ballardlm Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 So we were planning on homeschooling this year, but plans changed so now my 4.5 year old will be going to public school. In some areas he is quite gifted. I planned on doing some after schooling because when he gets bored he acts out. I had already bought most of the Right Start A kit. Can I do this after school? Or is it too intense for after schooling? We will for sure be doing 100EZ Lessons as he started that last year (we're taking it slow so he still had over half the book left). I am also looking at Math Seeds as he loves computer games. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyGF Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 If he acts out when bored, I think afterschooling in school subjects won't help (he'll just be more bored when they are taught in school). I think you should focus on subjects that are beyond the scope of the school curriculum (history? great stories? science explorations?). Later I'd focus on math that goes deeper than the standard curriculum. This assumes your school doesn't allow students to accelerate. Emily 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 I'll also suggest a language. Fun, different, and brain engaging. I'f you're already doing one, add a 2nd foreign language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballardlm Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 Oh I never thought of that! Of course it will make boredom worse if he's ahead. Lol this is why this forum is awesome. He loves maps so we are going to focus on geography kits this year. They don't do that at all in elementary school here. Thanks everyone! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Keeping a gifted kid ignorant in the hopes he won't be bored, so he won't act out, is a plan with a multiplicity of problems. Bill 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen. Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 When will he be five? Is he even old enough to enter Kindergarten if he's only 4.5 now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyGF Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Keeping a gifted kid ignorant in the hopes he won't be bored, so he won't act out, is a plan with a multiplicity of problems. Bill Bill, are you trying to misunderstand me? You make a kid more bored when you teach what the child can learn quickly on their own and will certainly be taught. I was a math ace. I didn't need my mom to preteach me; I just figured it out myself and skipped two grades in math. My teachers encouraged my mom to find things that I needed stretching in and have me learn about those. The areas ended up being drama and singing. I studied Applied Physics at Caltech, so I don't think I was hamstrung. By the time my sister came around two years later, math acceleration was no longer allowed in our district. My friend's son currently reads comic books during math but is not allowed to do harder math at school. There are many options: geography, math that isn't in the standard curriculum, science, etc, but a kid who is sharp at math doesn't need to be pre-taught early elementary math. An early math circle might be a good option for math outside the standard curriculum. As I said before, if your district allows acceleration, go ahead. Many don't, but Bill's does, right? Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Bill, are you trying to misunderstand me? You make a kid more bored when you teach what the child can learn quickly on their own and will certainly be taught. I was a math ace. I didn't need my mom to preteach me; I just figured it out myself and skipped two grades in math. My teachers encouraged my mom to find things that I needed stretching in and have me learn about those. The areas ended up being drama and singing. I studied Applied Physics at Caltech, so I don't think I was hamstrung. By the time my sister came around two years later, math acceleration was no longer allowed in our district. My friend's son currently reads comic books during math but is not allowed to do harder math at school. There are many options: geography, math that isn't in the standard curriculum, science, etc, but a kid who is sharp at math doesn't need to be pre-taught early elementary math. An early math circle might be a good option for math outside the standard curriculum. As I said before, if your district allows acceleration, go ahead. Many don't, but Bill's does, right? Emily There is always a way to teach for far greater depth and complexity than what will be encountered in even well-performing schools. That is true if one is accelerated or not. Going "deep" is, in my estimation, the best option. Not simply "pre-teaching," but aiming for levels of mathematical understanding beyond the standard course. This would include developing strong mental math skills and promoting creative problem solving skills. When children really "get the math" and get to use their knowledge to solve difficult problems they generally enjoy the subject (as opposed to it being one of drudgery). When "math" is reduced to being given an "example" and working basic problems (a typical school approach) "math" can seem pretty boring. I'd advocate doing something inspiring at home. Develop a love of the subject and a depth of knowledge and not be constrained by fears of "boredom" at school. I'd argue "math" would be way more boring if left to the school alone. So I don't agree with this strategy of de-emphasizing math at home. Bill 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 When will he be five? Is he even old enough to enter Kindergarten if he's only 4.5 now? In NYS many districts have Dec 1s or Dec 31st cut-offs. I say I have a 4.5yo (although he's really 4 years and 8 months old), who has a November birthday, so yes, it's quite possible for a 4.5yo to be old enough to enter K (my problem is that the district thinks he should be in K, whereas academically speaking he really should be in 1st grade this coming year, so I'm homeschooling him so he's not bored out of his mind). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.