Our decision

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Home : 2007 : July : 3

Our decision
By Meggin

Our youngest son is highly gifted--taught himself to read fluently before the age of 2, learned all math facts the first time he was exposed to them, etc. He was sent from his kindergarten class to first grade reading and
math; in first grade he remained in class for reading (albeit, still above grade level) but went to third grade for math. He continued this acclerated pattern throughout elementary school. He's just finished sixth grade (middle school) where he passed Algebra I and the advanced 8th grade reading class. This past year was the most difficult for him socially--eighth graders didn't appreciate

having a know-it-all sixth grader thrust upon them. And my son didn't help matters by being a social creature, who is clueless to the effect of "just telling them about the Templar Knights". What he thinks is just sharing neat information is what others see as showing-off. Being able to solve algebra equations in his head did not endear him to the 8th graders--they resented his abilities.

It was for reasons like these that we didn't let him skip a grade. Because the children in the grade beyond (or two grades beyond) aren't his intellectual peers any more than the kids are in his grade level classes. Because we didn't want our son to be the youngest in every class in high school. Because we didn't want to send a 16 or 17-year old to college. Because we believe the discipline of doing work, even if it is boring to him, is a necessary work ethic to acquire. And, most importantly, because he needs to learn to socialize appropriately with those who aren't his intellectual peers but who are his age level peers. He needs to learn to not brag about what he can do, but to appreciate what others can do that he can't. Our son isn't going to fit in in any grade, so for the above reasons we've kept him (as much as possible) with his age level peers.