Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Newbie here. What's next?

Niki,
Ahh, the old dictionary word look up! How about something more hands on.....science experiments, researching something interesting??? I'm sorry that it's not going as planned.
Hang in there! Have you thought about talking with the head of the ELP program? Going around people, I know, but sometimes you gotta to what you've gotta do:-)
MIght be helpful to get their district perspective?

Good Luck!

Gardengirl, is ELP the same as the gifted specialist? She's the one who told me that the CogAT was an IQ test, so she's not inspiring the most confidence right now.

We are going to get his IQ tested. At this point, I need to know what to do for DS, whether in the school system or on our own.

Did any of you feel that pushing it with the school put a target on your kids back? I'm sure I'm over-reacting, but I hadn't been contacted about behavior problems or incomplete work until we brought this up. I'm not saying that DS in an angel, he's tough, but the timing seems interesting to me. She may have just seen it as an opportunity to inform us of what was going on...who knows.

All of this is mind-boggling to me.

Niki
Yes, ELP is Extended Learning Program or Talented and Gifted.
I don't think that having our DD tested put a target on her necessarily. Maybe a target on me:-)
I think you are right about the gifted specialist not being inspiring...maybe she doesn't understand Cognitive Abilities Test!

We just found out that our principal and his "team" want to meet tomorrow (a meeting we requested) to talk about educational planning. So much from a few days to choose from to make it work in DH's work schedule.

Hang in there!

It's been a few months since you posted this. Just wondering how it's going now? Has anything changed? What you went through is the reason why I'm so reluctant to keep pressing my feelings upon the teacher. I'm afraid it will put a target on my Ds's back. It seems that your DS's behavior wasnt enough of an issue to tell you about it until you brought up something that you werent happy about. It's almost like she was bringing it up as a way to deflect the conversation off of what she might be doing wrong and onto what your DS is doing wrong. What was her point? Was she trying to say that because his behavior isnt perfect then he doesnt need to be challenged more academically???

Mylittlecubs, I wish that I could say that things are going better. I do believe my questions put a target on my son's back. We went and spoke with the counselor about his behavior problems and she told us she would observe him. That was October and nothing has been done. In the meantime, he has was accused of punching a girl in his class. This child was just recently announced cancer-free and, at the time, she had a port in her side. The teacher said he punched her there on purpose. Now, do I believe the teacher invented this story out of thin air? Absolutely not. However, I do think she would have handled it differently if we hadn't asked the questions that we did. He was sent to the counselor 5 days after the event to discuss his behavior but never given any consequences by the school...just at home. (Incidentally, he didn't punch her at all. She cut in line and he pushed his way in front of her. Still not okay, but not nearly as awful and punching her.)

All of what we have experienced this year has felt so dramatic. It was taking a toll on our family and we've decided to get off the emotional roller-coaster for a little while. It wasn't getting us anywhere. My son is testing about 3 grades ahead in math and reading and showing mastery in science. For now, we are supplementing at home with fun games and activities and it's been a blast. We rarely do any homework the school sends and I pay little attention to their behavior assessments. We will be speaking with the principal at the end of the year about second grade. I've also applied for a job at a private school.

I am astounded at the way all of this has played out. Since I've stopped questioning, his report card has gotten better and I haven't been contacted about his off-task, distracted behavior.

Sorry for the novel. Feel free to PM me.

So sorry to read that things aren't so great.

I have a 9 yo son and he's a wriggle worm. He's always in motion and has a hard time sitting. I think he's looking for some kind of sensory input. A friend who has a gifted dd about the same age, also with a problem with wiggling around and not sitting, pressed the school to accommodate her by giving her a specialized cushion to sit on and she finally quit getting notes home about that behavior.

Behaviorwise, bored kids just do that. They know busy work when they see it. They don't care to color a map -- that's for kindergarteners you know. Boring!

Can you approach them about letting him go to a grade ahead for math and/or another subject? If they agree to a trial run, you can see how it goes and maybe be in a better position to advocate for a grade skip. Ask for it as a trial --- three weeks or so with a firm meeting date so you can discuss.

For our DD12, she is now in Alg 1 and they had to accelerate her to an 8th grade math to make her schedule work so she could have the algebra. They want us to grade skip her to 9th next year from 7th this year. But the split classes (half 7th, the 8th grade reading, and the Alg 1 in the high school building) also let us bridge that gap, while giving her a little time to transition because she's meeting some new people while still having some classes with age peers.

Meanwhile, see if you can make friends with teachers who would teach him next year, in case your private school option doesn't pan out.

I can recommend reading "Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom" by Susan Winebrenner. I am not a teacher, but I, as a parent, found this book extremely helpful in advocating. I like the testing out of a unit option. Maybe that's something they would consider. If he could consistently pass a pre-test on the material, maybe they'd get the drift and realize they're wasting their time and his on things he already knows.

Good luck! Chin up and keep on fighting the good fight.

Thanks for the encouragement.

I did ask about subject acceleration and the answer from the district was "We don't do that at this time."