Originally Posted by Grinity
Originally Posted by Exo
DD8 says that next year will be different because she will be allowed to work at her own pace so will always be motivated. She has dropped all expectations of her current school and is focusing on just enjoying being there. She says next year is when the real learning will begin.

Hi Exo - Welcome! So glad you are here! If you don't mind my saying...

6 months seems like a long time to coast. Maybe girls are more tolerant? Seems like the schools should be willing to do something in the meantime...although I totally get not wanting to go through the pain of advocacy. I just know that my son can talk a great line, but in the end, he is still a child, and not so great at 'Know Thyself.'

If your daughter has a better track record, then that's a different story.

Does your DD8 get much homework? If not, and she is just loving the social aspect of school and motivated to finish the year, why not 'insist' on 15 minutes of homework on the nights she doesn't get any from school? Or be very agressive about letting the teacher know that you won't be requiring her to do homework that isn't at her readiness level, but will be substituting your own for your daughter to hand in?

Best book on reversing underachievement is Sylvia Rimm's 'Why bright kids get poor grades' - problem is that there are 250 pages of blaming 'home factors' and then a little paragraph that explains that for gifted kids, just being in the regular classroom is enough to do all these terrible things.

Love and More Love,
Grinity

Thanks Grinity. I did find this on underachievement. Duke Strategies to Motivate underachievers

We talked to the kids at dinner about what they thought about homeschooling. I have to say, it was an interesting conversation. We told them it was something we were just thinking about. Oldest worries about everything.

Oldest wants to go to school then have us home school him till dinner time. He wants to learn faster. I feel he can be convinced easily. He's having a hard time with the thought of leaving his friends. We reassured him, he will still have play dates with his friends from school. He's trying to compromise with himself really. He was asking if he could go to school till noon then come home and learn.

Youngest isn't sure. He is having a hard time picturing me as a teacher. He was very quite through the conversation. He needs more time to think about it. Not that it matters, he needs homeschooling the most, but I do want to hear his thoughts and fears. I want him coming into this with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn from me.