eighth grade
Eighth grade is the last year to be really involved with a lot of programs that you should continue in high school. If you are not involved in the programs mentioned in previous grades, it will put you incredibly behind in high school, compared to many.
Step 1: Davidson
If you are not enrolled as a Davidson scholar yet, apply immediately. You can only gain so much from them in a short period of time! For more information visit my Fifth Grade page and visit davidsongifted.org.
Step 2: AoPS
If you are a strong math student and not already involved with the Art of Problem Solving, look at their website immediately. Look into advanced math courses as well! For more information, visit my Fifth Grade page, artofproblemsolving.com, and http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/recommendations.php#g8up.
Step 3: Competitions
If your child has very exceptional mathematics skills, enroll them in competitions. If your child is particularly talented in math, look at the AMC 10 and AMC 12, as well as MATHCOUNTS and the ARML. See my Sixth Grade page for more information (however, the AMC 8 is no longer a good use of time in 8th grade, ignore that comment when looking at the details).
Step 4: Research and Projects
If your child has the capability of producing an undergraduate level research project, immediately get them involved in starting one. For more information, see my Sixth Grade page and visit http://www.societyforscience.org/masters and http://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows/.
Step 5: Scholarships
Before you know it, your student will be going to college. As we all know, college is very expensive, and it never hurts to earn a few hundred dollars as a scholarship. Hence, eighth grade is a very good time to start looking for scholarships!
For a very complete list, visit http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/age13.phtml.
Step 6: Physics
If your child is quite exceptional in math and has taken calculus before or by 8th grade, immediately look into involving them in Physics. The national and international physics olympiads are fantastic credentials and are relatively small with the number of competition. Enroll them into a Physics B and C class, and also look for a prep class for the Olympiad. (If you live in the Orange Country or Irvine area, check out the Avid Academy's physics program at http://avidacademy.com/physics.)
Step 1: Davidson
If you are not enrolled as a Davidson scholar yet, apply immediately. You can only gain so much from them in a short period of time! For more information visit my Fifth Grade page and visit davidsongifted.org.
Step 2: AoPS
If you are a strong math student and not already involved with the Art of Problem Solving, look at their website immediately. Look into advanced math courses as well! For more information, visit my Fifth Grade page, artofproblemsolving.com, and http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/recommendations.php#g8up.
Step 3: Competitions
If your child has very exceptional mathematics skills, enroll them in competitions. If your child is particularly talented in math, look at the AMC 10 and AMC 12, as well as MATHCOUNTS and the ARML. See my Sixth Grade page for more information (however, the AMC 8 is no longer a good use of time in 8th grade, ignore that comment when looking at the details).
Step 4: Research and Projects
If your child has the capability of producing an undergraduate level research project, immediately get them involved in starting one. For more information, see my Sixth Grade page and visit http://www.societyforscience.org/masters and http://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows/.
Step 5: Scholarships
Before you know it, your student will be going to college. As we all know, college is very expensive, and it never hurts to earn a few hundred dollars as a scholarship. Hence, eighth grade is a very good time to start looking for scholarships!
For a very complete list, visit http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/age13.phtml.
Step 6: Physics
If your child is quite exceptional in math and has taken calculus before or by 8th grade, immediately look into involving them in Physics. The national and international physics olympiads are fantastic credentials and are relatively small with the number of competition. Enroll them into a Physics B and C class, and also look for a prep class for the Olympiad. (If you live in the Orange Country or Irvine area, check out the Avid Academy's physics program at http://avidacademy.com/physics.)