Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy getting gifted to check out the details.

here's a update...DS has been very receptive to specifics like underlining the key word but has not adapted the habit. I think this is so important to check for mistakes. So far it has been no big deal because it's just a point or two. He keeps bringing home Math papers without underlining after agreeing to do this. He said he forgets. His teacher liked our plan. I explained to DS the importance of checking because if he shows what he knows he has a better chance of getting more challenging work. I also said these are skills that will take him thru college. It's better to be self reliant than count on me to see his paper is correct. I'm starting to feel like I'm pressuring him with this. I plan to back off a bit. He does best when he is the driving force not me. I also need to tell him this stuff away from the moment, but that has always been hard for me. I just got a book on executive functioning maybe that will help. If any body wants to offer thoughts that would be nice.

Has anybody used resources from Davidson data base, websites or books on helping gifted with accuracy in their answers. I'm looking for strategies like highlighting key words in directions and getting them to slow down.

After school he is crabby and has been fussy when I request he use his spelling sentences check list. Maybe I just need to give it time and relax a little. Last year he failed some test due to not checking so I have reason to worry. So far this year all As in classes so far except a B in penmanship - no big deal, but something to for him to work on.

Maybe they will just take care of this at school? My DS9 is in 3rd Grade. He is a young 9 in some ways. I wondering if a lot of this is just maturity. 3rd Grade seems to be looking for more details.

I am happy to report DS9 is really watching the details. Wow what an improvement on tests and paper. It's nice something is better. I do think it will be an ongoing challenge to have him slow down and really make sure he shows what he knows.

Did you do anything special? We're still fighting that monster over here with our DS.

At school they had study guides for 2 weeks at school. I'm not sure exactly what they did but it helped. DS's teacher has the students do some highlighting and circling with a red pen for key information. For Social studies and Science the teacher has the students use different colors to mark information in the text and correlating diagrams.

I also have been telling DS he really needs to show what he knows to encourage the school to give him challenges. I don't like saying this. It feels like pressure and the wrong motivation. But it is the reality. I do also say it feels good to do your best effort.

It seems like there should be some library books about this. If I ever find some I try to post. good luck.

We have this exact same issue with DD8 and it's been going on for a year now. She used to be a staunch perfectionist and we worked really hard with her on that. Last year in 2nd she started making simple mistakes and rushing through work "in order to get onto something more interesting". All the while she was asking for more challenging work from her teacher. The teacher told her "Do the easy work well and you'll get more challenging work.". DD complied and got the necessary 100% on math tests given per unit to go to math enrichment. This worked for awhile, then by the end of the year she was back to where she was but her attitude spread to other areas. She said "Enrichment isn't challenging so what's the point of doing well on the tests to get to go?". We had a hard time arguing that logic.

This year she's basically given up on her school being able to challenge her. She continues to make simple errors due to rushing but the school believes it's because she hasn't memorized her math facts (she uses mental math tricks). She doesn't do her best work and continues to rush because she just doesn't see the point. Part of the issue is that we aren't output oriented parents and are really reluctant to force her to play the game. We feel really stuck.

DD has decided she wants to school at home next year so she can "learn at her own pace".

I'll be watching this thread closely!

How wonderful you can homeschool her. She really needs more challenge.Does she do anything challenging at home? Some non school type learning would be encouraging.