I'm really needing help! I have a 4 year old talented and gifted girl who's being homeschooled now. she won't be able to go to public school until kinder, at that time she will be tested and placed in talented /gifted program if test on first grade level. can anyone tell me the standard requirements for first grade level in the state of tx? i've looked at the teks website and its so confusing, can someone give me simple steps/curriculum, guide to getting her ready myself for first grade level? also, does anyone know of any great free homeschool sites?:?
So you plan, next year, to put her into a public school and have her tested for GT? I'm not in Texas, and each state is different, but where I live there IS NO GT program for children that young. Generally, schools WILL NOT put kids up a grade, regardless of what they do/do not know, and sometimes the teachers get mad at parents when the child is way advanced. Also, another problem with putting a child up a grade is maturity. Many kids who are mentally ready aren't mature enough. Now, I don't know your daughter, so I can't say if that's the case with her!
Texas has no set requirements that you must fulfill. They liked for kids to cover all the basics: social studies, good citizenship, language arts, math, history, basic science. Really, as long as you teach a standard first grade curriculum [check any all-in-one curriculum site like Abeka for a list of subjects], you'll be covering what you need to cover for Texas.
I'm kind of confused - not sure what you're request is. To answer your subject line, Shelley covered it. We just finished first grade, it's very doable. But...are you trying to make sure you've covered first grade with your child so that she will test appropriately? There are lots of ways to meet the needs of a G/T child without jumping ahead a grade. Plus, as Jackie points out, there are developmental issues to consider other than academic achievement and cognitive ability. You may want to read up on Waldorf philosophy - While we do not "do" Waldorf in our family, they make some very valid points about developing the whole child, and how a child who is significantly advanced in some areas (reading, math, basically academic) still needs to have her development fostered in other areas. If you're looking for free curricula - there are a TON out there. Start googling. Myself, I like OFE, Ambelside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason (can you tell we're a Charlotte Mason family ). I have a son who is very much advanced in reading (compared with other subject areas) and avidly interested in all things science; a literature base for his learning is working very well.
I agree that any curriculum for 1st grade would get you there. Now about having them tested for gifted in kindergarten. I live in LA. one state over and you have to test before kindergarten registration. If you mention it after registration, it won't happen. They don't like to place kindergarten children in gifted. You need to have her tested the Jan. before public school kindergarten. I learned this the hard way as my child who read on 3rd grade level in kindergarten couldn't be placed gifted after starting kindergarten, but the child whose mom had her tested and she couldn't read fluently yet but could read on maybe a 1st grade level got to be in gifted. Also, gifted is not a separate classroom or separate curriculum. It is once a week going to a gifted program. Here they bussed the kids over to the upper elementary school (4th-6th). So I would carefully look at and ask questions early. Here you take them to a specific place to be tested. It is the same place they test for delays b/c gifted is also under special education. Anything that deviates from the norm whether delays or advances is special education. I also agree about teachers and such. They don't want to hear it and they will tell you that it all evens out in 3rd grade anyway when the other kids can read. In kindergarten, I was told by dd's teacher that she wouldn't be teaching anything that dd didn't already know. She pushed for dd to be tested and still we got told sorry we don't like to put k'ers in gifted. If I could go back, I would have kept dd home that year and started something like Abeka 1st or 2nd grade. I lost a lot of time and my dd lost her love of learning by being bored to tears. BTW, my dd taught herself to read at 3 and could read and write on a 3rd grade level and wasn't considered gifted b/c she wasn't 2 grades ahead in all areas. I would really check into what is needed and required to be considered gifted.
I live in Texas. There is nothing at all you need to do if your child has never been enrolled in school before. Nothing at all. Nobody to contact and no rules. You can pick and choose whatever curriculum you want to use and teach. I would suggest math, reading and handwriting but beyond that at that age it will all be extra. There is nobody to report to or check on you.
Be weary though, I have seen some curriculum providers try to tell new homeschoolers that they can be arrested if they homeschool wrong, even if they did not intend to. They do this to try to sell their curriculum. If anyone tells you this about Texas, run, and never look back. They are not worth your time or worry or should not get a penny of your money.
If your daughter is only 4 years old, it doesn't matter what the state requires for first grade as far as homeschooling legally goes. Compulsory age is not until 6. If you're wanting to put her in public school next year and have her already cover the material - let me tell you first hand, sweetie - that's asking for trouble! They don't move kids up a grade (might in a private school), and don't generally have a gifted program until middle school. Unless your smartie kiddo gets a fantastic teacher (every single year, at that), it's asking for trouble. If, on the other hand, you plan to homeschool for the forseeable future, and your daughter is just at the point where she's ready for first grade work, then what the others have said is true. Texas really doesn't have any requirements, and doesn't check. It does say that you are to cover the areas of spelling, writing, grammar, math, and citizenship. For first grade that generally consists of advanced phonics and beginner spelling as related to reading, handwriting, reading and being read to, basic math, and just about anything else will count for citizenship - social studies, history, science, scouting, religion - almost anything. Really. Say the pledge or something. If you, as the teacher, need a better guide than that for your own sake or to give you a jumping point, check out World Book's website.
I went and reread your post and think I misunderstood it the first time. If you must teach her a bunch to get her to a level where she will qualify for a GT program, then you are wasting your time and her time and her childhood. GT programs are for those kids who would be bored in the regular classroom because they learn at too fast a rate. The testing for those programs are similar to IQ tests, not something you can force teach. I can understand if your child is reading anyway to want your child tested. But if she is not "there" for a gifted program, you should not try to "make her" gifted. Let her be a 4 yr old.