Different grade levels at same age...

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by Sarah M., May 29, 2013.

  1. Sarah M.

    Sarah M. New Member

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    OK, my son is way ahead of the game academically. He just turned 6 and will be doing second grade starting in a couple weeks no problem. He's doing so well on the testing through the CLP site, his reading level is staggering, his math comprehension is great (we just deal with regular 6yo boy distractibility and limited attention span here and there with much grace).

    My concern is for my 4yo. The boys are both well aware that they are only 2 years apart. Honestly, my second boy is not really ready for kindergarten, although I will be making sure to spend focused time with him reading him books during "school work time." I know I can't expect him to be at my oldest one's same level in two years--he's SO different.

    I'm not sure how to deal with the grade level next year, when my 7yo will be doing 3rd grade but my 5yo will only be ready for kindergarten-level work. My oldest tends to like to feel superior as it is (something we are constantly working on). How do you deal with children being at different grade levels at the same age? Is it better if the kids don't even KNOW what grade they're in??
     
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  3. crazymama

    crazymama Active Member

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    I wouldn't stress grade levels... I might tell them that they are in the level they belong in age wise... for example the older is a first grader this fall the younger is pre k or k4. Work with each one on their level.
     
  4. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    There are some things you can do together if you wish. Science, for example. Pick topics of interest...dinosaurs, magnets, electricity.... History is another that is good across grade levels.

    When my youngest was your youngest's age, he was doing history and science with his sisters, grades 2 and 4. We went to plant flowers for my mom on Mother's Day. My dad mixed some fertilizer in a bucket and poured it on the flowers. Phillip wanted to know what it was, and Dad answered, "Plant food!" "Oh, no, Grandpa!" Phillip told him. "Don't know you plants make their own food from the sun?" Wanna guess what we had been studying in science, lol?

    Just work each kid where they're at. Sometimes there might be some overlap, and that's OK.
     
  5. crazymama

    crazymama Active Member

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    Another thought... and this is part of why even though my DD is behind in the skill subjects I'm going to register her as her age's grade level is scouts. It just makes life easier over all... we will work on her level and not worry about what "paperwork" says is her grade level.
     
  6. eyeofthestorm

    eyeofthestorm Active Member

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    I agree with Sommer. Half the time, my kids don't know what grade they're "officially" in. They work at their level - whatever level that is.
     
  7. Embassy

    Embassy New Member

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    We do grade=age and work with whatever level they are ready to do.

    I'd continue to work on the issue your ds has with superiority. Academic achievement may be his strength, but his little brother also has strengths. We've had to work on that around here. It really helped to have my boys list out what they like about the other person. I point out talented kids and express that everyone is different and it is okay for my kid to be himself and the other kid to be himself. I recently pointed out a kid that could do something my kid struggled with and the kid who could do that was half his age. No one is good at everything.
     
  8. KariJ

    KariJ New Member

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    We don't define grade levels until high school. Our oldest will be a freshman in the fall, but the younger kids won't have specific grade levels. We sign them up for activities based on their age and give vague answers when people ask what grade they're in. We do this because our two middle boys (who would be 3 grades apart in ps) are working at about the same level academically and have been for several years. If they knew that they were in "6th grade" and "3rd grade", they'd probably wonder why they were using the same books :).

    I agree with the other posters - either define their grades by their age, or drop the labels altogether.
     
  9. JosieB

    JosieB Active Member

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    My kids don't usually know what grade they are in, half the time I don't remember myself. (we just say whatever grade correlates to their age)They each work at their own level on things, and I don't worry at all about it being on, below or above grade level. It's their level at that point in time and that's why we homeschool, so they don't have to fit into some government made mold of what exactly they should be learning/doing simply based on their birthday.
     
  10. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    We don't make a huge issue about grade level, etc.

    Does your 6 year old say something to your 4 year old? If he/she does, I'd certainly address that. You 6 year old may be advance, and your 4 year old may be average, but that's not something that THEY ever need to know or needs to be discussed IN FRONT of them.

    My middle is not the same kind of smart as my oldest. BUT, he's smart in HIS way, and with HIS things. We place emphasis on those things.

    This did recently come up because we're thinking of skipping TT7 for my middle and going right into TT Pre-Algebra - I discovered with my oldest that TT7 isn't 100% necessary. She only did about half the TT7 and half Pre-Algebra....My oldest got her nose out of joint over it....but we diffused it.

    If YOU don't make a big deal over it, then THEY should get their cues from you and do the same. And if your oldest is causing the issue, even simple things like "Gee when I WAS 4 I WAS......" can cause an issue. Especially with same gendered children....

    Anyway....
     
  11. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Like!
     
  12. kricau

    kricau New Member

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    ......also, don't give up on the 4 year old. He may take HUGE steps in the next couple of years, and out shine the 6 year old. You never know with kids :)
     
  13. Sarah M.

    Sarah M. New Member

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    Yeah I'm thinking of just going with giving answers of grade levels = age (so DS#2 is doing kindergarten, etc), BUT my only hang-up is when it comes to doing end of year evaluations.

    Oh, and I know DS#2 will absolutely shine in other areas!! I can't wait to explore different avenues with him and find his strengths. <3
     
  14. crazymama

    crazymama Active Member

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    What are your end ouf the year evals like? Here in PA, one of the strictest states to homeschool in, we just have to show sustained progress. So if they start out adding 1+1 and end the year being able to multiply 2x2 then they have made progress right?
     

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