Saturday, October 26, 2013
Students Skipping Grades
In class, the subject of students skipping grades got brought up into our conversation. I never really thought much on the matter before. I always thought that if you were smart enough to skip a grade, then why not? But after the conversation in class the issues that student might face if he or she were to skip a grade, really changed how I felt about students skipping grades. I began to look for some articles to see what others thought of students skipping grades. I have found an article that talks to students that have skipped a grade and focus on the pros and cons. In the article, one girl said she does not regret skipping a grade because if she hadn't she would have floated by in school and never truly would have to push herself. She also said if she hadn't she would have been very bored. The article talks about the con of potential social problems for a student who would be skipping a grade. The article said even though the student may be advanced academically, they might not be physically of emotionally. After reading this article, I believe that students skipping a grade is a tough decision and different for each child. It would depend on how socially and emotionally advanced the student was as well as academically. http://www.greatschools.org/students/4151-Skipping-a-grade-pros-and-cons.gs
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The concept of skipping a grade is one that I can't decide what my opinion is. I have one brother who was held back a grade and now is the biggest and oldest of the class (he was held back in kindergarten because of his birth date and our change in school districts). I have another brother who has been begging my parents to let him skip a grade because he is bored and not being challenged enough. Skipping a grade would make him the youngest and smallest. Academically he would be fine, but socially we aren't sure how he would. I believe many students are academically prepared to skip a grade but other factors such as social aspects of school should be taken into consideration before a decision is made.
ReplyDeleteI think that the issue of skipping a grade varies depending on the student. Some students may be able to handle the social differences in skipping ahead a grade, while other students may not be able to handle the differences in maturity that the class ahead of them may have. I think that each case should be considered independently, with regard to the students academic capabilities, social capabilities, maturity and also how their new class behaves as well. If their new class is more accepting of new students, then it will make for an easier transition for any new student coming into the class, regardless of the new student's age level.
ReplyDeleteMegan I really like how you talked about a student skipping a grade being a student by student process. Like you said some students are ready for the challenge and will be just fine socially while others won't. One of my best friends from high school brother skipped a grade in math when he was in eight grade and took math at the high school. At first I remember her telling me how he struggled because middle school to high school is a big jump. He was doing fine academically he had one of the highest grades in the class but socially he struggled because he didn't have any friends at the high school and he was a middle school-er in a freshman high school class. Many friendships had already been formed so it was hard on him. While the teacher helped the best she could he struggled a bit socially handling middle school and high school. It has gotten better for him now though as he has met more students in his class and become friends.
ReplyDeleteIt's a challenge though for parents and teacher to decide what the best thing to do is.