Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Learning to do more detailed work in Science

He has gotten Science, Social Studies and LA rubics and usually there is something more with details they are asking for. Maybe he just has not had to think this way before. He went from Catholic School to Gifted School.

In Catholic School Science they gave the test anwsers that weren't multiple choice on the board for the kids to copy. Maybe they were trying to teach what makes a good anwser.

So I worry. Will he just catch on this year or do I need to find a way for him to catch on? It feels like the teacher thinks he just needs to pay attention and he'll get this right. I'm not so sure.

I sympathize. �My husband can't tell me things very well. �If he wants me to drive somewhere that he knows how to get there and I don't, then I honestly try to beat him to the passenger seat. �It's not that he can't give directions it's that he doesn't want to give the whole directions and then just answer any questions I have so I can understand what I need to understand. �I don't think he's bad at giving directions. �He gives other people directions and I don't see them struggle. �He thinks I just don't listen and he complains about it. �But I listen and ask questions it's because I'm not seeing what he's saying and he's not seeing what I'm asking. �Therefore I stop at the first store I see for anything and beat him back to the passenger seat. �I thought he was being antagonistic. �He thinks I'm intentionally not listening. �I read about visual-spatial big picture learners and audio-sequential learners and it just seemed to explain the scenerio. �It's not even a fight or an argument to think either one of us is doing it intentionally, but it's frustrating enough to feel like it, and it's been that way for close to a decade. � He just gives directions the way it would make sense to him if he got them, and I ask questions for clarification if I don't understand something and he thinks if I would just listen and follow the steps.. Maybe that's the case with the teacher. �If so there's no deep answers or magic cure, just acceptance. �At least understanding makes the issue not so heavy. � If so then he's a good student and she's a good teacher they just have to go through this year kind of doing their own thing separately. �Like he does his student thing and if he needs help on the homework he should ask for it from another source. �And she does her teacher thing and lays out the lessons and homework to progress through the subject in a thoughtful way. �

LaTexian - That's so funny you beating your husband back to the passenger seat.


DS needs to think about school differently. He needs to think more about what the teacher wants, to review Directions/Ruburics before assignments are handed in. Science teacher was writing comments in his note book and he wasn't even reading them. This doesn't promote growth. He needs to give more details as if he was explaining this to someone who doesn't know how to do the assignment. Any advice on a motivational talk?

I'm thinking this is an area that he needs help with as he can be annoyed by me giving too many details in daily conversations. When he explains a game he misses much needed information. Could this just be a maturity thing?

What about if he made sure he for every anwser there should be a Who, What, Where, When and Why as much a possible. Would this be a good way to advise him? Any other suggestions.

Ex; What happened when Vinegar was added to baking soda.
Typical Anwser: There was fizz
Better Anwser: When Vinegar is added to baking soda there is a chemical reaction that causes a fizz which makes a gas. The fizz made the contents of the glass overflow. After a minute the fizz stopped...

Maybe I'm wrong but, I feel like if the teacher and I don't do anything different to start this year, nothing will change. I just don't want to repeat what happen last year. He was so far behind into a project that it was too late to recover.

Once again, I think this forum is helping me think this thru. I really need a game plan for this year.

I high jacked my own thread so I changed the title to more appropriate

I don't know what's expected of children's lab reports, but on general principles I would want the observations clearly separated from the theorising about might be causing them. E.g.

When I added the vinegar to the baking soda I heard a fizzing noise and I saw a white foam rise up the glass. The foam overflowed the glass. I could also smell the vinegar. After a minute the fizzing noise subsided and the level of foam fell.

I deduce that a chemical reaction took place which produced a gas.

ColinsMum- Thank you! I'm not very science skilled so that was very helpful. You also helped me realize a Science student could think of their 5 senses when writing for Science.