[Oz-gifted] RE: Ability grouping

[Matthew & Tracey Wood]

Hi Kristy,

Is private school and option??? 

Tracey

 

-----Original Message-----
From: oz-gifted-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
[mailto:oz-gifted-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of Kristy
Sent: Friday, 25 November 2005 11:27 AM
To: oz-gifted at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
Subject: Re: [Oz-gifted] RE: Ability grouping

HI Michelle,

Yes I am in Perth. Our school entry dates changed a few years ago. A child
must turn 5 before June 30 to start Kindy. So lucky me has two that turned 5
after that date and had to wait an extra year. Both will be the eldest in
their classes. I spoke to the ed dept when we were moving from a private
school to a public regarding my daughter who was accellerated from Kindy to
PP. She was in yr2 in the private school but I was informed that it was
irrelevant. She had to be placed in an age-appropriate class and I was told
this was in the best interest of the child. They didnt care what effect it
would have on her to be told that she had to go back to year 1. I was also
told they now have a policy that will not allow for a child to be held back
or accellerated as each child will be taught at their level in their age
appropriate class. They are so focussed on what they considered to be social
issues, that children MUST be with those of the identical age.

I realise age is a simplistic way of grouuing I just dont feel that it is
the only way. When I threw this ability grouping out for discussion it was
just something that I thought might work better than the current system.

I agree with Tony and a few others that a combination of age and ability
grouping could be a good option.

Kristy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michelle Gabriel" <mbgabs at ozemail.com.au>
To: <oz-gifted at rite.ed.qut.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 9:35 AM
Subject: RE: [Oz-gifted] RE: Ability grouping


> Hi Kristy,
> Where are you based (when you say over hear - I assume Perth).
>
> I find it interesting here in Qld.
>
> B is supposedly age appropriate she turned 13 on Saturday and is in year
> 8.  When she started school here in Qld you could start grade 1 if you
> turned 6 by December 31.  As the years have progressed and she has moved
> schools and more kids are coming from interstate and other schools,
> although she has always been the youngest, I have been amazed at the
> range of ages that now exist in high school.
>
> She has kids in her class that will be 15 in January.  She has kids that
> turned 14 in June.  The age range seems to be from 12 to 14 in year 8.
> She seems to be coping rather well with it most of the time.  Girls are
> not nice in year 8 no matter what their age imho:-)
>
> The thing is they still say it is aged based.
>
> I was talking to a lady last night who has a son who is gifted and left
> a private primary school as school captain and top of the class in grade
> 7 to go to another private school for high school.  The new school
> suggested that as he was would only turn 13 in January and most of the
> boys would be 14 that he should stay in year 7.  Nothing to do with how
> smart he is and that he was doing well.  So she is doing it.  He is
> repeating grade 7 at the new school. The thing is I know that the same
> school let another family (the same year) accelerate their son who was
> supposed to go into year 8 into year 9 due to his intelligence and the
> parents pushing it. This child is a similar age.  So it seems with some
> schools it really depends on what you say and what you think is
> important if it is aged based or ability based.  Sometimes I really do
> not understand as there does seem to be different rules for different
> people.
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Michelle G
>
>
>
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