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| Moving with kids -- changing grades mid-year? | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 9 2007, 05:01:15 AM (1,146 Views) | |
| aus2007 | Nov 16 2007, 01:12:36 PM Post #21 |
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True Blue Mate
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No, no packing yet. We had to get rid of a ton of stuff to prepare our house for sale (apparently, it's supposed to look like no one actually lives in it -- quite a challenge with two kids!). So, I feel as though we've accomplished something in the way of preparing for the move, just by de-cluttering so much. I've gotten online estimates from a couple of moving companies recommended here, but now we need them to come out and actually see the place. It's hard to decide what to take with us, and what to give away or sell, and buy new over there. Also, I think these places come in and pack for you?? Still looking into this. I went for my chest X-ray this week, and got the kids their check-ups as well. I'm really hoping this visa process goes smoothly and quickly. DH and his new company are working with a migration agent, so hopefully that will help speed things along. It doesn't seem possible that we'll be ready by mid-January, but we'll see! |
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| Melinda | Jan 4 2012, 06:47:59 PM Post #22 |
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Anklebiter
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Hello parents! I have slightly older kids but a bit of a dilemma. My older son skipped a grade and is now a young 10-year-old in 5th grade in the US though his birthday is late November (he's anywhere from 4 to 15 months younger than all his classmates). The grade level sort of adequately challenges him, plus, we don't want to accelerate him any more because of the increasing age gap. I looked at the fifth level NAPLAN sample test questions in mathematics, and they are WAY too simple to challenge him--the only areas for learning are the metric system and recognizing Australian money. For this kid, both will take about a week.  So, when we move in June this year I WANT to put him in the middle of level five because of his age and to give him a whole year in Australia before taking the level six NAPLAN which can get him into a highly selective public secondary school which SHOULD challenge him for many years. But I DON'T want to bore him to tears. On the other hand, it will probably prove beneficial socially to be amongst his age peers for the first time in his school career--especially when he's negotiating a completely new culture. Advice? Thoughts?  My younger son will have finished second grade when we move. His birthday is in July, so he's in the normal age range but is also the youngest in his class every year. He's also a lefty, so writing came a bit slower for him. He hasn't done any standardized testing yet (doesn't happen here until grade 3) but reads books my older son's friends may not have read yet. So, should he go into level two or level 3? Also, selfishly, I don't want to send these kids away to university when they are sixteen years old! (Don't hold me to that statement when they are teenagers!  ) But I don't want my desires to compromise their lives--I know how utterly bored I was for several grades and don't wish that for them.Melinda |
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| crapola | Jan 4 2012, 10:25:17 PM Post #23 |
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True Blue Mate
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the naplan testing is done in school odd years, so years 3,5,7,9. most aussie kids go to uni when they are 17/18. the only 16 year olds you'll find in unis are the highly gifted, and they would've been accelerated since junior primary. if you go into a school with proof that your kid is in year 5 and you move mid-year, then thats what he'll go into. if your kid finds the work too easy, then get him assessed for giftedness and have him accelerated. alternatively, look for an IB (international baccalaureate) school. your younger son will probably end up in a year 2 class, however, (and i cant answer for the other states, only south australia) a lot of junior primary/primary schools have composite classes, so he could end up in a 2/3 class. |
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| Melinda | Jan 7 2012, 03:16:08 PM Post #24 |
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Anklebiter
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Thanks for the info, Crapola! |
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| snoozy | Mar 2 2012, 02:02:41 AM Post #25 |
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Yacker
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Hi! Adding a question here, we will be moving over in June after our boys finish their school year here. We have a question with the youngest, he is a Sept birthday so in the States he couldn't start K until he was just about to turn 6, he will be finishing up 2nd grade this year at 8 1/2. He does really well in school being old for his grade and he's smart as a whip (his teachers comments and testing scores - not just mommy saying it!) Question is, by age according to the schools we looked at he should move into grade 4. Has anyone had a kid that started late in the US jump a grade when they moved over? How did it work out? The one school we discussed it with said they'd prefer to start him in the right age group and evaluate him there and we're OK with that (we think) but wondering if anyone has experience with it? |
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7:22 PM May 19