What does accelerated learning look like at zoned elementary schools?
For parents with kids at zoned elementary schools - what does the school do for kids who are accelerated? e.g., if my kid enters K reading and doing multiplication, will there be enrichment available, or is that on me?
Doubtful there will be any enrichment. They will adjust reading to the kids' level, so will get higher level books. Math they will reteach. Likely your kid doesn't know the way math is done in common core, so while you think your child knows multiplication, he/she probably can't even count the common core way!
It's pretty much on you. Your kid will receive harder books and be in the advanced math and reading groups. These kids are often asked to be helpers (which is a very good way to encourage subject mastery) or tasked with creating the handouts or displays for learning celebrations. One of my DCs wrote all of the bulletin board for the Lenape study.
Yup. They'll level to harder books, and help the other kids with math/other subjects. If the teacher is good they will allow them to read, draw, write journal, whatever while waiting for the rest of the class. Don't expect much.
There is no official "acceleration" at zoned elementary schools (there isn't really supposed to be any at district G*T either). Some teachers are more accommodating than others. Your best bet is to very NICELY ask the teacher for what you want. Don't go in and say, my kid is extremely gifted and bored in your class and what are you going to do about it? Say, hey, Susie really loves math and she's so excited by your lessons, could she work on some challenge problems?
In my experience (gifted kid went to a general-ed), reading and writing are easily adapted to a higher level - kids can read harder books, write longer stories, etc. Math is where you'll probably need to supplement if you want acceleration.
Though for the record, we rarely did any supplementing, my kid was often bored during the half-hour math lesson every day in K - 5, survived it just fine and is now getting more math homework than he wants at HCHS.
Yes, I just did this with my 1st grader, who didn't want to read her books from school during reading time at home bc she said they were too easy and she was bored. So I wrote to her teacher and told her the conversation and basically said that she knows better than me if those books are appropriate for her level, but is there anything else she could do. Teacher was very nice about it and agreed that she could be reading more advanced books, so she swapped out her collection for higher level ones and my DD was very excited about her new "big girl book."I think you basically have to take control of any additional enrichment, but it shouldn't hurt to keep the lines of communication open with the teachers.
I have had 3 kids score 99s on the tests over the years who they never got seats at a citywide and I was unwilling to go across town to our nearest G&T. So they stayed in our local gen ed. I would say in K there was not a lot of extra given - they might choose books from the 1st grade classrooms but that's it. As they moved through elementary they would get a great teacher who might notice a couple of kids in the grade were great at math and she would coordinate to have them all pulled out once a week with the school specialist to do enrichment. One of my dds loved reading and writing and wanted to start a newspaper in 5th grade and the teacher supervised her while she spent two recess periods a week working in the classroom with her friends to do this (the teacher gave up her lunch hour for this). But I would say on the whole these things depend on whether your school has the resources to pay for a math specialist or teachers who genuinely want to provide enrichment.
BTW - bonus points if anyone can comment on PS 527, which is our zoned school... TIA!
Doubtful there will be any enrichment. They will adjust reading to the kids' level, so will get higher level books. Math they will reteach. Likely your kid doesn't know the way math is done in common core, so while you think your child knows multiplication, he/she probably can't even count the common core way!
common core math is ridiculous
Such an ignorant comment. It's a far better way to learn math.
by what metric?
@anonymous Test scores are actually down after adopting common core, and the US still lags far behind other countries.
It's pretty much on you. Your kid will receive harder books and be in the advanced math and reading groups. These kids are often asked to be helpers (which is a very good way to encourage subject mastery) or tasked with creating the handouts or displays for learning celebrations. One of my DCs wrote all of the bulletin board for the Lenape study.
Yup. They'll level to harder books, and help the other kids with math/other subjects. If the teacher is good they will allow them to read, draw, write journal, whatever while waiting for the rest of the class. Don't expect much.
The school/teacher has no incentive to invest in advanced kids. And the current philosophy is that your kid is ahead because he/she is privileged.
Yes, unfortunately
@Anonymous You sound like you should move out of NYC given your attitude.
There is no official "acceleration" at zoned elementary schools (there isn't really supposed to be any at district G*T either). Some teachers are more accommodating than others. Your best bet is to very NICELY ask the teacher for what you want. Don't go in and say, my kid is extremely gifted and bored in your class and what are you going to do about it? Say, hey, Susie really loves math and she's so excited by your lessons, could she work on some challenge problems?
In my experience (gifted kid went to a general-ed), reading and writing are easily adapted to a higher level - kids can read harder books, write longer stories, etc. Math is where you'll probably need to supplement if you want acceleration.
Though for the record, we rarely did any supplementing, my kid was often bored during the half-hour math lesson every day in K - 5, survived it just fine and is now getting more math homework than he wants at HCHS.
Yes, I just did this with my 1st grader, who didn't want to read her books from school during reading time at home bc she said they were too easy and she was bored. So I wrote to her teacher and told her the conversation and basically said that she knows better than me if those books are appropriate for her level, but is there anything else she could do. Teacher was very nice about it and agreed that she could be reading more advanced books, so she swapped out her collection for higher level ones and my DD was very excited about her new "big girl book."I think you basically have to take control of any additional enrichment, but it shouldn't hurt to keep the lines of communication open with the teachers.
I have had 3 kids score 99s on the tests over the years who they never got seats at a citywide and I was unwilling to go across town to our nearest G&T. So they stayed in our local gen ed. I would say in K there was not a lot of extra given - they might choose books from the 1st grade classrooms but that's it. As they moved through elementary they would get a great teacher who might notice a couple of kids in the grade were great at math and she would coordinate to have them all pulled out once a week with the school specialist to do enrichment. One of my dds loved reading and writing and wanted to start a newspaper in 5th grade and the teacher supervised her while she spent two recess periods a week working in the classroom with her friends to do this (the teacher gave up her lunch hour for this). But I would say on the whole these things depend on whether your school has the resources to pay for a math specialist or teachers who genuinely want to provide enrichment.