Poll of the Week

Does skipping a grade help gifted students, or harm them? It's interesting that only yesterday morning we had this same discussion in one of my education classes. One girl in class had been placed a grade ahead and said that except for some teasing early on, she really didn't suffer and wasn't irreperably damaged. I don't think that it should hurt the student and the idea that they can't fit in socially doesn't seem to fly in the face of reality. I think it's worse simply because it isn't done on a more regular basis. If it was, then the social stigma would disappear. Parents with gifted children are generally more aware and eager to help their student adapt to their new environment. Sensitivity among the teachers would also help. As some of the people mentioned anyway, it is not as if everyone is exactly the same age in the same grade; some can be up to eleven months apart. As technology becomes more integrated into curriculums this may become easier to do.