Congratulations on all of your efforts to make this transition happen for your son! Glad to hear he is excited about the switch

Good luck!!!

Good luck! Glad that helped him be excited about the transition!

Hi everyone - I've been out for a while because I returned to the workforce a few weeks ago. I keep lurking to get updates and brainstorming ideas from everyone, so thanks!

Here's our update. At our PT conference, we were hopeful because the teacher was so optimistic about our idea to do online EPGY for DS5 while the rest of the class is doing basic math/reading. Well, so far, nothing's happened and we have a meeting scheduled in 2 weeks. Well, nothing's happened re: differentiation while the class is doing basic stuff. But they did start letting DS pick out harder books in the library, and the teacher is sending home more appropriate books too. I guess at this point, we're not too concerned, since it's only a few months, but hopefully we'll get some action out of the next meeting.

DS has been out for a week with the dreaded flu, so now unfortunately he's been balking about going back to school. He says he'd rather be sick, because then he doesn't have to go to school. I'm sure he's just trying to get to me, but once he said this after a 30 minute straight coughing bout when I asked "won't it be nice when you're not sick?" I still think I'm going to have to make being at home much less fun!

LOL, DW and I were just discussing that tonight for DS who is recovering from a cold. With regards to PT I guess baby steps, first the better reading selection hopefully soon EPGY

We had our PT on Friday and what started out going well quickly took a turn for the worse when the teacher mentioned the dreaded, "all kids even out by X grade" arrrgh. In all fairness they are trying, DS will be getting some special projects and working with math coordinator in the coming weeks to come up with a plan for the remainder of the year.

Best wishes to everyone.

-Guy

Jamie,

I've been lurking here for awhile but have been reluctant to post (more about why later). But I feel for you so much as we are going through so many of the same things with my GD5. She had a rather rough Pre-K year last year and this year has not been much better. Her teacher is trying to understand her but the administration just has her labeled as a behavior problem and have not been willing to consider her being gifted and bored as a factor. They have never heard of the overexcitabilities (sp?) which GD has in droves. I am her grandmother (my reluctance to post), but I have taken care of her since she was born and she and her mother live with us. Her mom is wonderful with her but has to work weekday afternoons and evenings so I have her every day after school until bedtime. I may post more about GD later to see if anyone has any suggestions. Just know - I feel for you.

Hi GM5! I just want to encourage you to keep posting! There are other grandparents here, so you're not alone.

Yes, GM5, grandparents are welcome! Don't let that even slow you down!

Thanks, MsFriz. The frustrating thing about being the grandmother of a gifted child is that you can only research, make suggestions to the mother (very carefully), and worry. Of course, the other problem here is that I love being able to be with GD so much, but I have to be the one to make sure her homework is done and other day-to-day activities rather than just be a supportive GM. So I guess I'm more involved daily than some GM's. My GD5 has been very intense and sensitive since the day she was born. When she taught herself to read at age 3 and began reading everything in sight, I started wondering if she was Gifted. My research led me to believe that a lot of her intensity etc. was related to her being gifted. Her Pre-K teachers thought it odd that she would be extremely upset about another child being left behind etc. (early empathy) They realized she could read the instructions on her worksheets but only wanted her not to scribble on the edges after she finished them. She also wanted to answer all the questions and had trouble sitting still. Later in the year GD did not want to participate in singing the abc's, counting to 40 etc. repetitively. She would get in trouble for the above and would end up in meltdowns if sent to time out or told to move her behavior clip too many times for behaviors. The school psychologist tested her and found she was >99.9 percentile on achievement tests, could read at a minimum of 3rd grade level (was not prepared to test higher), scored between 96-99.9 on a brief IQ test. The psy. thought she was mostly bored and made suggestions - none of which the teachers agreed to follow.

Anyway, we hoped Kindergarten would be better. GD5 has a very experienced teacher (28 yrs teaching) who is now trying to understand her and work with her after a rough start (due to typical bored behaviors). However, she has had a few meltdowns/tantrums mostly outside the classroom when forced to do something that frightened her (such as go into gym for PE with pics of skeletons (for health)on the wall). The school admin. is not interested in her intelligence, only her behavior. The teacher has not even tested the kids for reading levels yet (11 weeks into school) although she knows GD is advanced. She is expected to sit attentively while they learn their letters/sounds, days of the week etc., practice recognizing patterns for math etc.

She missed the gifted screening pre-test given to Kindergartners because they decided to have the asst. principal take her out of her classroom to a room full of BOYS (big deal for her right now) instead of leaving her with her class. They did not understand why GD got upset when the Asst. Principal (who is the one who has taken her to the office when she got upset previously) took her from her class to this new room. She did not understand why she was in trouble and being taken away. Her teacher felt terrible because she was pushed into letting GD not taking test in her room. Don't know how or when they will take her out again to make up the test.

I realize this is way too long but I guess I needed to vent. Thanks for the opportunity.

Kriston, thanks for the encouragement! I suspect that there are a lot of others who are reluctant to post but could identify with a lot of the issues posted here.