Originally Posted by Melessa
... ds... starting to say, "I can't." Makes me sad, and frustrated with school who thinks "he's fine".
Might you encourage your son, saying, "you can't... YET..." so he might see the value in persistence? This is part of the growth mindset promoted by Carol Dweck, Po Bronson and others. There are short youtube videos... I've recently posted the links to them on another thread...

The concept of fixed mindset vs growth mindset is nicely summarized in these youtube videos:
Ashley Merryman & Po Bronson: The Myth of Praise (link-
) and
Teaching a Growth Mindset (link-
) by Carol Dweck whose research was mentioned in the Bronson video clip. These links provide quick summaries, their books contain more info. One aspect or application of a fixed mindset is that gifted kids, in order to be seen as "right" or "smart", may stop taking appropriate risks, possibly shunning a challenge and preferring easy work which may represent a level of underachievement. A fixed mindset may work against them and be exhibited as a lack of resilience.