What should a gifted 5yo do vs. what he can do?

[sarahberry]

I am still working out what to do with my ds this year. He is five and has completed up to about a third grade level all around the board with reading at a MUCH higher level. The question I have been pondering is not so much of what can he do as that answer would be A LOT and then some but what would be an appropriate course of studies for such a young child? How much school should I expect, how many and what subjects are appropriate? I have just simply read so many boards about parents pushing and then I have to wonder that even though I know ds might be capable of such and such and such what is actually appropriate for the age range in terms of length of school day, how many subjects, and what is and might not be appropriate subjects for him to study. I have to admit that even though i don't think I push him it is always good to check up and make sure I am not expecting anything unreasonable.

[lighthouseacademy]

There was a fairly lengthy thread on this board about this topic. Many moms brought out the reminder that character is just as if not more important than how much math, reading, and spelling the child does. My 6 yr old is capable of so much more than I make him do because I am trying to preserve his childhood- there is lots of time to study etc... but I also expect all the work he does do to be his very best. I further strew many things about his environment and expose him to many different subjects and allow him to learn a lot on his own. He knows more about the Titanic than anyone I know! I have purposely moved rather slowly though various curricula although I wondered if I was doing right (see the thread I mentioned before that I started). I think that I am doing right for my son though. I need to be sure to keep moving forward, but character is important as is the relationships he has with his siblings and parents.

[Academy of Jedi Arts]

I am still a little green around here, but thought I would answer. My daughter is 6. Some of her material is at middle and high school level. We select materials based on interest and ability.

 

What one studies has absolutely no bearing on enjoyment of childhood or character building IMHO. My daughter, although studying at a much higher level than what she would be in any area school, has MORE time to enjoy her childhood. Spending an hour on math is an hour on math, whether that be algebra or Kindergarten math. My daughter does about 3-4 hours of schoolwork a day, not counting independent reading and such.

 

This is really the first year we have really required a reasonable amount of work to be done each day. At 3, when we pulled her out of preschool, I bought her some stuff. When she finished that stuff, I bought more stuff. But now, she would be in school even as a typical child. So we feel a course of study (that she helps to plan) and a physically appropriate amount of work are things that should be a part of her life.

 

Gifted children develop asynchronously and often seem to be many ages at once. Materials often have to be adapted. For example, I would not ask my 6 year old to do an essay test having to write 4 3-paragraph essays. That is physically too much writing for her. So I might let her do it orally, or spread the assignment out over 4 days. On top of that, you have the whole watching Thinkwell with her favorite stuffed animal thing, which is kinda weird. :001_huh:

 

Also, what is going to work for a highly, exceptionally, or profoundly gifted child usually looks MUCH different than what would work for a moderately gifted child. My kid did not have a math book this year. I can not say that around most homeschooling parents without them either thinking I am an unschooler or neglectful, but if I say that to a group of moms with kids similar to mine, they get it.

 

If the child is going at his or her own pace, it is not pushing. Pushing would be taking my child and forcing her to learn things she is not ready to learn. Unreasonable would be my laying out a timetable for my child, "Ok, you are 6 now and so far ahead, so I want to make sure you are ready for college by 12." Also unreasonable would be, "Ok, you are 6, so we don't need those books with the great big numbers because those are way too far ahead for your age and you have plenty of time for all that."

 

Appropriate subjects are up to you and what your child can handle. My dd has seen/read about some things I would never ever introduce to most 6 year olds, gifted or not. I try to analyze these things according to her as an individual as much as possible. My kid does not scare easily, has no trouble speaking up or asking questions if something is on her mind, and isn't one of those gifted kids who constantly worries. These things make a difference.

 

So there are really no right or wrong answers here because every child and family is different.

[Storm Bay]

I think a well-rounded approach is always the best option. Gifted children, like other children, learn a lot by play, especially at such a young age. Some gifted children "push" their parents because they want to go so fast. At five, I wouldn't do more than an hour or two of academics per day unless my child was asking for more. Instead, I made sure they had plenty of time to play. We have a lot of legos and other stimulating toys. Have them get exercise (usually by playing at that age), teach character things, read aloud, get books on tape if that goes over well, play music, etc.

 

My kids had a tendency to become overstimulated, even at 5, so I tried to not overdo it. I think young children tend to need a fair bit of "down" time to be kids.

 

Does this work? Why not? My uncle whose IQ is somewhere above 160 and who retired last year, got so much scholarship money he bought a car with some of it. He headed an oncology reserach department, was later dean of science at 2 universities. In his day, little kids played and did chores until they entered gr. 1.

[Myrtle]

I am still working out what to do with my ds this year. He is five and has completed up to about a third grade level all around the board with reading at a MUCH higher level. The question I have been pondering is not so much of what can he do as that answer would be A LOT and then some but what would be an appropriate course of studies for such a young child? How much school should I expect, how many and what subjects are appropriate? I have just simply read so many boards about parents pushing and then I have to wonder that even though I know ds might be capable of such and such and such what is actually appropriate for the age range in terms of length of school day, how many subjects, and what is and might not be appropriate subjects for him to study. I have to admit that even though i don't think I push him it is always good to check up and make sure I am not expecting anything unreasonable.

 

I would continue to encourage him to make progress in those areas in which he is advanced. However, I would also encourage him following interests which might divert his efforts away from his strong areas. For example, I have a child that is advanced in math. It seems well worth it for me to let him read World War II history books for days on end rather than continue making the same progress in math. He's already ahead so it's not like he is really going to "fall behind" because he's absorbed with something else and there is a lot to gain by having him read and learn topics that are his choice.

[sarahberry]

I am still a little green around here, but thought I would answer. My daughter is 6. Some of her material is at middle and high school level. We select materials based on interest and ability.

