Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion An Interesting Conversation with DS

Aren't they all......!

DS6 was looking over my shoulder today while I was shopping for stuff for the summer. Wandered off, then wandered back.

"Mom, I've been thinking. This grade skip thing. I'm not sure I want to go to 4th grade next year" "I think I need to go to like 6th or something, because I'm not learning anything new."

Not quite sure how to respond I asked him if he feels like he's not learning anything this year. "No, except Algebra" "Maybe we should just start homeschooling now". I promised to consider his suggestions and off he wandered again.

You all know how hard the school has worked to keep him challenged. He's in a different grade for every subject. Can it honestly be that he's not learning anything new? I'm not sure what to do with this information. He has earned straight A's since he started school. He's been accelerated alot!

Does he honestly need more? or is he yanking my chain because he wants to come home? I honestly don't know. I do know that he is very excited about all that he gets to do this summer, classes of his choosing.

I'm not even sure what i'm asking here, does that make any sense?

Not sure either Shari, our DS6 sometimes wants more, other times he is fine. The more I watch things, the less certian I am about anything. 4th may be just right for him. Maybe waiting until after summer if that is an option. On educational moves with our son we ask for his input, but look at his responses over time. I know this may not be very helpful. Each child can be so different, with different things that drive them.

If the school is as flexible and great about trying to serve him as they sound, I'd say keep trying to make it work. If it seems like it's going to be a problem, past history would indicate that they'll work with you to give him what he needs.

If the both of you want to homeschool, that's a different story. But if you both want him in school, then I think in this case homeschooling just doesn't seem to be a necessity right now. Maybe it will be again at some point. But I think that if he's really not challenged, that school is going to work their tails off to give him more. I sure wouldn't throw that away without more conversation.

(Not that that's what you were planning to do, of course! LOL! I'm just sayin'...this doesn't sound serious to me yet. More like buyer's remorse than anything else. I think you're in a good place, and you have plenty of options. See how things go.)

OTOH, it might be a good time to start thinking about laying the foundations for more challenge eventually with both DS and the principal and teacher. Keep those lines of communication humming!

It's awesome that your school is working with him so much! I don't know much about his story but does he seemed challenged and like he's learning anything new? What grades is he in now?

Jamie,

Although he is registered in K, he spends his day in 3rd for reading/language arts/science and social studies. He's taking 4th and 5th grade math concurrently. He takes "pre algebra" twice a week with the GT coordinator. Computer science is 4th, music and library are 4th. PE with K.

As part of the agreement with the district to allow his crazy schedule he meets with the LISW/Counselor twice a month to monitor his emotional/social status. She has no concerns. He doesn't seem to recognize the need to identify by age at all. He enjoys being with whoever has the same interests.

He sounds like such a well adjusted little boy!

Maybe the school can help id a mentor for him to work on a special project? I mean it sounds like it's the 'sky's the limit' with your ds and the school...