Grade Acceleration
July 5, 2006 at 4:44 PM
by Ashleigh
It's much too hot to do anything today. I achieved my sole purpose, which was to return a computer game to the library. Last night was so warm that we couldn't sleep and my sleeplessness was compounded by a headache which didn't abate until I took a pill at about 1 am.
Tomorrow the heatwave is supposed to break. Not a moment too soon either.
Tomorrow will be busy. Plumber, injections for Joe, appointment at school for me with the 'special teacher' about Seb.
After the appointment I had with her last week we've decided he's being accelerated. He will skip Group 3 and go straight to Group 4. For those in Holland who are familiar with the CITO tests, he finished his CITOs up to the end of Group 5 and got As. He turned 6 in March.
They're going to keep testing him and stop when he starts to get Bs. His new class is very small, only 14 children. He knows the teacher as she was previously teaching the Group 1/2 class adjacent to his. They have promised lots of extra help with his handwriting, the only area in which he is behind. It looks like he will really get a lot of support during the transition. If it doesn't work out he will step back to Group 3 after the first six weeks of school.
I feel more nervous about him moving up a class than he does, or apparently anyone else. I worry about him fitting in with the other kids, I worry about me fitting in with the other parents. I think it's just my nature to worry.
I was happy to see that the steps the school took before deciding to accelerate Seb a class correlate nicely with the ones found in this article.
Comments
It's only natural to worry as a Mum. When your babies are born you also give birth to a big dose of guilt and worry!
Ash, I am waiting for your street address so I can send you that pattern.... can you email it to me :)
Greetings from Australia! I love your blog and have been enjoying your adventures for the last few months. (Especially the Dutch festivals and cooking) Glad to see that your sons school is supportive of advancement. I am a primary teacher and have found it impossible to get approval to repeat or accelerate students. I am sure that he will do well. All the best. :-)
Hey, Ash. It's so normal for moms to worry! After meeting Seb, I think he'll fit in great. He's such an open, outspoken boy - he'll really do well.
And the heatwave is supposed to break tomorrow? HOORAY!
July 5, 2006 8:55 PM