1. Bring a list of recently read books
2. Bring some examples of math work he has done
I agree with the wonderful posts about putting on your 'investigative reporter' hat. But I would still put those items in my bag, just to have 'in case.'
If there is a gifted coordinator at your school, he or she is also a person you need to met with. Again, first visit is to investigate - especially that 99% gifted - what does that mean at this school?
Our school has no gifted coordinator and no gifted programing, so that's something to be grateful for.
It's hard not to 'be dissatisfied' with school 'in the abstract' - I suspect that most gifted children have Moms who themselves where gifted children and not well enough accomidated as elementary school children. So we have a backlog of frustrations and assumptions that we've held onto since childhood about the defiencies of schools. It's important not to let that leak through during your Advocacy.
One of the things I learned while watchin my son, now 14, grow, is that actually, school works really well for a large majority of students. Who knew?
Another thing to come to terms with - fast - is that it's the nature of Gifties (you and me) to see the glass 1.458 ml empty. Our big brains are so good at imagining a better way and because of our big imaginations, this better way seems so real and appealing. This is really a form of perfectionism, here we call it ODP, outer-directed perfectionism. It's a major cause of heartache amoung Gifties of all ages that we get so caught up in our visions and don't fully develop our ability to 'be grateful for what is.' Maybe we could learn to be more forgiving of the 'what is' of ourselves too, ok?
I hope this helps.
We did the 'reading when he finishs his other work' in 4th grade. It's a 2 edged sword. OOH, he was much less of a classroom disturbance. OTOH, he rushed through his work to get to the reading - bad habit. And it does encourge isolation. If possible, I'd encourage you to aim higher - like that he be in a classroom that mets his educational needs.
If you school has a website, you may be able to see a school motto. Memorize it and practice using it in a sentence 9 ways. Will come in handy for future meetings: "Since I know your school goal is XXXXX, I know that you are just as interested as I am in what's best for my son's social and educational development and thoughfully consider my plan A."
KWIM?
Good Luck,
Grinity
