Moving from 5th grade to 6th grade Math

    One month ago I made the hard decision to move Sterling to sixth grade math.  One level above where she "should" be.  There were so many things that made this decision happen.  

It actually started last year.  I could see that she was bored in math and did a lot of complaining.  I wasn't sure if it was too hard and that's where all the complaining was coming from.  Or was it not enough of a challenge?  My gut told me to try fifth grade math, so I attempted to move her.  We did it for two weeks but I was trying to incorporate fourth grade and fifth grade math.  So double the lessons.  We burned out from that and gave up after two weeks.  One reason she wasn't enjoying it was because her brother was shouting out all the answers.  I was also pushing too hard and didn't want her to miss out an any concepts.  Math is one important subject that concepts matter.  She continued her grumblings and we mustered through the lessons.  One at a time.

This year the grumblings never went away.  I thought for sure it was just too hard and she wasn't understanding it.  When we returned back to school after our moving break, I was working with her brother on our white board.  He's in sixth grade.  As we were going through the lessons, she continued to chime in and explain how to solve the problems or why it was one way and not the other.

Now, I decided to move her to his level, again.  Not incorporate her level, just cold turkey move up.  Now, math is the best subject because each year concepts just build off the previous year and since she has a great understanding of the concepts, I wanted to take a leap of faith that this was the right move.  

You guys.  Math has been night and day difference.  The grumblings are gone.  She sits there and shows all her work.  Takes the time to work out every single problem.  All 55 of them!  Dare I say that she's picking up sixth grade math better than her brother?  She's become a mini teacher to him.  It's been a great change to our classroom.

A bit of encouragement to you, mama.  Go with your gut.  Even if it seems silly.  Or there's no way it will work out.  Take the leap of faith and listen to your gut.  Just give it a try.

She's also finished her handwriting and reading skills workbook for this year already.  She's on a roll and I'm here for it!