Ok, this is kind of long....my ds 8, was tested in 1st grade and tested gifted. He was placed in a combined 2nd/3rd grade gifted class in the public school (his sister was in the 3rd grade side in the same class) last year. He did OK with his teacher although the teaching style was not what we expected, but seeing it was our first year dealing with this, we didn't say anything. Well, this year, he has the same teacher in a 3rd grade only gifted class. His sister has moved to a separate 4th grade class. We are now seeing the difference and want to know if anyone has any ideas of what to do.
We have met with the teacher twice already this year. It is the same thing. Her quote today was "in order to be in the gifted class, he must be an independent learner". Well, my son is not. All she gives every day, for every subject is worksheets. He hates worksheets! Add that to a ticking clock (that drove me nuts just while talking to her for 10 minutes!) and we are not having a good year. He excels in spelling, reads at a 6th grade level with almost perfect comprehension, but give him a worksheet test and he is lucky to get a 'C'. She gave him an open book Social Studies test and he gets a 50. We don't know what to do. We asked her to move him away from the clock, but she only put him one desk away. When I tried to discuss worksheets, she said he just has to get used to it. This is NOT what we are getting from our daughters 4th grade class. She has minimal amount of worksheets and lots of hands on projects. Needless to say, she is excelling. We don't know if it is our son, or the teaching method or a bit of both. She wants to let him fail in order to make him take responsibility. I want him to take responsibility for his work, but I don't want him failing.
Any ideas?
