DS5.5 has also been calling himself "stupid", "a maniac", and "a trouble-maker" during the evenings. He has also been so negative and arguementative. There was also an incident last week when he actually bit a friend during recess. I was appalled. My son didn't even bite when he was a toddler--why would he start this now????
Argh. How awful.
My eldest was a big troublemaker in kindergarten. Part of the problem was personality, but part of it was the subject matter he had to study. He was on chapter books and division, and his class was putting its collective finger on the letter B and counting 10 objects. The second language part of the day helped, but not enough, I think. The school was also very rigid in its disciplinary policies, which I think is a major contributor to problems with kids. When expectations are unrealistic, it's no wonder that they have problems!
So, I guess what I'm saying is to check into the expectations of the school. I used to tell my DS that grownups can be wrong sometimes. This seemed to soothe him. It meant a lot for him just to hear someone acknowledge his point of view and say "I agree; the teacher was wrong that time." It also made him more receptive to hearing that the teacher was right another time.
Now he comes home from his new school enthusiastic and happy. I'm writing this to say, don't despair! School
can work. I hope your gifted school works out. My advice: see if you can help the people trying to get it off the ground.
Val
