My dd was one from age 2 that wanted to do schoolwork "like the boys" (her 2 big brothers). She LOVED worksheets, and even when the boys were done, she'd stay there and want to work some more. Last year, at age 9, was the first time she slowed down, and didn't like the workbook stuff as much. My kids were all over the board with their schoolwork too. We say dd is in 6th grade, but she's doing 5th grade English, 8th grade math, 6th grade handwriting, a science that says it's for 5th-8th graders, Bible of our own making, History that's for 5th-8th graders.....Probably if she'd started school in K, then she'd be going into 5th grade, I guess. But many homeschoolers, or most homeschoolers, have many different levels,....one good reason to homeschool! My ds13 is "in 9th grade", and is now mostly on level. He's a little "behind" level in English. HOWEVER, we call them levels, and don't say anyone is ahead or behind, just at the level the child is at! If it's behind GREAT, we can work with that. If it's ahead FINE, we can do it at the level they need! Math is the main thing that I make sure they really know before moving on, and if they know it, and know it well enough to get bored if we stick to it any longer, then we move on. My ds13 used to be way ahead in math. He had a "meltdown" in 6th grade and screeched to a halt. We had a lot of work to do to get him going again, and now he is at what people wouldsay is the 9th great level (Algebra 1). DD started a little slower but really caught on to math. She is 10yo and is doing pre-algebra this year, because she really knows it! We avoided the problem ds13 had and she keeps on going. She may slow dow. If so, we'll take two years to do this math book. Whatever it takes to learn it wel. I don't agree with pushing kids to do better than friends, or to go at a certain pace so you can brag about how smart they are! But I also don't agree with holding them back if they are more advanced and want to keep advancing. In dd's case, I could hold her back in math, but I see no need to unless she, herself, wants to slow down! I don't know. Hope this makes sense. It's late and I have a headache, so I may not be making sense! But I agree with the others---do what's best for your dd---and be amazed, as you are, at how well she takes off with homeschooling and her private teacher!!!
Can someone please give me the link to the free assessments? I can only find a few questions from each assessment, like an example. So if she breezes through the 1st grade assessment, I should use the 2nd grade curriculum? I am thinking yes but also wonder, if I could make it more challenging for her. Expand on the 1st grade curriculum. Thank you!
I am not pushing her. It just came about naturally. Trying to keep her busy and entertained as she does not like to keep herself busy. LOL Especially in the car!!
Yes, you could do either--make 1st grade more challenging for her or use 2nd grade. I personally, will not go ahead more than one year in curriculums. So although my son is a math whiz kid, 2nd grade math is what he does. We add to it in other ways. And (using math as the example here), there are things that while he gets rather easily--he didn't know and I want to make sure I get. Remember too, there's no law that says you have to do one curriculum per year. Maybe look at the 1st grade curriculum and decide what it is she really doesn't know yet, do it--and maybe that's only half a year worth of stuff. So go on to the next thing. I would really suggest trusting your gut and doing what just seems to make sense.
I found this one- granted it's from the public school system in Chicago, but I found it to be very helpful. I gave it twice- once when we pulled dd from ps here(VA) and again back in May. http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/Assessments/Kg-PrimaryTools/kg-primarytools.html It takes a long time to get through it and it is a full assessment for math, reading, and spelling.
If I was more creative, maybe I could come up with things. I do that for all the other subjects. But with math, when we've gone over everything and I KNOW they know the material, we just move on to the next thing. DD loves to be challenged (ds13 just wants everything to be easy, NOT challenging!), or she zones out. I WANT to challenge her, because that's what she wants. But I don't know any other way to do that other than to just keep moving on to the next level. What other things do you do with them in math? And what would you do with one around my dd's age/level?
My daughter was the same way - and still is (she's entering 2nd grade level stuff)... She will take workbooks to bed to do .... she did ALL the ones from Walmart and most from Sams. I get excited when I see a new one so she can have something new to do in bed! I don't argue about it at all. I put both kids at the level they are "supposed" to be at in school (2nd & 5th) - but they both tested over their grade in math. So they are working through their math workbooks quickly and I expect my daughter to be moving towards 3rd grade stuff in the New Year or close their after. Maybe my son too - not quite sure. So maybe have seperate workbooks for "own-time" work - and then have regular "school books" for stuff you look over more closely. For books - why not try American Girls or something that won't have the "bad words" in it. I have to watch my son with that because of some of the books he picks out. Oh and I am SOOO not telling my husband about the handwriting as a sign of being gifted - LOL...
One stop shopping!! Reading, phonics, and language testing, all here. I think it goes from grade K to 8, and you can clearly find the grade you want. The instructions are easy to follow. http://eprcontent.k12.com/placement/placement/placement_langarts_2.html
