My daughter is currently in grade 2 at school... Her birthday is end of march which makes her one of the youngest.
Miss 6 has always struggled with reading and writing but was assured by her teachers she will catch up and repeating isn't an option because socially she is great and her other areas are all at standard level.
Last year I her her assesed by a psychologist which gave us some great feedback, she has very poor memory and she was low average for most but her perception and reasoning was off the charts. (high end) Report was given to the school and this year they have put her in a intervention reading program and speech and language theripy. I have seen a lot of progress and she is now blossoming in her reading and writing. They are teaching her in more visual way and she is picking things up much quicker. And at the recent parent teacher I was told it's helping her a lot with her Confidence. I again asked the same question I have asked in prep and grade one.. Should I repeat her? Because she is now 6-12 Months behind her peers in these areas. Her teacher said from one parent to another it's not a bad idea. It will do her wonders to be at the top of the class and be the same age as her peers. She also did say to look at it more at the end of the year. But if I'm looking for another school I want to start looking now.
Im just after advice from anyone who has a child similar what did you do?
Would you change schools repeat grade 2?
Stay at the same school and repeat?
Or tough it out and hope the she progresses quicky now she had the extra help?
3 Replies
I didn't think my son was ready so I held him back from starting for a year and I think you could apply the same reasoning in reverse to your situation. To explain to your daughter why she's staying back just let her know that when you had the option to keep her home or send her to school that you thought she was ready for it and decided send her, that you've both (you and teacher) seen her struggle and want to help her out by giving her an extra year to get back on the same level as other kids her age. Unless it's a prestigious school with self-important soccer-moms with nothing better to do than gossip with their 6-7 year old kids I doubt staying at the same school will be a problem, she'll be making new friends in her new class and still seeing this years friends at lunch breaks and she already knows the teaching staff so the familiarity should be helpful. Another thing to consider this year or next might be tutoring, at such a low grade level you could possibly get a high school student or tertiary student to do some work with her once or twice a week in the afternoon. Good luck, I hope it works out for her.
I would repeat in a heartbeat. There will be plenty of children her age in the lower year. I would consider moving school if she couldnt handle it. I would not be tutoing a six yar old to try to push her aead than where she is, she is 6 it could have terrible consequences she
L burn out, believe shes stupid, lose interest in academics altogether. This stuff will happen for her. Its great schools supporting her. I would watch how she progresses with it and reassess as the year goes on.
Theres no shame in repeating now, its better than pushing and having the feeling of struggling to keep up or failing.
Repeat. Even if you could change schools to repeat so she doesn't notice her friends moving up. My SIL did it with her daughter. As well as tutoring. She was grade four at the time. She went from below average to top of the class. Now in high school she is getting straight A's and academic awards. She changed schools, too.