Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Has anyone used/found mentors for their children?

A couple of ideas for you. First, the leagues that only allow kids 8 and over... We've run into this several times. I contact whoever is in charge, try and explain the situation with DS in as few words as possible, ask for a chance and promise to leave if there are any issues with his behavior. I have only been denied once and we've never had to leave.

As far as mentors go, my DS has a mentor for fractals that he met while on a tour at the local university. As part of the tour the kids were taken through a "mini dome" that is used by the college students to design planetarium shows for the local planetarium. They were then taken to a computer lab and given simple instructions on how the shapes are designed. My son fell instantly in love with the whole "fractal process". The professor giving the tour gave my DS alot of extra time and when we were leaving offered his card and access for my son to the university fractal generator. The two have been pals ever since.

I guess the point is that you can never be sure where a mentor will pop up. Pay attention when people you meet offer up their careers, you may need them someday!

Ahhh! Belle, you poor thing!! R-U-N!!

Good riddance to them.

I have wondered about finding a mentor too, for ds9, in the area of illustration or art, but so far not much luck.

I recall ds running into issues of going too slowly in 1st grade, the teacher repeatedly had him miss recess (bad idea in my opinion) somehow it never affected him positively (imagine that). At one point I told the teacher that while he was welcome to keep ds inside during recess I just did not think it would make a dent in his 'behavior'. Then he had such a wonderful teacher last year; ds had a minor surgery so missed about a week, I asked several times for any extra work, and the teacher just said, no, he's fine, doing fine, doesn't need to do the work. Just have him read. Ok, now that was not just sweet for ds, and me, but probably saved her a lot of trouble, too (smart teacher).
Sorry to hear about the 28 worksheets, unfortunately it sounds like one of those, 'Well, if he's so smart...' moments you hear about regarding some teachers. Sheesh. (also, is that ALL they do in the class???? Doesn't seem like there'd be any time for actually teaching/learning.)

Some of us have been know to lie, in certain situations, about our child's age.

Just so you know.
Grinity

Oh Belle!
Ug! I'd pull him NOW. What a mess! So sorry.

I loved all the suggestions, including your own of starting with the local businesses. Maybe you could make the 'mentor search' part of the homeschooling experience itself. I like the book 'wishcraft.'

It occurs to me that a possible long term compromise is to look at neighboring districts and keep talking to people until you find one who willing to work with you. Sometimes these school are much closer than 45 minutes.

Best Wishes,
Grinity

Thanks Guys - I just get so frustrated because I see so many of my friends and they are all sharing how well their kids are doing and how they never have any issues...and then I have my other buddies that all homeschool their kids who tell me that we need to go back to homeschooling and then I see my little guy who just is struggling to be understood in this particular setting but REALLY wants to be back in a classroom. Yesterday their reading lesson consisted of highlighting all the letter f's in their reading worksheet booklet that has one sentence on each page and is 3 pages long. How can they expect a kid who is reading several grade levels ahead to sit and be happy completing this kind of activity?

guess I am just trying to wrap my brain around their reasoning - I might just be wearing rose colored glasses but I always thought teachers were supposed to try hard to help meet each child's needs in a classroom...have we really come so far down the toilet that no one is allowed to be different - everyone must do the exact same work, the exact same way...I mean how are these kids supposed to leave school one day and be able to creatively solve problems or tackle difficult tasks if they have all been taught to be the same with no straying from one path?

Belle - what was your DS's issues w/ homeschooling? Was is it that draws him to public school?

Regarding LEGO MINDSTORMs...if your son is really interested, you can do it as a family. I'm learning it right along w/ my boys. I'm hoping to get my own robot for Christmas. 8-) Then as you learn, maybe you'll run into a kid who is also interested. You could try a notice at the library and see if any kids are interested. Are there any co-ops in your area for classes DS can take?

Belle - when I finally pulled DS out at the end of 2nd grade, it was certainly an adjustment. I felt just sad. Sad that school didn't work out. Frustrated to hear all the stories from friends on how their DCs don't miss a day of school, come home excite to tell them all the new things they learned that day, blah blah blah.

As far as mentors...I've joined our local Archaeology society. They allow kids on actual dig sites etc. DS has attended 2 meetings for adults, talks given by archaeologists and he was totally engaged the entire time. We have also joined the Astronomy society. So basically, we're looking for mentors for the family lol at this point and if something evolves into more one-on-one fine but it'll happen when it happens.

A good friend found a mentor at her church. IT was a high school who loved math. They would talk math together etc.

It seems most right now want to believe that everyone is the same and no one is different. I read an article recently where test essays came into question b/c every single essay was exactly alike. The school uses one of those organizer systems and so every essay seemed like it was copied.

My Ker came home w/ so many worksheets. I had magazine holders (3-4) filled w/ worksheet after worksheet after worksheet. At the end the worksheets involved fractions but were worksheets nonetheless.

Dazed & Confused - I would love it if you kept us up on what your doing and using with the lego Robotics. We are hoping to get into the robotics too but it will need to wait till next year if we get to do this.

onthegomom - we have a long thread or two about it in Resources I think.

I really feel for you Belle. Your experience's parallel our entire year of K last year. So glad we are home schooling - but I know it will be tough is DS6 wants to be in a classroom and public is the only option. I wouldn't hesitate to pull away at this point. Don't you have organized homeschool groups with even their own classroom settings in your area? I think we have at least one in our State. Just because you home school doesn't mean you always have to be alone. As for the IEP's - is it any surprise that along with all the changes in government right now - and curriculum ...- and reading lists ...that there's just more confusion ........