Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments It's like DS learns IN SPITE of school

HK, Your approach above is an art! I know this is how I should do it but not being raised in the WASP suburban way this is very hard for me... It's second nature to my mother in law, for example, (I really admire she's really got some talent in this manner) but not to me... I'm an inner city, lower socio-economic girl - I do think we tend on the whole to be more direct and confrontational.

However, since this topic will likely come up in the iep meeting in a few days, I am going to make this an outline for me to have and I am going to go by it and see how it works Having this as a script to stick to will help me keep my patience. I do bet it'd work magically.

Anyway, DS is thrilled about donating books. He said he's worried about other kids and those who come after him having some decent books to choose from He loves the donation idea.

Have you seen the work of Ruby K. Payne (http://www.ahaprocess.com/)? Of special interest may be her book, Crossing the Tracks for Love. Lots of interesting SES discussion, it's like learning a new language and culture.

The info I posted upthread was for parent information only... what a strategy of a teacher/school may be. It is not intended as a guide to your conversation with the teacher/school. HK's post is to guide the conversation. Different info for different purposes and uses.

Two thoughts:

1) This may be him showing that gifted trait of moral sensitivity? Here is a link to one article from the SENG website: http://www.sengifted.org/archives/a...d-children-and-the-evolution-of-society.

2) For a donation of books to a school, I believe you can get a donation receipt for tax purposes?

I've been following along and in just horrified for you and your son. The first thought I had about why she's being such a stickler about this for no good reason is maybe she's struggling to maintain control in general of the classroom. Then she gets hyper focused on obedience etc etc. Some teachers do really spend way more energy on compliance than learning, sadly. I really hope your talks are going to make her grow a bit. And maybe it is all about record keeping. Sometimes teachers get so overwhelmed they really do expect everyone to just go along and conform to make things "run smoothly"... But this is ridiculous.

This phrase seemed a good spring-board or segue to emphasize that once they have learned the risks/rewards of delayed gratification and self-control, self-determining kids who are taking responsibility for their education may begin to choose when each strategy (wait vs GoForIt) may best serve their needs in different situations which present themselves.

Although self-determination may be expected to emerge in middle school as a milestone for NT development, some kids may exhibit this self-determination early on.

With marshmallows, delayed consumption may lead to larger reward. A student may be wise to choose wait/delay.
With education, delayed challenge may lead to underachievement. A student may be wise to choose GoForIt/challenge.

I learned to ignore silly teacher habits / directives and have my child do what I know makes sense. Sure it's caused a couple of meetings, however, I simply won't have my child dumbing down simply because a teacher has control issues. It's really difficult for a teacher to justify to an administrator why they won't allow a student to read books beyond the level specified.