Same here. By 4th grade many assignments are required in cursive. The spelling books that are used from 4th through 8th grade have the words printed in cursive.

Here the IQ test does carry more weight. There is a minimum cutoff - I think 135. A hard working, conscientious student with an IQ of 130 most likely would not make it into the program no matter who their parents are. They would however qualify for enrichment programs and advanced classes just not the TAG program. I do have to say there seems to be a need to know mentality with all of this. I would guess that most parents with children that do not participate in the TAG program do not even know it exists. Also parents whose children do not qualify for the enrichment programs seem to not know those exist either. I've encountered parents with students in the enrichment programs or in advanced classes or groups who think that those are the TAG services not understanding that there are others identified as gifted with IEPs, who participate in actual TAG programs. All of these designations and opportunities are laid out in the school handbook and by school policies, but many parents do not avail themselves of that information. I've chatted with groups of parents many times when someone will say "what a shame our town doesn't have a gifted program." or "schools don't have gifted programs anymore." It's just odd.

Cross Posted K-2 Children are not yet identified as gifted and Talented in these grades -differentiation within the classrooms meaning different math and reading levels and assignments sometimes within groups and sometimes individualized -pull out enrichment opportunities. Out of about 175 students in the grade about 50 are designated as eligible for these opportunities usually reading related. 3-5 Students may be identified at Gifted. -Classroom differentiation continues -in school enrichment opportunities are available and they are more specific to Reading, Science and Art. Again about 40-50 students are eligible -After school enrichment opportunities are available as well. -some schools also have a TAG program at this point for the identified students. Middle School 6th - 8th -Students that have been identified as Gifted and Talented or are identified at this point are provided an IEP and participate in a TAG program. There are only about 6-10 students per grade that are eligible -Some classes such as English and math are leveled and all classes still have differentiation within the classroom. -All students participate in "Whatever it Takes" periods during the day that offer enrichment and/or assistance as needed -Any grade or class advancement would reflect the student's IEP High School -Advancement would reflect the students IEP obviously at this level point all classes are leveled into College, Honors or AP (sometimes there is a 4th -something like Advanced Honors)

K-2 Children are not yet identified as gifted and Talented in these grades -differentiation within the classrooms meaning different math and reading levels and assignments sometimes within groups and sometimes individualized -pull out enrichment opportunities. Out of about 175 students in the grade about 50 are designated as eligible for these opportunities usually reading related. 3-5 Students may be identified at Gifted. -Classroom differentiation continues -in school enrichment opportunities are available and they are more specific to Reading, Science and Art. Again about 40-50 students are eligible -After school enrichment opportunities are available as well. -some schools also have a TAG program at this point for the identified students. Middle School 6th - 8th -Students that have been identified as Gifted and Talented or are identified at this point are provided an IEP and participate in a TAG program. There are only about 6-10 students per grade that are eligible -Some classes such as English and math are leveled and all classes still have differentiation within the classroom. -All students participate in "Whatever it Takes" periods during the day that offer enrichment and/or assistance as needed -Any grade or class advancement would reflect the student's IEP High School -Advancement would reflect the students IEP obviously at this level point all classes are leveled into College, Honors or AP (sometimes there is a 4th -something like Advanced Honors)

It comes up every few years. It will be interesting to see what happens.

In CT Head start is for children btw the ages of 3 and 5. Compulsory education in school begins at age 5, But cutoffs are Dec 31st so many children starting K are 4 1/2. It is those 4 1/2 year old that can be eligible for another year of Head Start or redshirted.

If the parents have their children in a Head Start pre-K program it does not matter because they are not paying for it.

I have the opposite problem (lol). My dd's Bff is Jess and autocorrect is constantly changing it to Jesus.

8th grade in CT Totally the opposite here. Poverty would lead to a child unprepared and not ready for K. If they do start early they are often more likely to repeat a grade in K through 3rd, Wealth would lead to a child more prepared for school and and parents would register as soon as the child is eligible. To many parents redshirting would indicate an unprepared child and/or a learning disability and would therefore not be preferred. The sports culture isn't pervasive enough for parents to redshirt because of it. Academics are where parents become competitive.

I've never even heard of shared snacks in any school setting, even preschool. The only exception would be parties of some sort in early elementary or cooking activities in preschool. If you feel strongly just say that you won't participate. It shouldn't be that big of a deal, it's just snack.

