Just when I thought we had all our schooling issues under control...
I got a call from Spinner's school today asking me to come in for a meeting with the GEM* coordinator. When I got there I was (completely OUT OF THE BLUE, with no warning and no prior discussion) told that the school wants Spinner to skip grade 3 and move straight into grade 4. The coordinator/school wants our decision by early next week. She also instructed me to get Spinner tested asap because the school needs the numbers.
I'm pissed. The school has been failing Spinner all year (in not providing adequate extension for him) and now, in the last few weeks of the school year, they think they can solve all their problems by having him skip a grade.
I immediately called the educational psychologist I have hired to work with Willow. She will be testing Spinner on Monday week (usually it would take months to get an appointment but she has gone above and beyond for us). She advised me to proceed with caution and to be very wary about accelerating him. She thinks that this is the option schools take when they are too lazy/disorganised to do the planning necessary to extend children. The other problem is that skipping a grade will not necessarily solve the issue (that Spinner is bored at school). He will still need to be extended in grade 4. Mr. 3x3 and I are also worried about how he would fare emotionally/socially as he is a very sensitive boy.
The issue is made even more complicated by the fact that Spinner's best friend at school is also "gifted" and is also going to be accelerated (if his parents wish). I was told not to discuss this with his parents because the information was "top secret" (which is just crazy - I will definitely be talking to them). So what happens if they decide to accelerate and we do not?! Also, even if both children are accelerated, they will not necessarily be kept in the same class in grade 4 (in fact, I got the feeling they would be separated).
Good grief.
BTW, the educational psychologist was so glad that we'd chosen a different school for Willow. She said "If this is how they treat the kids who need extension, imagine how they treat the kids who need support!" I'm beginning to wonder whether we need to consider a different school for Spinner.
*Gifted and Extended Methodologies
Thursday, 22 November 2007
If it isn't one thing, it's another...
Posted by Em at 4:29 PM
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5 comments:
that's what I was wondering too. though of course there goes the social stuff again...
yuck.
poppet's not had any meeting's with the ed psych professionals this week, huh? :)
ae
Tough decision. I'm glad that BubTar's school challenges him or I think we'd be in this same boat. He is a smart little guy that gets bored easily.
wow.
I don't know what I'd do in your position. My little guy (in Kindergarten now) is very sensitive as well - he is so careful not to bring attention to himself (good or bad), so careful not to be laughed at... I don't know what I'd do.
my heart goes out to you and your family...
jeanne
I know how you feel at the schools bad management in letting you know and how they have gone about it. I have had issues with G&T classes this year as my daughter was put into one at the beginning of the year.
I am happy because the program they use is not more of the same work at a harder level, they try to extend the childs thinking. Children can choose projects they want to learn about and the main reason is to prevent the children from getting bored!! I don't know if giving Spinner the same type of work in Year 4 as in Year 3 (only harder) is the answer.
My daughter who is 6 has been learning about Pompeii and deforestation - her choices! And the class (Years 1,2,3 combined and only 18 kids) have set up an environment centre.
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