Hi Eric and Holly,
first I love acs's advice about finding and nurturing that which they do love.
second, you don't say what level of gifted they are. Are they PG, as defined by the YSP enterance scores? It is worth it to find out if they are Ruf II or Ruf level IV! It makes a big difference. See:
Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind by Deborah L. Ruf
Using gifted children as examples, Ruf illustrates five levels of giftedness, which parents will be able to estimate in their child by comparing developmental milestones...
or you can start with a web version at educationaloptions.com
http://www.educationaloptions.com/raising_gifted_children.htmFor example, Eric, if your son is offered a gifted school that caters to Level II, but he is Level IV, he is going to only have more busywork, that requires more time, but doesn't give him the "raw meat" of learning that he needs.
I would also reccomend finding a psychologist who can administer the SM-V, and has lots of experience with Gifed, or Highly Gifted kids, and can advise you. If you child is Ruf Level II there may be some local folks who can do this for you, if Ruf Level III or higher, then prepare to travel. There has been so little recognition of the difference that levels of gifteness make, and there is so much.
BTW - My son did't teach himself to read, and learned in first grade, and is still at least Ruf Level III, and in the Davidson YSP program...it was the quality of deep inquiry into the nature of life that should have tiped me off, but didn't.
Holly, it sounds like you like books, here's what I'm reading now:
http://www.sylviarimm.com/uii.htmlWhy Bright Kids Get Poor Grades--and What You Can Do About It
By Dr. Sylvia Rimm
Special online price
SR-400S - 425 Pages - Paperback - $13.50
Guidebook-Underachievement Syndrome: Causes and Cures
(Not Pictured)
By Sylvia Rimm, Ph.D., Michael Cornale, M.S., Roland Manos, Ph.D., and
Jeanne Behrend, Ph.D.
Special online price
SR-101S - 373 Pages - Paperback - $13.50
I haven't finished it yet, but so far I like it. It cautions against too much sympathy.
Holly, you said -
How am I supposed to get him into an "accelerated" program where he will be excited about learning
when he won't perform even the LOW level work he is currently assigned. I want to put him into some type of program that will meet his needs. I'm afraid he will only see this as "more work".
This is the key to why many parents choose homeschooling. One thing I hear on the YSP lists is the "Goldilocks Problem." This materal is too easy, so I can't/won't consentrate on it - but that materal is too hard, plus I'm not used to working hard, so this alarms me, Where is "just right?"
My DS10 is going through this with his trombone at the moment. Minus the "not used to working hard," because last summer I switched him to a private school with a grade skip - into middle school - OUCH. I do agree that middle school is better than elementary school, because the teachers may be more "specialized" into their subject materials, the flexable schedual may allow independent study or single subject acceleration. Or not....
In the big picture, if your child is highly gifted, than the only way for them not to be underachieving is 1) grade skip, or 2) homeschool or 3) a tutor that comes to the school and teaches during "independent study time." If your child is more normally gifted, then afterschool or summer-time, might be enough if they can find that special love in the non-academic world.
There is Underachievement, where your oversensitive heart aches at the sheer waste, but they get A's and B's and can wait it out, with a strong parent-child relationship, and then there is Underachievement where they get D's and C's and phone calls from the police! Remember that there isn't any agreed definition of either gifted or underachievment. Keep looking, here and IRL, try to discover your own unappreciated gifts so you can model being a learner to your children, gifted conferences may help. Apply to Davidson YSP is your boys scores met the criterion. think about talent search summer camps for next summer, whatever else you do.
Best Wishes,
Trinity
