In other happy news,

[judifilksign]

My older son Dino is going to be skipping two grades of math next year to take algebra 1 in 7th grade, and geometry in 8th.  That means he'll take Algebra 2 as a freshman, Statistics as a sophomore, and Calculus as a junior, and a college course paid for by the school district as a senior.  (On a nationally normed math test designed for eighth graders, he scored in the 99th percentile.) 

The gifted coordinator says it's important to challenge Dino *now*, so that he learns the coping skills of what to do when he's confused or stuck.  Many gifted kids flunk out of college because they don't know what to do when school isn't absurdly easy, and they have to work for something.  Dino plays around with numbers for fun, so he's pretty psyched for this.

Irish got an All-Star award at school, a citizenship award for showing all the character traits of a good student and person all year.  He has a shiny medal on a ribbon.  I'm very proud that he got recognized for being the sweet, kind boy that he is.

Comments

[catalana.livejournal.com]

Many gifted kids flunk out of college because they don't know what to do when school isn't absurdly easy, and they have to work for something.

Yes, I see this all the time. I'm so glad you're getting him into challenging material so this doesn't happen to him! You rock.

[fuzzyvanman.livejournal.com]

I wish that had been available for me. Been there - flunked out

Agree with Erica: You rock

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I figure as a teacher, I have no excuse not to be supportive of my kids scholastically, really.

[billroper]

It's great that your school district allows that. I got algebra in the 8th grade and it was a vast improvement over (very boring) 7th grade math. I recall spending that year with the textbook on one corner of the desk and a science-fiction novel on the other corner. :)

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I was *very* afraid that this program would be cut because it requires extra transportation to the high school, and to the college.

I think that since it really helps with testing results at the 7th, 8th and high school levels, it got to stay.

When I get students like you, I try very hard to challenge them. It's easier when all my kids are individualized as to what math they get.

I had a student this year who'd been in "remedial" math because, well, she was a "special" student, and that's where her district put "special" kids. When she got to me mid-year, she begged to be put into Algebra, because she was *sure* she could do it. So I put her in Algebra, thinking that nothing tried, nothing gained. She put her heart and soul into learning, and passed the Ohio Graduation Test in Mathematics with an "Advanced." Heh, heh.

It makes all the phone calls I had to make from my class to my mathmatical husband so I could explain concepts *I'd* never learned oh, so worthwhile.

[carmiel.livejournal.com]

congrats to Dino & Irish
You must be almost bursting with pride. :)

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I sure am!

[needlewomyn.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad that a solution was found to challenge Dino in math.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Me, too. And it'll save us money on college classes, too, becuase he'll be ahead at least one required course for dual high school/college credit. Maybe more if he also excels in science.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Many gifted kids flunk out of college because they don't know what to do when school isn't absurdly easy, and they have to work for something.

I flunked out of the University of Michigan because I didn't know what to do when school wasn't absurdly easy, and I had to work for something.

Glad you're taking positive steps for Dino.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I just got done copying the materials to teach 8th grade math to Dino over the summer. That way, if there are any topics he would miss skipping two years, I'll have it covered.

It was neat to copy all the "enrichment" sections of the workbook. I'm looking forward to teaching math (I must be crazy.)

[pondside.livejournal.com]

Good news and I think, good decisions. I'm pretty sure your flist is full of folks that found school too easy and many who had issues with being faced with the first things that weren't.

Recognition of the right kind, for the right things is GOOD.

OUR Love goes out to you and...
btw - we're in town tomorrow, not next week. D's work got totally snafu'd...