Question

My son has attended 2 different schools in the past 2 years due to us moving. When he was 4, Bright Horizons told us they moved him to the Kindergarten room as they felt he was ready to learn more and would fit in better. Now, he is 5 and he is after the "cut off" as he is a September birthday so he was not allowed in Kindergarten this past fall and is still in preschool (not Bright Horizons). The teachers at the newer school have recommended I look into testing him to skip a grade. I am uncertain what the best option are. I was in gifted classes as a child and I am not sure if that program is now the same (I was taken out of class and did advance work and then would return but was not skipped? ). Is it more common place for a child to test to skip or go into gifted programs here in this area? I know he is currently frustrated at this school and complains about the other kids not knowing things or being too small. I am also seeking advice on how to help get him through the rest of the spring and summer at this school with the other children/ make him more understanding towards others. Him and I have talked about it many times, but he still continues to complain and I know he has fun at his school. I am considering just taking him to local STEM places to stimulate him, but I am worried if he goes to kindergarten he will complain about the other kids as he is now! Also, he hates nap time and complains about it daily. Do they nap in kindergarten? I know there are a ton of topics here, but feel free to talk about any of them!  

Answer 1

I don't know what district you're in but we're in Warrenville district 200 and the gifted program starts in 3rd grade with testing in spring of 2nd grade. They don't really like having kids skip classes because they not only go by giftedness academically but want the kids to fit in emotionally and socially with their peers. My son is in the reading and math gifted program and likes it. He gets pulled out for most of the morning. Math is a replacement for regular class math and reading is in addition to regular classroom work.  

Answer 2

Skipping grades is not encouraged as the kids may be academically advanced but they are not advanced emotionally. There are several preschool programs that are pre-kindergarten that go 4-5 days per week. You can also look into Montessori and other private schools that will follow your child’s academic level without compromising his/her maturity level. Additionally, both 203 and 204 have excellent programs for academically gifted kids. You can find ways to supplement your child until kindergarten. In all honesty, it’s in your child’s best interest to be the oldest in the class as opposed to the youngest. Best of luck finding a good fit for your child!  

Answer 3

District 204 doesn’t have nap time in kindergarten. In 204, they test for Project Arrow (Program for gifted kids) on second grade and it officially starts from 3rd grade. Every school has a special program and teacher for gifted kids ( k to 2). Based on certain criteria, they select few kids (k to 2) in each class and they have few hours a week special class. So official full time program won’t start until 3rd grade. You can always get him tested privately and request for a grade skip, but you need to consider his age appropriate social and emotional skill development along with the academic progress. Also skipping a grade will only put him a year ahead, but PA is more extensive and advanced curriculum. Finally it’s your call to make! Good luck!  

Answer 4

Nap time ended in the 50 s

Comments

@musgrave sounds like you are a great mom. always be concerned about your son's schooling and what's happening.  

Answer 5

Check out the Avery Coonley School, sounds like it could be a good fit for your son (tuition is steep but they do offer financial aid). From experience: we had no luck with our 203 elementary school, our son was miserable in Kindergarten and they refused to grade skip and wouldn’t consider it until 3rd grade. The gifted program also doesn’t start until 3rd grade. I know that policies have changed since so you could fight for it, check out the Accelerated Placement Act (public act 100-0421).  

Answer 6

Know your kid. Know his maturity. Smarts is NBD because you can supplement until honors starts. I don’t know many successful grade skippers but that’s anecdotal.  

Answer 7

Which elementary school will he be going to? My friend’s son did private K from Kensington and started 1st grade straight away at Peterson. No testing, she just went in person and I believe took some reports from Kensington. Her kiddo is sept born too.  

Comments

My kids have several friends (and a cousin) who all did a version of this as well.  

Answer 8

I don’t know how you feel about private school but my daughter attends Calvary Christian School & Children's Center and they are advanced. You need to pass a screening to make sure your child is ready. My daughter is in 2nd grade now and we love it. She started in the preschool when she was 3.  

Answer 9

I can't speak to schools here, but I can tell you about some personal experience. My sister and I both skipped grades (she was a late birthday and skipped K, making her the same age as her peers, while I was a summer birthday and skipped 3rd grade, making me the youngest of my peers) and were in gifted classes. We both did great academically (she was salutatorian in her graduating class) and socially, but I will say that as a child I physically felt very intimidated going from 3rd to 4th grade. The kids were just SO MUCH BIGGER. But I got over it quickly and really enjoyed being the youngest in my class, and I don't think it impacted my emotional maturity. My sister didn't have the same feeling of intimidation because she was much younger when she skipped. The only other kid I know who skipped a grade was socially awkward but extremely intelligent and went on to an exclusive dual credit program and is some kind of highly specialized doctor now. I think it really just depends on your child. You know where his maturity is at. If you think he is emotionally and socially ready, has the intelligence to skip, and WANTS to, I'd say go for it.  

Answer 10

My daughter is a sept 18 birthday and I was also told she should skip. I did a year of pre k. A year of private kindergarten and her private kindergarten teacher said she couldn’t imagine my daughter having to do kindergarten again. She gathered everything I needed to have her tested etc and the school district would NOT let her skip to first grade. They wouldn’t even test her. They told me “oh she’ll be the first to drive in her class”. Great. Thanks. Not exactly what I’m concerned about. Anyways, now, years later I’m glad that she did not skip. we just moved to a new school district (204) and their curriculum is way different than her last school/district and now she’s struggling . In private kindergarten, they did have nap time but if you didn’t want to sleep or lay down they sent you to another room where they play quietly etc. School gets more difficult the older they get. I personally don’t think anyone should recommend testing to skip a grade until they’re in that grade and excelling beyond the expectations etc. there’s so many new things they start learning and there’s no way to know whether they’re going to excel at it, when they’re a preschooler. My daughter hated preschool. I was dragging her there daily. It wasn’t until private kindergarten that all of those issues went away.  

Answer 11

At Stream Tutoring, Classes & Parties near 88 and 59, we have lots of programs for academics and enrichment and hands on fun in science, technology, reading (robots, rocketry), engineering, art, math (music). He would love it! We have drop in classes to pick and choose. We don’t have time for naps, nor would anyone want to nap with all the fun going on! Please check out our photos to see all the learning opportunities and unique spaces.  

Answer 12

Social worker "gifted" as kid here check out web hoagies gifted In dist 203 kids need to score elementary school 90 percent cogat test read and math to get into project idea, if in one look at pullouts like honors math Enrichment during summer like Midwest Torrence, friends of gifted Downers Grove, Avery coonley options