energy2c Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Forgive me if this is in wrong forum but I figured it is an accelarated program. Is anyone familiar with this program? My daughter is currently taking a math class in this program. My daughter loves the class but many of the topics covered we have already learned. Its time for spring sign up and im wondering if for the fee im better off buying things and doing at home. There are different subject areas that she has qualified for as well. Shes considered a Kindergartner but in math she's between 1-2 grade and reading/spelling is along 3-4 grade.Am I missing future opportunities that the program at Northwestern offers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohannaM Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 We tried one of the summer Leapfrog programs last year, but haven't tried their Sat. programs. The classes have a 2 year range (i.e. for PreK-K or K-1), did she take one where she was on the lower end? We were pretty happy with the teacher for my DD's class last summer. For the summer classes I know they recruit teachers with training in gifted education, so they were able to extend the activities and give her something more challenging. We took an English/writing class not math though. :001_smile: If you are wanting to teach your daughter specific things i.e. higher level spelling, then you probably want to buy some materials to teach her yourself. There are lots of threads on all different subjects and materials on this forum! Johanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
energy2c Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 I believe she was in the k-1 class. I mainly put her in because she loves going to classes and I figured she'd be with kids that are more or less working at her level. Her teacher does teach in a gifted school so experience is there. I was thinking of signing her up for a science class. Id just hate to pay and find out that they are working on things that either we have covered or are covering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BucktownMom Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Did you ask her teacher in the SEP what she would recommend? I have two dd's in the program. Amie is in Geometry for Pre-K/K and it was way too easy for her (she is in K but has an early birthday and she is profoundly gifted). The material was new to her, but she requires little to no repetition so she was uninterested in the projects. Plus she does not do well with unforeseen activities, so the teacher was willing to have a five minute pow-wow with her ever week to explain what was to come the next week and the teacher was also willing to differentiate for her to get her interested in the projects. She suggested that I sign her up for the lower side of the age bracket next time so that she'd be in class with older kids instead of younger ones. My other dd, Annie is in 1st grade and she took the SEP class in math word problems. The class is for 1st/2nd graders and there are some 2nd graders in there who are on fire so she has had feelings of inadequacy the entire time. It's a very challenging class and with word problems you don't need to worry about whether the material has been taught or not taught before: they hand out the problems based on the level of difficulty the child can handle from what I gathered. I would highly recommend that class - it would really address your concerns I think. And you can never have too much practice figuring out word problems! Nora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 My daughter designed and taught a few science classes there while she was an NU student. I think overall math tends to be a bit better than science. It just depends on the course, who's teaching and the student. You might also want to look into doing something like Beast Academy/AoPS or the Elements of Mathematics series offered by eIMACS in addition to SEP. http://www.artofproblemsolving.comhttp://www.elementsofmathematics.com ******************A few other mathy things in Chicago that you might want to check out for later years: Payton Math Circle takes middle schoolers through high schoolers. It is very well run. Meets on certain weekends. http://www.paytonmathcircle.org/Page.aspx?PageID=3 Young Scholars Program at U of Chicago would also be worth considering. It is for grades 7-12 but a really advanced younger student might be allowed in. They run Saturday and summer programs. Unfortunately, Paul Sally, U of C's director of Undergrad Math Studies and also the director of YSP passed away at the end of December. (Sally's wife was a math prof at NU, btw.) YSP's new director, Robert Fefferman, the former Dean of U of C's Physical Sciences has assumed directorship. http://math.uchicago.edu/ysp/about.shtml For high schoolers, Evanston Math Circle takes both Evanston Township HS and home schooled students. I think some NU math profs help run it. http://www.math.northwestern.edu/ethscircle/Evanston_Math_Circle/Math_Circle.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
energy2c Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 BucktownMom: I havent emailed her teacher but I will send an email soon. This saturday is the last for the winter session. Her teacher just hasnt been good at connecting with parents as shes rushing. I will see what she says of her progress in class. If I based it off the homework I say it was very easy. MBM: Wow thanks for all those great links! I was hoping science would be better because thats her main interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I was hoping science would be better because thats her main interest. Your daughter is still quite young for some of the following but if science interests her, here are some other workshops and camps to consider: Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) Summer Programs located in Aurora (where IMSA is located), Chicago, Rock Island, Belleville and Springfield for students who will be entering grades 3-10 in fall of 2014. You would very likely meet other parents whose kids like math and science and from them, you might find out about other programs. (My son went to IMSA for high school.) https://www.imsa.edu/extensionprograms/summerimsa-2014 https://www.imsa.edu/sites/default/files/upload/AuroraBeaconNews-Summer%40IMSA.pdf (article about the program for girls) IMSA FunShop 3-hour workshops for grades 3-6: https://www.imsa.edu/extensionprograms/kidsinstitute/students IMSA is also launching more online classes for students. I don't know for what age group but you can learn more at their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Illinois-Mathematics-and-Science-Academy-IMSA-Official-Site/124393508608 ******* The Center for Gifted offers year-long and summer workshops and classes in Chicago and some suburbs for kids as young as preK. http://www.centerforgifted.org/index.html ******* A few other programs but mostly for older kids: http://www.iagcgifted.org/membership/students/ill-univ-programs-for-kids.html ******* Emagination, a computer summer camp at Lake Forest College: http://www.computercamps.com/computer/summer_camp.html ******* i2, a summer camp at Francis Parker School in Chicago for 5th through 8th graders: http://i2camp.org/about-i2-camp/our-program/ ******* Summer camps on the North Shore: http://www.theallianceforec.org/summerprograms.php ******* Eventually your daughter might enjoy something like Science Olympiad, too. Whatever you do, a solid understanding of math cannot be too emphasized when it comes to studying science. It helps immensely. Much more than you asked for, lots to consider! :) ETA: Here are two other groups that I would have found helpful when my kids, now 16 to 29, were younger and I was navigating their education and development. Family Awareness Network (F.A.N.) sometimes invites authors/experts to discuss a range of topics like gifted kids, motivating kids, kids and depression, etc. The talks are open to anyone and are sometimes videotaped. You can find topics and videos here: http://www.familyactionnetwork.net Parent Education Consortium (P.E.C.) also has information that you might find interesting: http://winnetka36.org/sites/default/files/5/PECCalendarFebruary2014.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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