I wish I had found this board sooner
Cathy - you're lucky to have that kind of awareness already with regards to your son. With mine, I've always known he was "different", ever since he pointed out that an apple piece I had cut up for him when he was 18 months looked like a trapezoid, when he taught himself how to read when he was 2, when he taught himself how to play chess by 4...but didn't see really that it was such a "big deal" at that time other than being proud mama moments -- then came time for Kindergarten, and that's when I realized, hold on - I think my son needs more.
He was constantly in trouble in Kindergarten class - I honestly thought "yellows" were the norm until I got to converse with other parents and their kids actually got mostly "greens" in class. He talked a lot, was bored during circle times, didn't finish his work because he'd much rather just wander around the classroom looking for other things to do. It was his K teacher that first used the word gifted; she had done assessments with him and found he was already reading at high school level and was able to do arithmetic above his level. She got things rolling by recommending him to the GATE teacher, who then in turn recommended him to the County's HG program, and that's how we are all now at a better place with regards to understanding my son's needs.
That idea with him bringing a book is a good one; I used to do that for my son, and instructed him if he finishes all his work ahead of everyone else, he can just take out the book and start reading on his own. But honestly, I really don't think he learned much in Kinder that he didn't already know to begin with, and first grade for him was pretty much like that too. He definitely enjoyed the social interaction, and new concepts to him such as Circle Time and Centers and school hot lunches and recess times, but academically, I doubt he learned much NEW info.
