Hi Debbie,
I'm so happy to hear from you, and that your son did so well on the tests! I wonder if those scores can be calibrated to show how he would have done if he was just now finishing up 3rd instead of 2nd. Those scores seem very impressive considering the children he is scored against have had two whole grades more teaching than he has (except in math)
Scary about the pencil, but I can top that story, and hopefully ease your mind.
When DS moved to the 3 year old room, they introduced a system where the children put little cards with their names next to the various center. Each center was allowed to have three children, and if the center you wanted was taken, you had to wait for someone to leave.
After several months, DS started to complain that Daycare was really boring. I tried to ask a few good questions, but hey, how much insight is a 3 year old going to give you?
I asked the teachers and they patiently explained that it made sense that DS was bored, because every morning, all the boys rushed to the lego table, and if DS wasn't one of the first three, he would go to the writing table. He didn't actually write there, he just had a really good view of the lego table from there. He would sit and wait for a child to leave the lego table - for hours. Every day. For several months. No one thought it was worth mentioning. Did I mention that I was paying for this?
A little chat, and some brainstorming about 'what might be 2nd best to do' apparently helped him make a change - but yes - these kids are very intense, and do things ND kids would never dream of doing.
If the center is 'that good' and you have the money - yes - do get tested. You are certianly dealing with a boy who is more than 'a little' gifted - and you need guidance about what to ask the school for. But I would also pull out a pencil sharpener at home and invent a reason for you to ask him to sharpen a few pencils for you.
I did read a wonderful book recently, "The brain that changes itself' and it promised that if a person has 'sticky' behavior, and attempts to act in a more flexible way, that they will be less troubled by sticky behavior in the future - their brain will acutally change. DS11 and I have started trying to practice this. Until then, I thought I was 'honoring the way he was.' Opps!
Love and More Love,
Grinity
