Dear MNTC Mom,
I don't comment a lot here, but your son's story has got to me. Is this teacher really trying to teach the gifted mind? or is he trying to run a class for high achieving children?
As you said, your son is not evil-minded. So what is the teacher doing to try to TEACH your son about self-control and resilience? Anyone teaching gifted kids should know that part of the privilege of working with such creative and unusual thinkers is going to be working with some creative and unusual behaviors. If I could go back in time with our DS12 (ADD and not on meds when in primary school), I would ask the following questions earlier:
Are the consequences you have imposed working? If not, I'm assuming that you will try a different approach.
What strategies have you used to teach respect and integrity to your highly intelligent and sensitive children in the past?
How are you fostering cooperation and collaboration in the classroom? These are qualities that are essential for getting along in the world today.
Just so you know, our DS12 is hilarious, outgoing, very sensitive, very unconventional, and not motivated by criticism or peer pressure. He's fun to live with and I think will be a well-liked and creative adult if he can continue to believe in himself. His third grade teacher had him thinking that he was bad at school and unlikeable - a dangerous thing to me.
Hang in there, and don't let any teacher try to tell you about medication! We did decide to go for medication this fall (12 yrs old) because we felt that our son's lack of focus was beginning to affect his ability to develop the higher critical thinking skills he will need. But not because he interrupts people.
Enjoy your creative kid!
