Caitlyn started second grade. She got her math teacher last year as her teacher this year, so we were super excited about that. Apparently, she is one of the most sought after teachers in the school. We were guaranteed a spot in her class since she is the GATE teacher for 2nd grade. I've been volunteering in her class all week, so I've been spending a lot of time at their school too. Plus, Emily can't ride the bus this year because buses are only available to kids K-3 if your house is only 1.25 miles from the school, so Christian has been walking them to school and I have been picking them up.
Emily started fourth grade this year. We did not get the greatest first impression of her new teacher this year. In fact, I spoke to the principal on the first day of school about our concerns. She is implementing a couple of new programs in her class which I really like. I think that Emily would really benefit from them if she is able to pull it off.
However, since Emily already took 4th grade math last year, she needs to go to a 5th grade classroom for math. The problem is is that her teacher didn't really believe us that she is that advanced in math....even though it is noted in her files. She spoke to her math teacher last year and was still skeptical. She thinks that there are still possibly holes in her knowledge and that SHE teaches it more thoroughly (more in-depth). That's nice and all but I am not going to have Emily twiddle her thumbs and lose a year of math because there are one or two things her previous teacher may not have covered.
Plus, on the first day of school, she told us that she "strategically" placed her so that Emily could help HER. That's when Christian and I about lost it. Our daughter is at school to learn...not to be the unpaid teacher's aid (that's when I decided to pull the principal in for a brief meeting).
Finally, Thursday morning, she gives Emily a test of some sort. And although Emily missed a problem or two, she is finally satisfied that Emily does not need to take fourth grade math again and allows her to go to another classroom for math. Coincidentally, her math teacher last year for 4th grade math is now a 5th grade teacher....and she happily accepts Emily back to her classroom. Emily's current teacher may have also gotten some pressure from the principal to find some solution.
The problem now though, is that the 5th graders do not have math at the same time as the 4th graders. She believes that Emily will miss out on a lot if she leaves the classroom and when she comes back, she will either be doing double the math or will have to just go work on the computer in the corner of the class or something.
Back to school night was on Thursday. And we met with all of the girls' teachers. Emily's math teacher believes that the solution could be simple. That is, to move her to the 5th grade completely. She is not only able to do math at a level above her class, but is able to get advanced scores on her tests as well. She reads above her grade level and towards the end of the year, her third grade teacher spoke to her fourth grade math teacher about having Emily join them for English as well.
Even her current teacher admits that fourth grade is kind of a transition grade. They do a lot of review of the 3rd grade skills....so, it would not be that difficult for Emily to just skip a grade.
Now, we had thought that this might be a good solution before, but was wary of doing it. There is the social impact for us to consider. But now that Emily is older and it is only a matter of time for her to learn certain aspects of the facts of life, we will only be delaying the inevitable. Why not just tackle it? She has a good foundation at home and at church. We think that it will not be that big of a problem.
So, that is where we stand at this point. We have requested a meeting with her teachers (past and present) and the principal to discuss the matter and see how we might proceed from here. Emily seems to like the idea and is willing to put the extra effort to make it happen. Saying and doing is two different things though. We will look into it and see what happens.
The good news (at least for Christian and myself) is that the principal suggested that we get an exception for Emily to ride the bus since their bus is not filled and since her sister is qualified to ride the bus still. Christian and I went on what seemed like a wild goose chase to track down the proper forms and find the transportation office. But in the end, we received permission for Emily to ride the bus with her sister. We have not exactly broken it to the kids yet. They hate the bus because there are a lot of mean kids on it, but a lot of those kids are not on the bus any more and they are the last stop to be picked up and the first to get dropped off...which means, they are really only on the bus for all of 5 to 7 minutes (okay, 10 minutes tops if they take longer to load the bus), so waah, cry me a river. It beats having Christian walk an extra mile to drop them off in the mornings in the heat or rain when he already walks a mile and a half to work every day.
They get the good news on Tuesday morning....shhhhh!
2 comments:
It is good to know that a teacher in our district actually suggested skipping a grade. I've heard they aren't that fond of it but I am excited to hear how it works out for Emily. Yay for the bus:)!
Good for Emily!!!
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