What about Connecticut. If you can afford a 4 bedroom in Manhattan you can definitely afford towns with a close NYC commute like Greenwich or Cos Cob. A plus is that homeschooling is super easy in CT and all of those museums and NY spots are just a short train ride away. You would also have the beach access CT affords. NJ is another option.

The other day I sauteed it with cooked chicken, kale, onions and Parmesan cheese. Yummy!

I guess I am fortunate that schools in my area all have libraries run by librarians (media specialists). Elementary students have library as one of their specials once a week just like they do music, gym, computers and art. Each library class is a lesson where they learn how to use and cite resources to write papers, they learn about different types of literature and many of the lessons are tied into lessons in the computer class they take. The librarian also runs the "One Book One School" program each year. Selecting books is something that they can do during the last 10 minutes of class (they have longer in the lower elementary grades). Most classrooms also have a class library where students can check out books in the manner the teacher chooses. There are also some schools that have "book rooms" in addition to the library. These are rooms full of books that students can just take to keep. They usually have a monthly limit. They are books donated by local companies including Scholastic, but you only really see these in low income areas.

You can usually find Nike and Adidas at T.J. Max and Marshall's for far less than you would pay elsewhere. Often they are even less than the no name brands elsewhere.

Locally Stop and Shop has peapod, its home delivery service.

Holy cow! The summer family pass for our town lake costs $20!

Here most High Schools and some Jr Highs have pools. They are used for the school swim teams and also usually for Park and Rec swim lessons and free swim for the community. There are very few towns that have a public pool outside of a school. Most have a public beach on a lake or the ocean and sometimes town swim lessons are held there (usually on lake beaches). The exceptions are a few wealthier towns with pools or cities large enough to have a YMCA. That being said I can't imagine someone that can't swim signing up for water sports!

Elementary school No fees must purchase school supplies but the leftovers come back home we don't have to pay for or buy tissues or toilet paper?! Sometimes there is a fee for a field trip but usually the PTO covers the trip we have to pay around $3 for the bus. In 5th grade band/chorus is free but parents would have to pay to rent an instrument (not through the school but from a instrument rental company) Middle school No fees. Again we purchase school supplies but not tp Band and chorus are free but we pay for instrument rental. Field trips also covered by PTO unless they are costly then there is some sort of fee. Sports are free High School well my kids aren't there yet. I know there are no class fees. I also know that there is pay to play for sports but it is capped at $75 per student per year no matter how many sports they play. No fees for AP classes but you do have to pay the exam fees. I guess also in all school you would have to pay for hot lunch. I can't really think of anything else exept yearbooks and prom tickets?

I must be living in some sort of time warp because my kids' schools do not have communal supplies. At the beginning of the year they bring their labeled supplies in and they are only for their use. At the end of the year they bring back the "leftovers" much of which is recycled for the next year. The lists aren't very specific until 5th grade so the students can use whatever puppy or glitter covered supplies they want. 5th grade has a color coded system (blue notebook for math, green for science, etc) which prepares them for middle school. I've never had to donate tissues or toilet paper or copy paper ever.

North Face or Marmot jackets and coats here in CT. The boots are usually Uggs or Hunters. I second the fleece lined leggings. I always seem to be able to find them at Marshall's or TJ Maxx.

People try to tell me that my eyes are brown. I've had people actually argue that fact with me. I have hazel eyes that are actually mostly green with a trace of brown. They then look closely and say "Oooh your eyes are hazel!" Oy vey.

This. It is not about cars or chores but a sense of entitlement that some kids have, and they get that from their parents. Adults who park in the fire lane raise kids who park in the fire lane.

How about working as a paraprofessional in the same school system? My mother did that for the same reasons. The hours are good and you have summers off with no carryover work. The pay cut is subtantial but you said that didn't matter anyway.

For the classroom snack I mentioned above that needs to be peanut free in the nut free classrooms, it does include any items labeled as processed in a facility that processes nuts. At the beginning of the year kids get a list of suggested items for snack including anything from fruit and cheese to Oreos and Goldfish. Again lunch is different and they can bring whatever they want for lunch in the cafeteria.

For school lunches? In my kids' school it is just nuts and those are only banned from their snack which they eat in the classroom (only for the peanut free classrooms). Kids can bring whatever they want for lunch which get eaten in the cafeteria. The students with allergies sit at a separate allergen free table. Other kids can sit at the allergen free table but what they eat is limited there too. There are quite a few few kids with severe food allergies and this set up has never caused problems.