Should I let my daughter skip 2 grades?

Question

My daughter right now is 10 years old and in 5th grade. The school,tachers, pirncaple says she is very smart and is eliblge to skip 2 grades, which is up to 7th grade... and if they say if 7th grade is to hard for her they can move her down to 6th grade.
Should I let my daughter skip 2 grades? or just one? or none?
Thanks...

Answer 1

Part of my job is to identify and test students that may be eligible for a skipping a grade. I'd never recommend 2.

I'd approve the move to 6th grade and give it a few weeks. If she still isn't being challenged, then I'd investigate the option of an additional move.

Also, are there any "gifted" / honors programs, or accelerated schools in the area?

It's not just the current move. There's an emotional development side to this. Skip her 2 years... and think of her as a 12 year old high school freshman, or a 14 year old junior, and graduating at 15!

Answer 2

Well i think two grades is too much! She will get picked and teased about her age and wanting to go back to grade 5. so the best thing is to tell her go to grade 6 and see if she can handle it.... Being teased and made fun of she will not focus on her work and will do bad ...

another point of view: What I think is that when you skip grades you have to mature with that paticular group. If you want a ten year old child to stay ten, don't send her off with twelve year olds who are getting into things before their age. She won't be use to their company. It is good to learn at a good pace, just because your smart doesn't mean, you should skip a grade. It just means you will be advanced in your work, receive high grades and possibly challenge yourself or ask the teacher to give you a little more of a challenge. If she skips a grade and can't keep up, that is worse. Better ahead then behind, says a friend of mine.

Take this advice, it's quite helpful, i hope!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Gifted education varies depending where yu live. If I were you I would demand academic testing to see just how high she is- none of this let's skip her then put her back- what would that do to her self-esteem??? You need data.
Then you need to make some calls or get on the district's web site and see what the district's policy is. Some states have gifted ed as 'special ed" others don't. Find out.
Gifted kids get bored when forced to learn at a slow pace. Girls differ than boys because they "dumb" down to fit in with their peers: they don't always like to stand out. Depends on your chil'd personality.
She needs to be challenged but skipping isn't the only way. Schools don't like to split grades because it fouls up their paperwork..Couldn't she go to a higher math, language or reading but stay with her age for P.E or music etc. I am surprised the school doesn't have a gifted program, special class or enrichment. They should work with you .. you'll have to push to get what you want.
Its a very individual decision, all my siblings, and other relatives skipped with no adverse effect. I've fought for my kids to skip and sometimes had to give up art class so my daughter could attend a higher math which met during that time- oh well.. she was talented in math. My son is very immature and 3 levels ahead and never had a problem but my dad still "blames" his lack of social skills on being the youngest in his 8th grade 50 years ago! You are goning to hear all sorts of advice (and some really jealous parents..)but you just need to know what you want for your child.

Answer 4

I was skipped on two occasions - once from 2nd to 4th and then from 5th to 6th. I graduated high school at 15. While I went and opened a business and did some other stuff right after high school, there are several other people I know who followed a similar path. One guy I know went directly to college and then graduated law school at 20.

There is no socialization for the gifted intelligent. It is extremely difficult to get along with peers when there is that much of a gap in ability. And trust me when I say, your peers are never keen on you being around.

Worse still, there is atrophy if you continue to deal with a peer group that is not at the same level. Imagine a 10 year old in a classroom of Kindergartners - not only is it too easy, but they will develop bad habits.

I received my masters degree in early childhood development and taught 6th grade for 6 years before I left for law school. I do work advocating for the gifted and am completing an article on the potential ability to sue school systems to offer gifted education to those that need it.

Do not be concerned with socialization in school- socialization takes place afterwards. Do not be concerned with the reaction of the other students. They will react badly and do what they can to try and make your daughter conform.

Do take comfort in the strength that she will find in herself and the lessons she will learn about independence and blazing trails. The world will be better off with a young lady who is that intelligent and can think for herself. What she will be able to accomplish will be far greater than if you leave her to languish in a situation that is far below her ability.

Answer 5

doesn't the school have an accelerated or GATE program she can be in? at 10 years old, emotionally and socially she would have a hard time in 7th grade. if there is no way to take her out for reading and math or whatever it is she is excelling in, I say put her in 6th and no more. also, why put her in 7th and move her down to 6th? that would be bad for her self esteem. when children are under 14 the age difference is a big deal, and you would not want a 10 year old in with the 12 and 13 year olds. they will be talking about things (and possibly doing things) you will not want her exposed to. the grade levels are not there just for academic purposes, and I am shocked that your school would suggest such a skip without looking for easier ways to accomodate a gifted child.

Answer 6

I think skipping grades is a very dumb idea. If your daughter is so smart then just put her in honors classes when she is in middle school and high school. I know someone who took 9th grade honors English in 8th grade. I think she was so good at English because her parents were college English professors but you can't spell principal right so I'm not so sure about your daughter. Just keep her in the grade she is in now. That's why they have honors classes. Besides, there is a big difference between 5th grade and 7th grade.

Answer 7

I Think if your child is intelligent enough to skip 2 grades then she is mature enough to handle the change, and it's not like she wont make new friends she'll be in 7th grade I think she will be fine, if she has a gift dont ignore it and plus why keep her in a grade level where she isn't working hard at all, she woudnt be learning the importance of working hard. So if you ask me let her go to 7th grade

Answer 8

Has anyone suggested having her evaluated by a therapist to determine how emotionally developed she is? Her emotional development is just as important as her academic development. Is she also much more mature acting than her peers? Unless that is the case, I would lean against having her skip a grade. She would probably be better off being enrolled in some accelerated classes or after school activities.

Answer 9

I think you should let her decide. She'd have to make new friends, and deals with social issues in 6th and 7th grade.
On the other hand, she should not be academically held back because of social issues.
I think if you choose, you should go with one grade. THe social pressures are minimized, and chances are seventh grade is where she'll get C's, barely passing. Good grades in 6th or average grades in seventh.
It's a trade-off no matter what you choose.

Answer 10

Wow that's amazing that your daughter's school has said that she is elgible to skip two grades because I have never heard of anything. To me your daughter sounds extremely intelligent and well-rounded. I am sure she will have a very sucessful career and make tons of money. I would let her move up two grades.