School grade testing- any experience?
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 302
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
http://www.mathfactcafe.com/ <- has flashcards you can customize
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm <- good for language art links
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm <- good for language art links
#17
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
Thanks everyone for the really helpful replies.
I got his US reading books from Amazon to give us a start and the school has emailed us some math(s) problems to look at.
Things like American spellings and vocab are hardly noticeable to him, it's going to be me who has that problem. I've spent the last 12 years trying to anglicise my hubby....
Eddie has also been in school in England for 3 years. Last year he was in Year 1-2, which meant he was with some 7 year olds and it was never a problem.
The only thing that matters for me is that he is happy and gets settled in, I would prefer 1st Grade as I think boredom would be the worst thing for him, he can definitely get distracted if things are too easy....
Thanks again. I will update next week after we've gone through the school test on Friday morning.
I got his US reading books from Amazon to give us a start and the school has emailed us some math(s) problems to look at.
Things like American spellings and vocab are hardly noticeable to him, it's going to be me who has that problem. I've spent the last 12 years trying to anglicise my hubby....
Eddie has also been in school in England for 3 years. Last year he was in Year 1-2, which meant he was with some 7 year olds and it was never a problem.
The only thing that matters for me is that he is happy and gets settled in, I would prefer 1st Grade as I think boredom would be the worst thing for him, he can definitely get distracted if things are too easy....
Thanks again. I will update next week after we've gone through the school test on Friday morning.
#19
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
There have been many different stories from different people on BE about placing their child in different grades. Some of the happiest outcomes have been to put their child a grade down from the UK where their child adjusted rapidly with the parent indicating that it was the best decision ever made.
Even if the child is advanced for his/her grade, many schools have gifted programs (usually in the later grades) where the child can attend advanced studies classes but still can overall remain with his/her age group for most classes.
Even if the child is advanced for his/her grade, many schools have gifted programs (usually in the later grades) where the child can attend advanced studies classes but still can overall remain with his/her age group for most classes.
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
There have been many different stories from different people on BE about placing their child in different grades. Some of the happiest outcomes have been to put their child a grade down from the UK where their child adjusted rapidly with the parent indicating that it was the best decision ever made.
Even if the child is advanced for his/her grade, many schools have gifted programs (usually in the later grades) where the child can attend advanced studies classes but still can overall remain with his/her age group for most classes.
Even if the child is advanced for his/her grade, many schools have gifted programs (usually in the later grades) where the child can attend advanced studies classes but still can overall remain with his/her age group for most classes.
#21
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
Yes, but this is between kindergarten and first grade. The child is 6 and is old enough for first grade, already reads and writes (I'm assuming since he's been in school in the UK for three years.) I can imagine a 2.5 hour day with younger children that are just learning to do this would be pretty boring.
#23
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
The wiki discusses the issue of class placement a bit here:
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Educat...s_in_school%3F
There is also this thread which is worth a read (despite a bit of ranting in the middle). Strongly recommend taking a look at it as well.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643985
Basically, there is no one size fits all answer. To paraphrase Sir Ken Robinson, a child's education should not be based on their "date of manufacture". You'll be best served if you take the time to talk to their educators in the UK, find out what they are studying and how your child is doing in that, along with (if possible) what sort of environment they excel in and then discuss with the counterparts here about the current class syllabus and what sort of educational philosophy they attempt at the new school. It may turn out in a smaller class with a number of 'red-shirted' kids you may find a lower grade just as satisfying than a higher grade level, or it may be that the higher grade in this school is just keeping up with the one back home. There simply is no one universal right answer for your situation.
Good luck with the testing.
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Educat...s_in_school%3F
There is also this thread which is worth a read (despite a bit of ranting in the middle). Strongly recommend taking a look at it as well.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643985
Basically, there is no one size fits all answer. To paraphrase Sir Ken Robinson, a child's education should not be based on their "date of manufacture". You'll be best served if you take the time to talk to their educators in the UK, find out what they are studying and how your child is doing in that, along with (if possible) what sort of environment they excel in and then discuss with the counterparts here about the current class syllabus and what sort of educational philosophy they attempt at the new school. It may turn out in a smaller class with a number of 'red-shirted' kids you may find a lower grade just as satisfying than a higher grade level, or it may be that the higher grade in this school is just keeping up with the one back home. There simply is no one universal right answer for your situation.
Good luck with the testing.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Location: California
Posts: 353
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
Hi all,
My 6 year old has a one to one test booked with his new school at 7.30am the morning after we arrive in the States!
