How do I keep an advanced child from tuning out in Kindergarten.

Question

My daughter is 5 years old but has been reading for a year, can write in upper case, lower case, and is trying to teach herself cursive. She also can spell many words on her own, can count money, and do simple addition and subtraction problems. She's going to public school in GA. I don't necessarily want to put her in a class with kids a year older (I don't even think they do that much anymore), but I fear she'll be like her father - smart, bored, and fighting going to school her entire life. I haven't found an affordable, secular private school, so public school is it for now. Suggestions? Thank you.

Answer 1

I have the same issue with my child. She'll be going into second grade this year and last year I talked to the teacher about how bored she was becasue the work was so easy for her. The teacher sent home worksheets to challenge her. I bought workbooks and had her do them at home, but at school she went along with the other kids. The teachers don't have the time or energy to treat a child different from the rest of the class.

I'm nervous about her teacher this year and about how things are going to go for her. I don't want her to be bored with school and stop trying.

Her school does offer a talented and gifted program, but I have many misgivings about that for my child. You could see if your school has that, but check it out completely and ask lots of questions to make sure it suits your child before you go in.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Make the school system test your child's abilities and place her in the appropriate class for her level.  If she is a good child anyway, and doesn't behave disruptively, she won't have much trouble socially or with the teacher.  

Immigrant children who don't speak English are given tests to see where they are placed.  Why not test the American kids, so they're not bored?

People talk about social isolation, but "the smart kid" is equally isolated no matter what the circumstances.  So they may as well enjoy their gifts and be placed in the right grade of education.  

Answer 3

I'd definitely be hoping your daughter has a good teacher. . . as in one who can figure out what to do with the girl rather than one who's frustrated that she's too smart.  That's sort of our of your hands, but that's going to be a huge factor in how she feels about school.

My kindergarten teacher was wonderful since she let me do all kinds of fun stuff on my own to begin with that wasn't what anyone else was doing until, at best, the end of the year.  I loved it.  My first grade teacher was more so just annoyed with me because I didn't fit into the normal plans, and I apparently almost had to be dragged to school every morning.

See what else you can find for her to get interested in that isn't school.  How about musical instruments, dance, etc.?  Finding some fun academic-ish stuff and doing that kind of thing with her will probably help with the boredom.  She may not always love going to school since it'll probably get rather boring at times, but at least you can give her some fun challenges to deal with at home so she doesn't totally get tuned out on things educational.  I recall spending way too much time in front of the TV and not enough time playing outside as a kid, but all those darn documentaries and kids' educational shows were way too cool not to watch them.  I never outgrew that one, either.  :)

Good luck, I guess?  I'd talk with her at some point about having to learn to put up with the normal speed of the American educational system deal, and that it'll have to get less boring eventually.

Answer 4

I taught K for 7 years and had several students like your daughter.  Here are some things I've done as the teacher,so you may want to ask if they can be done for your daughter as well:

1.  bring higher level math/ word activity books to work on while the others work at their level.

2.  bring a book of her choosing to school to read for a few minutes either to the class or during choice time.

3.  Be sure she participates in play with other children!

4.  If she's really advanced, see if she can go to first grade for math-  I did that with 2 of my students.

5.  Discuss her having a reading journal she could work on while the others work on letter identification.

Answer 5

Talk with her teacher and ask what he/she plans to do to differentiate for your child who is obviously advanced. Let the teacher know your fears of your daughter getting bored in school.

Also, you might want to talk to the school's counselor about having your child tested for a gifted and talented program. I don't know about in GA, but where I live there isn't a gifted/talented program for kindergarten but there should be! At GT program will give your child more opportunities for advancement and she will be in a class with other advanced students.

In the even that the teacher doesn't do as much as you hoped, maybe you can create some extension activities at home. If they're learning about parts of a plant, maybe buy her a plant and let her keep a journal where she observes its growth.

The best thing to do is to be in constant contact with your child's teacher. It may feel like you're being overbearing, but trust me it's for your daughter's own good!

Answer 6

Why dont u let ur daughter go to school and really see how she is doing. Every mother wants to believe their child is a genius till they get their first F.