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ShawnaB
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| Posted: Feb 19 2006 at 12:10am | IP Logged
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My ds is 5.5 and in all ways academic has been a very early developer. He essentially taught himself to read, and now is reading at about a 3rd grade level. He writes well, and he is cruising through 2nd grade math.
My question is, how do you bring balance to the super-ambitious learner?
Abraham is only 5! He's so little! I almost feel like the learning gas-pedal is pushed to the metal, and I'd like to slow down and enjoy the scenery a little more. I'm considering totally quitting our "formal" math and language arts instruction for the rest of the year, and just meandering through an informal geography unit study (he's been begging to learn about Africa)...pursuing as many rabbit trails as possible, and just reading whatever we can get our hands on. And spending a larger chunk of our school time in the arts. I think he needs more playdough time!!
What do you all think? Just because he's readyto master multiplication, must I do that next??
Also, I have lately heard some distasteful comments from him....He tends to receive a good bit of positive feed-back for his academic acceleration, and last week, he informed a 3rd grade friend who goes to public school that he could also read 3rd grade level books. There was an ugly smuggness to his remark...and red flags went up for this mom. I just HATE the whole "grade level" thing, and now my 5 year old is bragging about his "level." Yuck. I think we need to regroup...
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Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
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ShawnaB
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| Posted: Feb 19 2006 at 12:18am | IP Logged
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PS: As a credentialed teacher, I realize that I have been trained to think in terms of "grade level." It means I need extra help thinking out of the box! 
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Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 19 2006 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
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I think it is a great idea to take a break from formal academics and do more rabbit trails, etc. Remember from your teacher training that children need time to assimilate what they learn-mull it over, so to speak, so that it gets firmly cemented. Though your ds may be ready to tackle new ideas, it might be wise to let him spend some quality time with the ideas he already has. 
As for the smugness,
I also have a very gifted child. My dd, now 16, has always been way ahead of the curve academically. With these children it is so important not to let them get prideful. Here is how I adressed it with my daughter when pride reared it's ugly head. I explained to her in very gentle terms that her intelligence is a gift from God.Others may have very different gifts-like music or sense of humor or beauty, which are all given to us for a purpose-to serve God. Since her intellect is a gift,and she did nothing to earn it, there is nothing to be bragging about. We should be proud of our works, and humbly thankful for our gifts. She really took this to heart and is now quite humble, though still very self-confident (we don't want to squash that!).
I hope this helps.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Feb 20 2006 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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My oldest is very bright too, and taught himself to read, etc. Since he was my oldest, though, I never considered this to be out of the ordinary. When other people commented on how smart my kids were and how much they knew, I just blew it off and said that they were just normal kids. So my ds (and his little brother) never really knew that he was any different from anyone else. So I think with your ds I would try to remove attention from his "grade level."
As for what to "do" with him, I would definitely slack off and just have fun. He is so young! Now is the perfect time to just explore the world and enjoy life and learning together. Life will get serious enough soon enough on its own!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Leonie
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My eldest was/is quite gifted - taught himself to read at age 4 1/2, could do indices at age 6/7, etc.
But - we never used grade level books with him in primary ( elementary) school - so he had no idea that what he did at home was "above grade level". We just avoided the whole grade level thing and followed rabbit trails.
There are many Maths resources, some of them from the UK, that do not have grade levels per se. The same with novels and other fiction/non fiction for reading.
So, my suggestion is to drop the grade level books and concept and explore rabbit trails. A gifted or bright child will learn a great deal through "rabbit trailing" - on his or her own level.
My two cents!
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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ShawnaB
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| Posted: Feb 21 2006 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for the wisdom. I happen to also be reading Elizabeth Foss' book, which of course confirms all of this good advice. Theresa, your comment about allowing new skills for be assimilated was just what I needed to hear. And I know this is right for us at this time. I am purposing myself not to be so product-oriented (a real temptation when you have a high-output child!), and to nurturing more of the creative.
Also, good advice on nurturing humility and gratefulness of heart. Thank you.
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Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
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Leonie
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Let us know how it goes - and share some of your son's rabbit trails. I'd love to hear!
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Leonie in Sydney
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marianne
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Sounds like fun with your little guy! Have you looked into Suzuki violin? 5 is a great age to start and Suzuki's philosophy is very Charlotte Mason. It would be a new challenge, yet age appropriate - and he can go at his own pace. It might be good to take a break from academics - yet learning to play the violin is very academic in a way - patterns, attention to detail, memory work - also great for developing fine motor skills and an ear for music.
I found a teacher that comes to our home, since it's so hard to get out with all the kids. Just an idea for something you could look into.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Help...need to refocus
