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T.A.G.

Today was Christopher's first day of T.A.G. at school and he enjoyed it very well. He's been in reading TAG (Talented and Gifted) since first grade and has had the same teacher every year. He basically gets excused from his regular class for an hour or so, and goes to another classroom three days a week for TAG. Sometimes he likes it, sometimes he doesn't. There are 57 TAG students at his school, and I think it's nice that he is challenged. It bothers me though, that other kids who aren't in it, might feel like they're less talented and gifted. Yet I still appreciate the extra opportunity he has. He's always been an excellent communicator and I am very proud of my little boy for being such an excellent student.

Christopher is doing very well riding his bike to and from school every day. He came home from school one day last week, after bicycling home by himself for the first time, walking into the house, removing his bike helmet, all sweaty and red-faced, exclaiming, "I feel like such a big boy!" I'm so glad I'm finally comfortable to allow him to do this, as the exercise is good for him for one thing, and the responsibility and confidence he's feeling are an added benefit. I have been nervous to let him do it in the past, as it's a half mile to the school, and is during the morning traffic, so I was worried that he was too young. Now I feel he's mature enough and he understands the traffic better and can be cautious enough. He'll get to ride his bike to school next year too, in fifth grade. He'll start riding the bus for middle school the following year--yikes!

Comments

Gabrielle said…
Good for Christopher, being in TAG and also riding his bike to school!
I'm sure it feels funny having your child set apart for something very good (talented and gifted), while other children are not. But I read in a recent Time magazine that the average school spends only 10% on their gifted programs of what they spend on "remedial" programs, helping the lesser-abled kids to catch up. So the gifted kids are getting out-spent ten to one!! Maybe that makes you feel better.
Talented and gifted kids need just as much support from the school as the remedial kids.
It is fabulous for Christopher to get the responsibility of riding to and from school. I remember well how grown up I felt when I was allowed to walk to school by myself at 10 years old. And I only stopped by the See's Candy shop on the way home once a week or so!! LOL
Mandi said…
Kelly-

My Christopher was also in TAG and he always brags to me about it. He says they had to put him in there to keep him interested because everything else was too easy. He is such a show- off! I am glad your Christopher is enjoying school.
Julie V. said…
Great job Christopher! Gabrielle had an interesting comment about school spending. Schools handle TAG students so differently. In Brinley's class they group the kids according to their different abilities and the kids work together with others at their same level. That way everyone can progress at the rate that suits them. It seems to work well.
Go Christopher!!!!
Heidi said…
O man riding your bike to school is the best! I wish I had a bike now and would ride it to work ;-). Way to go Christopher for TAG
~ Tina said…
That is very COOL about TAG for Christopher - good for him!

As for riding to school - be glad you have the weather for it!!! As you know, our first day of school poured rain initially - today however (day 2) was sunny and dry. We live in the farthest corner of the entire district - so unfortunately, there is no bike riding to our schools for my kids - it would be fun though.

Now, to get myself to ride the 'indoor' bike each day before my shower... that would be an accomplishment!
that's so great he can bike to school! that's so fun. i remember when we could finally walk to school by ourselves and feeling so big! of course, it was like 2 blocks away, but still!!

congrats to christopher. glad he's doing so well.
Julie said…
Congratulations to Christopher for being in TAG! That's great that he's really enjoying his new responsibilities/freedom of riding his bike to school. I'm sure as a parent it's exciting to reach those milestones as your kids grow up but also kind of hard to let go at the same time. Since Sheridan is all of 20 months old I can hardly imagine her being old enough to do those things and me be okay with it! Guess that's why it doesn't happen overnight! ha, ha!

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