So I have a meeting with the GT Coordinator at the local middle school that my ds10 will probably be attending next year. He will be in sixth grade. He can easily do high school level work. One thing about my son: he doesn't complain. He is perfectly happy in any situation...boring/stimulating, etc. He has pretty good social skills and loves sports and in general is a very easy going kid. However, I know that he has never been truly challenged. He's never had to study for a test in his life. As he says "I know it so I don't need to study" and the long list of A+'s are the evidence for him. I'd like him to be challenged and learn how to study and work hard to prepare him for the future. On the other hand- he loves to learn about everything and anything. His eyes light up whenever there is something new to learn- especially science.
I'm worried about what to say because if he's not 'complaining or frustrated' then how do I approach it?
I would say exactly what you have said here - and stress the fact that you want him to develop good work ethic like every other child.
The teacher this year said to me "It's not like he already knows everything I teach and he doesn't always get every single question right." Well of course! Why would he know something that he's never been taught? It was a ridiculous argument. What I tried to explain to her was that it was too basic and he learns at 10X the rate as everyone else so he needs more of a challenge. She replied that I should be so thankful to have such a bright and behaved son...that many parents come in and have real problems where their kids are getting D's.
So basically I don't know what to talk about. Nadia (nkh)
I'd start with what you see is the problem, then move right into how teachers in the past have dealt with this problem, and then ask the GC if she agrees with last year's teacher. This covers 'where you are coming from.' Assuming the GC says that she doesn't agree with this year's teacher, the next step is to ask the GC how she goes about getting a child into a good fit environment where he will have to study for tests and learn that making an effort to learn is normal. Have those ACT and Explore scores in hand to show what info you have so far. If possible also have some 'work samples' of the sort of thing that DS10 does on his own at home.
Be prepared to get no direct answer at the first meeting.
I would recommend you read a book called 'The Iowa Acceleration Scale manual' and download 'A nation decieved.' Both provide an introduction to 'the keywords' of getting an improved fit for your child.
He deserves to 'learn how to learn' just like every other kid in that building. It isn't true that he's 'lucky and you should just keep quite.'
Love and more love,
Grinity