They have told us what to practise on which is great, but just wondered if anyone's kids had been through this and how it was done / how it went? I would like to prepare him as much as possible, I'm much more nervous about it than he is....
It's to decide if he will go in first grade or kindergarten.
Thanks for your help
Alison.
My 6 year old has a one to one test booked with his new school at 7.30am the morning after we arrive in the States!
They have told us what to practise on which is great, but just wondered if anyone's kids had been through this and how it was done / how it went? I would like to prepare him as much as possible, I'm much more nervous about it than he is....
It's to decide if he will go in first grade or kindergarten.
Thanks for your help
Alison.
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
I wouldn't worry too much as it's not set in stone and he can move between grades.
You can contact the school before you know your exact address.
You can contact the school before you know your exact address.
#26
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
Hi all,
My 6 year old has a one to one test booked with his new school at 7.30am the morning after we arrive in the States!
They have told us what to practise on which is great, but just wondered if anyone's kids had been through this and how it was done / how it went? I would like to prepare him as much as possible, I'm much more nervous about it than he is....
It's to decide if he will go in first grade or kindergarten.
Thanks for your help
Alison.
My 6 year old has a one to one test booked with his new school at 7.30am the morning after we arrive in the States!
They have told us what to practise on which is great, but just wondered if anyone's kids had been through this and how it was done / how it went? I would like to prepare him as much as possible, I'm much more nervous about it than he is....
It's to decide if he will go in first grade or kindergarten.
Thanks for your help
Alison.
My son turned 8 this week and is settling well into 3rd grade.
My daughter is 7 on 30th November - is is the cut off date for the school district, so she scrapped into 2nd grade by one day. She has been there 4 weeks now and the school have been testing to she if she is in the correct grade. We have been considering moving her down to 1st grade, but her latest results suggest she is doing well with math(s) and english, but struggling a bit with reading. They are suggesting extra support to bring her reading up. They have been really good monitoring her progress and how she has settled. Yes she will be the last one to drive, the last one able to go to the movie, but it would seem to hold her back would be worse and she may loose interest in school if it's too easy.
A good school should monitor progress and not just test and then lock in the grade selection.
I hope you have a good experience and your son settles well whichever class he ends up in.
#28
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
We needed proof of residency in the district and didn't sign a lease until after school had finished for the summer. They started first day of term in the age appropriate grade.
#29
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
Yes, but this is between kindergarten and first grade. The child is 6 and is old enough for first grade, already reads and writes (I'm assuming since he's been in school in the UK for three years.) I can imagine a 2.5 hour day with younger children that are just learning to do this would be pretty boring.
#30
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 302
Re: School grade testing- any experience?
We arrived in the US in May, but couldn't register with the school district until after the school year had finished.
My son turned 8 this week and is settling well into 3rd grade.
My daughter is 7 on 30th November - is is the cut off date for the school district, so she scrapped into 2nd grade by one day. She has been there 4 weeks now and the school have been testing to she if she is in the correct grade. We have been considering moving her down to 1st grade, but her latest results suggest she is doing well with math(s) and english, but struggling a bit with reading. They are suggesting extra support to bring her reading up. They have been really good monitoring her progress and how she has settled. Yes she will be the last one to drive, the last one able to go to the movie, but it would seem to hold her back would be worse and she may loose interest in school if it's too easy.
A good school should monitor progress and not just test and then lock in the grade selection.
I hope you have a good experience and your son settles well whichever class he ends up in.
My son turned 8 this week and is settling well into 3rd grade.
My daughter is 7 on 30th November - is is the cut off date for the school district, so she scrapped into 2nd grade by one day. She has been there 4 weeks now and the school have been testing to she if she is in the correct grade. We have been considering moving her down to 1st grade, but her latest results suggest she is doing well with math(s) and english, but struggling a bit with reading. They are suggesting extra support to bring her reading up. They have been really good monitoring her progress and how she has settled. Yes she will be the last one to drive, the last one able to go to the movie, but it would seem to hold her back would be worse and she may loose interest in school if it's too easy.
A good school should monitor progress and not just test and then lock in the grade selection.
I hope you have a good experience and your son settles well whichever class he ends up in.
http://www.abeka.com/ChristianSchool...sSixSteps.aspx
The Basic Phonics Sounds CD
Basic Phonics Charts 1–2
Handbook for Reading
I used it with my son years ago and have bought it for a few friends that had a struggling reader. I put the charts in page protectors and played the tape (CD now) and he would flip through it.
There are practice readers that go along with it, I would look on ebay for those to get a better price.
starfall.com is a good site too.