Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Bored vs. not challenged in school?

My DS in 3rd Grade is saying he is not liking school. Below is our conversation. The school has made some accommodations but it's not perfect. He can tolerated some too easy work if it's a reasonable amount. His study guides are filled while reading text books. He has 3 or 4 work book pages to do every day in various subjects. My guess is the test books are not in depth enough to be interesting and there is more review than needed in workbooks. He loves science but is bored? This is a challenge because I don't want to overstate his abilities. I certainly don't know if he could skip 4 out of the 5 days of a subject and know enough. The teacher says it's all essential work. But I wonder. She seems like a good teacher but does not have gifted training. Is the IQ test they are going to give able to clarify what he needs?

I'm wondering how to figure out the difference between not interested and not challenged enough? How would one explain that to the teacher? He is ambitious and loves to learn. My son reads frequently and has some many interests. He has always enjoyed fiction and nonfiction.


Why don't you like school? Is it boring?
What makes it boring? Is it not interesting or too easy?
"No, it's just too much work."
I don't see you as someone who minds doing a lot of work. You have certainly done a lot of Math work that was extra.
"Yes, well I like that work" That's good.

What's bothering you at school? "The reading books they have are too short." You can check out more books at the school library before library day. "OK, I didn't know that."

Do you feel like you already know the work you are given to do? "how would I know that? I'm not sure."

He knows the spelling words, Social Studies Study Guides, and Science Study Guides the first day he brings them home. The teacher said she in not reviewing in class. He is learning new material. He learned very little the last 2 years. The teacher said he is learning about managing his work,(he is the 1st done in class), study tactics (ex. highlighting key words), and appropriate expectations for 3rd Grader like paying attention. He doesn't have to study. I told him to try to feel good about getting that large amount of work done and keep going with the work checking habits. He gets a lot of easy As. I also reminded him to look forward to his independent studies that are coming up. I tell him try his best to show what he knows and be responsible so they think he needs more challenge.