 

What one studies has absolutely no bearing on enjoyment of childhood or character building IMHO. My daughter, although studying at a much higher level than what she would be in any area school, has MORE time to enjoy her childhood. Spending an hour on math is an hour on math, whether that be algebra or Kindergarten math. My daughter does about 3-4 hours of schoolwork a day, not counting independent reading and such.

 

This is really the first year we have really required a reasonable amount of work to be done each day. At 3, when we pulled her out of preschool, I bought her some stuff. When she finished that stuff, I bought more stuff. But now, she would be in school even as a typical child. So we feel a course of study (that she helps to plan) and a physically appropriate amount of work are things that should be a part of her life.

 

Gifted children develop asynchronously and often seem to be many ages at once. Materials often have to be adapted. For example, I would not ask my 6 year old to do an essay test having to write 4 3-paragraph essays. That is physically too much writing for her. So I might let her do it orally, or spread the assignment out over 4 days. On top of that, you have the whole watching Thinkwell with her favorite stuffed animal thing, which is kinda weird. :001_huh:

 

Also, what is going to work for a highly, exceptionally, or profoundly gifted child usually looks MUCH different than what would work for a moderately gifted child. My kid did not have a math book this year. I can not say that around most homeschooling parents without them either thinking I am an unschooler or neglectful, but if I say that to a group of moms with kids similar to mine, they get it.

 

If the child is going at his or her own pace, it is not pushing. Pushing would be taking my child and forcing her to learn things she is not ready to learn. Unreasonable would be my laying out a timetable for my child, "Ok, you are 6 now and so far ahead, so I want to make sure you are ready for college by 12." Also unreasonable would be, "Ok, you are 6, so we don't need those books with the great big numbers because those are way too far ahead for your age and you have plenty of time for all that."

 

Appropriate subjects are up to you and what your child can handle. My dd has seen/read about some things I would never ever introduce to most 6 year olds, gifted or not. I try to analyze these things according to her as an individual as much as possible. My kid does not scare easily, has no trouble speaking up or asking questions if something is on her mind, and isn't one of those gifted kids who constantly worries. These things make a difference.

 

So there are really no right or wrong answers here because every child and family is different.

 

Thanks. This is perhaps the most helpful post, so far. Sometimes is it just a little hard to define what is normal and what is pushing. I say this because what is normal for us is NOT normal for most famlies, either. I always seem to hear, on many boards, that to expect things from a five year old that a fourth or fifth grader might be expected to do is unreasonable. Sometimes it really makes me think. Sometimes, I wonder if I push when I read these things and i think about not foinf school anymore but then ds whines that we haven't done school.

 

Now, the thing I wonder is that since he has insisted on school and I have to report to the state sometime as well as having other children is if having him on a schedule would be pushy considering his age. My husband says it isn't and that if we put him in school he would be on a schedule. It sometimes feels like an overwhelming decision. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way!

 

I do expect to require more written work this year. His motor skills are very advanced and I think there is no reason for him not to devleop more stamina to ba able to write, by the end of the year, a paragraph or two without tiring. I plan to do anything that requires writing in the earlier part of the day whereas all the fun reading and project based stuff will be in the afternoon. I am trying to make a balance but as I said sometimes it seems do hard!

 

thanks,

 

Sarah :)

[Donna]

"Gifted Education Comes Home: The Case for Self Directed Learning" by Lisa Rivera.

 

I bought it off Amazon and recently read it. It really helped me to cement my thoughts concerning educating my 5yo.

[Laura Corin]

I wouldn't do more hours with him than you would do with any 5yo, unless he is pushing you for more. You can work at a high level, but still keep it to an hour or two or formal work, and leave lots of time for playing, reading and dreaming.

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[Mommy22alyns]

Sometimes, I wonder if I push when I read these things and i think about not foinf school anymore but then ds whines that we haven't done school.

 

 

 

I find myself having to draw the line with Becca quite often. She'll beg to "learn more" even as she's yawning and rubbing her eyes. This is also the child who went on an all-day field trip at preschool and then asked if they were going to be doing anything in the classroom too. When she was told no, she protested, "But we haven't learned anything today!"

[sarahberry]

Well, we did start ds on a new program leveled from 2-5 grades this week. Overall it is goign great and peace and happiness has fallen onto our homestead! It took a lot of work and a lot of thought but it seems to be mainly just right for us. We work off and on throughout the whole day. I spend about 3 hours with him durign the day and at night he does about and hour hour and a half with his dad. The work is more challenging than before and I hope that it continues to be challenging to him because if it is not I will surely be insane by the end of the day that he decides it isn't. I also added in a lot more subjects this year too.

 

We are doing:

 

Rod and Staff Math 2 and 3

Road and Staff spelling 2, 3 and 4 (some editing from religious content)

Rod and Staff English 2 and 3 (some editiing to the religious content)

Wordly Wise 2, 3, 4

Pentime Cursive 3 and Copywork

Critical thinking-Dr. DooRiddles, Mind Benders, Building Thinking Skills

Sonlight Readers- 2 intermediate and 2 advanced

Social Studies-Our Father's World

History-SOTW volume 1 with a bunch of add ins and hands on stuff too

Religious Studies/Character Education-self explanatory

WTM Science suggestions for grades 1 and 2

Art (using artpacs from Rod and Staff and a lot of art appreciationn books for children)

Music (solfege and reading music)

Arabic

Literature-what Mommy reads aloud

 

So we don't do every subject everyday here is round about our weekly schedule (we need a schedule or things will get nuts with these four children!) but we should easily fnish all this this year. I knwo it sounds like a lot for a child who turned five last week but he never fails to surprise me and he is the one who wants it, afterall.

 

I just can't say enough about how wonderful he is when he is challenged...when he is bored though he is not fun to be around at all.