What to do with first grader showing special aptitude for math

My son is currently in first grade and showing many signs of being particularly advanced in math. He’s getting super frustrated with the pace and topics in his class, so we are doing what we can at home to supplement, but honestly have no idea how to go about that in a structured/ appropriate way.

We have parent teacher conferences coming up and will discuss then, but curious to hear from others who have experienced this. What support is the district obliged to provide in this case, if any? Whatever happened to the whole “gifted” program debate that was raging a couple years ago? (I know, hot button issue). And aside from school itself, any outside programs or other approaches anyone would recommend for this age?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts

Opinions may differ, but I believe that most people who have been in your position would agree that meeting the needs of gifted or twice-exceptional students is not a high priority in this district.

State law requires the district to identify gifted students and make an effort to find appropriate challenges for them. However, that language is so vague that the district is left to its own devices as to what constitutes a gifted child or what appropriate steps are taken to meet their needs.

There are parents who are hoping to change things, but the general attitude of the board ranges from well-meaning futility to outright hostility.

The district has hired a consultant Alison Brown to help implement the G&T strategies that were initiated a few years ago. You can ask your child's teacher about the strategies (maybe the principal if your child's teacher doesn't know). Alison Brown has started a Facebook group #HASHTAGS - Maplewood South Orange you can join and she hosts monthly meetings at The Parenting Center for parents interested in supporting G&T children.

Can he take math for the rest of this semester with 2nd or 3rd graders? Also: have you already asked his teacher to speed up? Also: see Sal https://www.khanacademy.org/math

I don't see how the teachers can speed up the class. While it could be possible for a student to join the next grade for math, the logistics are difficult. My cousin did that for reading in a Catholic School.. Problem was he missed his math glass to go to the next grade reading class and ended up behind in math temporarily.

At the high school level, they may have a math club, maybe even middle school, but that doesn't help now. There might be some math enrichment classes over the summer (colleges run college for kids programs-I know essex does, but I don't remember the type of classes or ages and the classes might actually be in the west essex/caldwell area (i don't remember exactly where the campus is)...you can also see if seton hall has anything.

I think Kean does something with STEM, maybe they would have something.

You also have to be concerned about him getting too far ahead and getting even more bored in school.

For what its worth, I knew a kid very advanced in math..until middle school with math became different (algebra, geometry) and now he is above average but actually not even in the honors class. He was adamant about that (but is in other honors classes)

look into this...i don't see how to find a club
https://crazy8s.bedtimemath.org/home/what

https://mommypoppins.com/kids/best-stem-classes-in-central-new-jersey

If your child really is advanced in math and not just bored with seat work, perhaps he ca help tutor children in his class who are falling behind in that subject. Ask the teacher if this would work.

There are lots of things you can try at home to supplement math work at school: chess, coding, computer games stressing math skills, card games, math and logic puzzles, helping with simple budgeting and purchases, taking measurements for home projects, etc.

chalmers said:

The district has hired a consultant Alison Brown to help implement the G&T strategies that were initiated a few years ago. You can ask your child's teacher about the strategies (maybe the principal if your child's teacher doesn't know). Alison Brown has started a Facebook group #HASHTAGS - Maplewood South Orange you can join and she hosts monthly meetings at The Parenting Center for parents interested in supporting G&T children.

This^. There is a meeting coming up February 22. Contact Allison . There are many parents who are members that have similar issues and officially our district is supposed to have a policy which identifies and provides appropriate content for students who are gifted in one area or another.

Hi, my name is Amy Kamen. I am not sure if you got my prior message to you. Hovever, I have a very precocious 9th grader, who is about six years ahead in math. I was already teaching him Algebra I in 1st grade. We struggled with the district until they tested him at the end of second grade. They put him into Algebra I in 3rd grade, as an online course. He took online courses paid by the district until 6th grade, when they allowed him to attend level 5 pre-calculus at CHS, in seventh grade, he took BC call and got a 5. Now, ads nonetheless grader he has been taking university courses for the past year. If you would like to talk, feel free to e-mail me at: amykamen@yahoo.com. Obviously, this is a subject that I am very passionate about. Thanks, Amy

Correction: meant to say BC Calculus, ....and now as a ninth grader, not ads nonetheless grader.