own age-level for activities (if you need to). My son has always worked a couple of grade levels ahead, but I kept him with his age level for things like Scouts, church, etc. Now that he's in high school, he hangs out with friends both older and younger, so it doesn't even matter. He'll go to college full-time at 17 (although he's taking college courses now at 15).
This is one of the things about the group school mentality that I have worked to eliminate at home. We have skipped grades, and at the beginning of each new textbook, I have my kids do only the weekly quizzes/tests until we reach the point where the material is new to them, and they aren't reviewing with boredom the same material they did last year. (I'm thinking specifically of math and grammar.) Review is a great tool when it is necessary for mastery, but it is twaddle after mastery has been achieved. One sure way to kill the joy of learning it to hold a child back when he is ready to go on.
If someone asks what grade my child is in, I answer with the grade that is typical for her age. She doesn't need to know that she is "ahead". :o)
It's a wonderful, wonderful thing. Enjoy it.
I think that I am going to do what you suggested diamond and have her go over the review section in the book before teaching. I know if I'm bored, she's got to be pretty bored too.
I avoid the grade issue by telling my son (and anyone else who asks) that he's in grade 1, by which I mean it's our first year of official homeschooling. I don't mention that he's working on grade 3 math and grade 2 language arts. That's between me and the textbooks. :D
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