Help my super smart child?

Question

My daughter is in year 1. She is very very smart - a real super brain, and I feel that going to the local school is holding her back. She has been misbehaving recently through boredom. I am a single mum on benefits, so can't afford for her to go to a private school. What shall I do? We live in Bath, England.

She was tested last year and got top marks for everthing so I know she is smart. She is so eager to learn, and really enjoys it.

I cannot teach her myself as I am a university student and she is in childcare everyday fron 7.45 am till 6 pm.

We do not have a TV or a computer, (can't afford it) and go to the library every Saturday.

She is using her 8 tear old sisters school books etc at the moment (and her sister has above average intelligence too).

I do not force my child to learn or push her in any way. She spends most of the weekend playing outside, riding her bike or climbing trees

Answer 1

ask the school if she could do more advanced work in the class room and if she continues to improve see if they can help you get he moved up a year or into a special school which would help develope her further
you must be very proud of her just keep helping her at home also

Answer 2

What evidence do you have that she is super smart? Most parents feel that they have super smart children, in fact many children perform beyond what parents expect in a variety of ways. Ask her class teacher for her latest assessment levels and ascertain how she compares to the standards applicable for her age. It may well be that she has skills in some areas which can be identified by the school and she can be put on the Special Needs Register as Gifted and Talented.

Even if she is a higher achieving child she needs to learn how to behave appropriately - is she an only child by any chance, could her behaviour be attention seeking as she comes from a single parent home and is now sharing the teacher's attention with other children?

If she is of high ability that is no reason for her to go to a private school as all state schools must provide adequate opportunities for all children (challenge and support). In fact, my experience of private schools has been that they mainly massage the parents' egos and expectations (not all private schools, but many!)

Give her the security of your love and attention and let her be a little girl - time enough for her to be challenged by the big, wide world.

Answer 3

Your child may be genuinly smart (but every parent thinks theirs is!), but coming from an identical background and having had a similar 'playing up' episode when was in year 3 for a few weeks. I just couldn't be bothered as it was too easy...
The deeper (I'm NOT accusing) meaning could be that she's seeking a little more personal attention from her teacher to 'validate' her intellect.

I suggest you challenge her at home in the early evenings - get her reading books not watching TV, play games like Scrabble to exercise and focus her mind. Whatever you do - DO NOT make home a classroom - learning through recreation has much more benefit than forcing a child to learn...it could come to resent you and all form of education...making her an antagonistic, dumb child...or the class clown.

Answer 4

I have a niece that's having the same problem. My sister addressed it first with the teacher asking about the current reading, writing, and math curriculum. The teacher had ideas, but implemented none. So, now the principal has been asked to help find appropriate materials for the child. She should be reading books to increase comprehension (at her reading level would probably be too socially advanced) and writing every single day. Writing is such an easy thing for a teacher to implement at the child's level and can skills can be taught quickly to a bright student. For math, go to story problems. She'll be reading and problem solving. good luck!

Answer 5

Ask to see the school's 'gifted and talented' policy, and aske them to put her forward for the national school for G&T students. All schools must have a policy in place for advancing above-average students. Find an interest for her which will stretch her, and use the school, local library and local clubs to help her with this (e.g. music, languages, sport etc').

In year 1, I would be wary of asking her to be advanced a year. Students mature differently and in year 1, the grades vary wildly from how they will be as teenagers. Your daughter sounds bright but it could also be maturity, and she could even out to being bright for her age later- if she were then moved back down from a higher year, this could ruin her self esteem. I have seen this happen and destroy kids. On the other hand I've seen students who have been thought of as 'slow' in year 1 turn out very bright, because they were just slow to mature.

Answer 6

i know how you feel my daughter is in year 1 and I'm teaching her year 2 work
the school can't help her either
when your on benefits like you and i it's harder for us per ants.
try to find out as much as you can about the jolly phonics
that's where all schools start
you can find out in your search engine
and go to the Libra they have tons of info think about getting her in to some after school clubs too
as she is probably just 5 years old that could be hard as I've found most don't start till 6 years in London

Answer 7

being a yank, i'm not sure if home schooling is an option in england. despite the social drawbacks, the results i've seen have seemed impressive. a more balanced, public education, with your own influences can go a long way. undoubtedly your child is gifted beyond what you believe your expectations were and are. however, do not sell your influences and inputs short. your child learns much from you. keep an influx of culture, literature and information available, yet try not to press to much. be supportive and encourage the sheer joy of whatever your child can understand and learn.

Answer 8

Make her apply for a scholarship or have her tution fees subsidized by a sponser. Of course, your daughter's grades must impress and meet the requirements of the sponser you are seeking financial aid from. I'd prefer, that your daughter must enrol in a private school. I graduated from a private school and my experiences were the best. Private school is much better, and it offers a greater advantage compared to a public student. Like I mentioned earlier, have her apply for a scholarship. Probably 3 scholarships would be enough to comply her tuition throughout the year so the only thing you have to worry about are stationary, clothes, you know that sort.

Answer 9

You are totally deluded. She goes to the local primary school and you think that that is not enough. If you are so smart, then take her out of the primary school and teach her yourself. There is no such thing as a super brain in Year 1. Ihave three children, LLB, MSC and accepted by Imperial College in order to study Medicine.

Answer 10

your daughter is 5? why dont you just let her grow up first... genius kids dont interact with others well, and they often get bullied or despised as teachers pet.

i know coz we have two genius daughters as well.... fran was top of the school in math english and science, and the kids treated her badly... they couldnt hope to compete, as fran was always top of her class...

jess her elder sister went thru the same grief 4 years before. the best way to help your daughter is to turn the telly off, never ever buy a playstation or Xbox, and let them read the guardian or the times... our kids had a PC from age 3... and both of them have excellent computer skills...

and as for private schools... they are there to boost egos... ok they produce genius kids... but at a cost of 2k a month.... were also on benefit as im in a wheelchair...(read my profile) and we cant afford this and that, so we give our daughters one thing money cant buy..we give them our time, our guidance and we let them grow up in a safe stable environment...

our kids didnt have new clothes until they were 8 or 9, we clothed them out of charity shops... and no one ever realised...and our daughters were well turned out. they know what it means to be poor..my volvo is 19 yrs old. we last had a holiday in 1986... and they are both at the top of their years in school.

we may be poor, but, both the wife and I have degrees, and our daughters are looking at Warwick university... (they both get scholarships) so, they wont be poor for long... but they will know the value of money. and how many parents can say that about their 12 and 16yr old kids...

Answer 11

Try talking to the local private schools about scholarships and bursaries, it's worth a try. There may be some charitble trusts which could help with school fees too. Unfortunately Tony Blair in his infinite wisdom got rid of the Assissted Places Scheme which helped many children in this situation.

You need to talk to the school she is currently at and explain to them why your child is misbehaving and see what they can suggest.