Kindergarten. Who knew our decision regarding kindergarten would take up so much brain power and time over the last year? I mean. She is FIVE. She's FIVE. I knew this decision would not be a life altering one but given her giftedness, we didn't take it lightly.
{I know. I know. I called my child gifted. Judge me if you want but a spade is a spade. So I am calling a spade here. I cannot dance around reality. I take no responsibility for her intelligence. She was born this way; born a natural learner. I merely give her an environment to encourage her natural learning abilities.}
While I wished we had some different choices thrown in our area, Here were the choices:
1) Private: We chose not to make the financial sacrifices here ultimately because we want all our children at the same schools together. Financially this would be impossible when two and three kids are in school.
2) Homeschool: I went to a classical conversations homeschool "preview" and spoke at length with a dear friend who homeschools THREE Children currently, yeah she's amazing. Addison would thrive in the classical conversation approach however I wondered if I would know when to be mom and when to be teacher. I feared I would push and eventually push her into loathing learning. To squash her love of learning would be robbing her of God's greatest gift to her. I know my weaknesses. Once I took a step back I realized that perhaps I could homeschool as a temporary "gap filler" so to speak, more on that momentarily. I loved the idea that we could complete our academics in probably 2 hours a day versus the 7 in private or public. I loved that we could teach AT her ability levels in reading (3rd/4th grade now easily) and math (1st grade+). But, would I push? What about the other two distractions....errrr children running around? What about socially? She's SO social!
3) Public: I am a product of public school, so is Matthew. I think we came out pretty unscathed by the whole thing. I love public schools for their diversity, socialization and gifted programs! Not to mention we pay for them already with taxes. After a very lengthy meeting with the principal of what would be Addison's elementary school, we decided to proceed, with caution, to public school. The meeting primarly focused on what we can do to ensure Addison is challenged, but socialized within her grade. We discussed moving her up to higher level reading grades several times a week, on the kindergarten days she will be a peer model. The same for math. The gifted program does not begin until the ladder part of third grade, this is why she needs challenges now. We will assess how this is working for her at Christmas break, if the school follows through with what they said and she is thriving, she stays. If not, homeschool until third grade age.
PROS:
1) Addison is very excited to be away everyday for school
2) Her school is a title one school, while this may scare most parents it does not scare us, we love it. This means her school has a literacy, math and gifted coaches on campus FULL TIME. These coaches are utilized for students who need help catching up AND students needed a little extra. I love that.
3) We don't have to pay extra tuition, unlike private.
4) Socialization at school everyday.
5) Exposure to diversity (as much as it's possible in Nebraska). This is important to us.
6) Independence: she spends so much time with me, a SAHM, she has not had much chance to spread her wings.
7) Allows me time with the other children left at home to devote the virtue training with them that I did with her.
CONS:
1) We run the risk of pulling her from public school if she isn't brought into classrooms at least some of the time that match her abilities.
2) Transportation situation SUCKS.
3) Illnesses, yeah I know. I am crazy but this terrifies me.
4) She gets lost in the shuffle because she is so tender-hearted.
5) 80% of her day will be filled with wasted time: lunch. Line up. Bathroom break. Recess. Etc
6) No rest time.
Even beyond Christmas we will continue to assess school decisions. It is our job to ensure our kids are thriving in whatever they are doing. Sure, they will fail some and succeed some too. But we have a responsibility to be involved and pay close attention to their development as a whole. Starting school does not mean we can relax, oh the contrary!! We have to be even more diligent to LISTEN to what is poured into our children and how it affects them. We must guard and protect and guide them. As a friend of mine said, "when my first child started school I realized, my days as the primary influence in her life is over". Truth. This is why we have to be diligent. Every. Single. Day.
We made the best decision we could given our life circumstances. I am both excited and terrified about this new adventure for her. Addison is an amazing little girl, I am certain I will shed tears of joy and sadness as she starts school in a few weeks. Here's to our first baby leaving for elementary school......
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