How do I know if 11+ & Grammar Ed. are best for my 2nd k
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:20 pm
Hi all
Warning... I am about to ramble... but I am so scared of doing the wrong thing.
History.. I have a 15 year old daughter (now yr 11), who is "gifted". And a 10 yr old son... who is bright (or so I am told), but I don't know if he is just bright, under motivated, or not as interested as his sister. I do not think he is "gifted".
Firstly.. the "gifted" thing. To me and my daughter, this has seemed a horribly ironic term at times. It has often felt to be anything but a gift.
She 'thinks' differently to most of us. She gets from a-z in a way alien to most people... yet a lot quicker. Alongside the academic brilliance (which btw, was not apparent at home, often not apparent in the classroom, only tests and certain exercises in school flagged it up), came a social awkwardness & behavioural problems. She's through most of this now... thankfully. The Grammar School was the place for her to flourish. To not feel "odd"... and she has loved living, breathing and totally immersing herself in the work since the day she started there. She excels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry & Engineering (she is currently doing A level Engineering).
Then there is the boy! A totally different kettle of fish. Whilst bright, he is not particularly turned on by academics. I have to battle with him to do homework, if he had his way it would be playstation and sport 24/7. So with minimal effort, he manages to be in the top 2 or 3 in his class in most subjects. But the battles I have to have with him at home just to ensure the small amount of homework he has at the moment gets done, are awful, stressful and thankless.
And now we are approaching the 11+. Its just I am not sure Grammar is the place for him. I've kind of resigned myself to him doing the exam, and see how he does, before tearing out my hair trying to make decisions I may not have to make.
If the local secondary schools were up to standard, I suspect there wouldn't be an issue, that's the problem. They are not up to standard. He definitely needs discipline.. and a grammar will provide that.
Am I doing him an injustice in thinking this kind of heavy duty academic education may not be his thing?
Have any of you withdrawn a child from grammar school for similar reasons?
Am I worrying over nothing?
Warning... I am about to ramble... but I am so scared of doing the wrong thing.
History.. I have a 15 year old daughter (now yr 11), who is "gifted". And a 10 yr old son... who is bright (or so I am told), but I don't know if he is just bright, under motivated, or not as interested as his sister. I do not think he is "gifted".
Firstly.. the "gifted" thing. To me and my daughter, this has seemed a horribly ironic term at times. It has often felt to be anything but a gift.
She 'thinks' differently to most of us. She gets from a-z in a way alien to most people... yet a lot quicker. Alongside the academic brilliance (which btw, was not apparent at home, often not apparent in the classroom, only tests and certain exercises in school flagged it up), came a social awkwardness & behavioural problems. She's through most of this now... thankfully. The Grammar School was the place for her to flourish. To not feel "odd"... and she has loved living, breathing and totally immersing herself in the work since the day she started there. She excels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry & Engineering (she is currently doing A level Engineering).
Then there is the boy! A totally different kettle of fish. Whilst bright, he is not particularly turned on by academics. I have to battle with him to do homework, if he had his way it would be playstation and sport 24/7. So with minimal effort, he manages to be in the top 2 or 3 in his class in most subjects. But the battles I have to have with him at home just to ensure the small amount of homework he has at the moment gets done, are awful, stressful and thankless.
And now we are approaching the 11+. Its just I am not sure Grammar is the place for him. I've kind of resigned myself to him doing the exam, and see how he does, before tearing out my hair trying to make decisions I may not have to make.
If the local secondary schools were up to standard, I suspect there wouldn't be an issue, that's the problem. They are not up to standard. He definitely needs discipline.. and a grammar will provide that.
Am I doing him an injustice in thinking this kind of heavy duty academic education may not be his thing?
Have any of you withdrawn a child from grammar school for similar reasons?
Am I worrying over nothing?