Hellobee Boards

I can link to so many articles and studies that show there are more positive than negative effects to grade skipping. The biggest study is the one referred to in the article - the 45 year longitudinal study by Lubinski who followed a group of mathematically precocious kids. I really dislike it when people say "it all evens out by the third grade"...some kids are forced to be evened out because they enter school knowing how to read and write but are forced to go with the regular curriculum...which doesn't allow them to grow. Of course the other kids will catch up by the third grade.

Due to the whole inclusive teaching model, schools seem to be so opposed to grade skipping. Especially if they are not up to date on the best ways to teach gifted kids, they think kids should be with their own age group.

We had some issues getting my DD5's new school to even entertain our request. Since we are in this city for one year we decided not to push it (I won't get into too much detail here). But I will say this - last year she was moved up to the preK/k room at her old school where the kids were predominantly 1 year older. They eventually moved her to the k group and she really thrived.

Here are some good links:
http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/nation_deceived/get_report.aspx

https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2017/09/14/watch-a-45-year-study-has-changed-the-way-we-view-giftedness/

I was skipped from kindergarten to grade 2. I wouldn't have chosen to do that. I did very well, academically, but I think it forced me to mature faster than was good for me. I would prefer to see students given extra work/stimulation etc, within their grade. Maybe Anagram's example would have been better, but just plunking me into a class of older kids wasn't great.

This article was in the thread on red-shirting but I think it applies here perfectly. One point that stood or to me is that combo classes (K-1, 1-2) had an overall positive effect although the effect was stronger for the younger kids.

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/youngest-kid-smartest-kid

I skipped a grade in elementary school and I don't feel like it had any major negative consequences for me. I was a pretty mature kid and I didn't struggle much because of my age - in high school, most of my friends were a grade higher so I would have been younger than everyone anyway. I do think it was good academically, but I think the effect was a little time limited. It didn't take long before I was ahead of everyone again and bored.

My younger brother skipped a grade and we ended up in the same grade. Academically, he excelled. He was always the smartest in the grade and winning all the awards. Socially, especially during middle school and early high school, it was hard for him. He was always smaller than everyone and even though he played sports, he was always the position that no one wanted. He wasn't bullied per se but he did have a hard time finding his friends and instead hung out with mine esp in middle school. In high school, all of his friends were driving and he couldn't. Little things like that I think was difficult for him. He wasn't 18 when he went to college so had to get additional forms and slips signed. Eventually, he hit his growth spurt and he was able to adjust.

As a kid, I wish my parents would have let me skip a grade or two. They refused the school's offers to do so, and I ended up as the younger grade in combination classes for two different grades. That was fun for me for those two years, because I had enough material (learning both grades) to stay entertained. It was horrible the following grade, when I'd already learned all of the material the prior year in the combo class. Being so separated from my peers in terms of academic interest and ability led to social isolation for me so I just don't buy into the argument that advancing younger kids into classrooms with older children leads to a social penalty. I ended up graduating high school two years early (after getting into loads of trouble because I was bored) and starting community college. My parents and I both regret that I wasn't advanced at a younger age. Not sure what the best solution for your LO is, but I would encourage you to do whatever is necessary to make sure your LO remains challenged and engaged at school.

I ended up skipping two grades throughout my schooling and it was a godsend. I was the youngest and smallest all the way through to university but I loved it and socially I've always been more comfortable around older people. I'm not sure how I would have coped if I'd had to stay in my designated grade - I was bullied and was super rebellious before I was moved up the first time. Nothing but positive outcomes for me.

I didn't skip, but I started school at 4 instead of 5. I had to take a quick test (knowing right from left, counting, colors, tie my shoes, etc.). I hated being the youngest in my grade growing up. I got to do everything last, including getting your license which really stunk!

I didn’t skip because it wasn’t allowed in my school district growing up, but I was ready both academically and socially. I went into K already reading and I was so bored that I would come home crying. My parents switched me to a private school a few months into the school year and the pace was much faster and more challenging. When I switched back to public school in second grade I was bored again and put in advanced reading classes (I was the only one). I tested into G&T in 3rd grade (the earliest the program started), but it was a pull out program. I stayed in G&T until I graduated HS. All of that to say, if you think your LO would be happier being more challenged by either skipping a grade or switching schools, I would definitely look into the options.

@808love: sounds cool! Are you in HI?