LisaK in VA
04-26-2010, 08:36 PM
My oldest son has one more year in the Virginia Virtual Academy... after which time, I plan to completely oversee his education again.
He's been in K12/VAVA since 3rd grade... and has been accelerated one grade level in LA (which is already considered 1 year ahead), math (2 years), and science (2 years).
He is *very* good at the mechanics of grammar, reading (very literal, has difficulties with inferences, etc.), writing, and has a pretty voluminous vocabulary for a child of his age. He is truly, noticeably gifted in communication/LA -- but he doesn't love it.
While I am hoping his desires change over the next 6-7 years, here is what dh and I have been talking about...
Since we are getting ready to pull him out of K12 starting in the 7th grade, we will back down the level of difficulty on grammar/literature analysis, to a 7th grade level. The idea being, give him some time to mature and give some of those cognitive connections a bit more time to develop, and making the acceleration more HIS choice, than "I'm your mom, and this is the level you need to work at" kind of thing. I don't want it to be watered down, but I don't need it to be a constant push, either.
Instead of my pushing him in areas I *know* he naturally excels, I want to give him more room to grow in different areas. For example, right now, he wants to write a book (thinks he'll make a million dollars doing so ;)), so by backing off the "accelerated curriculum" and giving him something that helps him write a book.
He also wants to start taking a modern language (as opposed to just Latin), spend some time really getting in to ancient Greece and Rome, and things like that.
Does this make any sense? Or am I nuts to back down on some of the "formal" accelerations?
Most of his work needs to be done independently, as I will have a pre-schooler, a Ker, a 3rd grader and a 4th grader when we begin this program. I'm still wondering how in the world I'm going to juggle it all... but baby steps.
He's been in K12/VAVA since 3rd grade... and has been accelerated one grade level in LA (which is already considered 1 year ahead), math (2 years), and science (2 years).
He is *very* good at the mechanics of grammar, reading (very literal, has difficulties with inferences, etc.), writing, and has a pretty voluminous vocabulary for a child of his age. He is truly, noticeably gifted in communication/LA -- but he doesn't love it.
While I am hoping his desires change over the next 6-7 years, here is what dh and I have been talking about...
Since we are getting ready to pull him out of K12 starting in the 7th grade, we will back down the level of difficulty on grammar/literature analysis, to a 7th grade level. The idea being, give him some time to mature and give some of those cognitive connections a bit more time to develop, and making the acceleration more HIS choice, than "I'm your mom, and this is the level you need to work at" kind of thing. I don't want it to be watered down, but I don't need it to be a constant push, either.
Instead of my pushing him in areas I *know* he naturally excels, I want to give him more room to grow in different areas. For example, right now, he wants to write a book (thinks he'll make a million dollars doing so ;)), so by backing off the "accelerated curriculum" and giving him something that helps him write a book.
He also wants to start taking a modern language (as opposed to just Latin), spend some time really getting in to ancient Greece and Rome, and things like that.
Does this make any sense? Or am I nuts to back down on some of the "formal" accelerations?
Most of his work needs to be done independently, as I will have a pre-schooler, a Ker, a 3rd grader and a 4th grader when we begin this program. I'm still wondering how in the world I'm going to juggle it all... but baby steps.