Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Trouble at school....me or them?

I'm going to chime in and agree with others about going to the principal. I recommend sending him/her an e-mail about the incident. Always, always, communicate in writing. Written communications are less likely to be misinterpreted --- or ignored.


You can be honest yet polite: your child's teacher doesn't seem to take his learning style into consideration and she also told him that she's "given up" on him. You find this remark disturbing, and are concerned...etc. Request a meeting with the principal.

This all sounds so awful. I'm so sorry.

Val

There are no other options within the school. Because they offer a "gifted" inclusion classroom, he will not get any differentiated lessons if I remove him. I agree with her that he does need to take responsibility for doing his work, but the worksheets would drive me insane! Never mind the clock! I'm going to look into ear plugs I guess. If he can survive this year, I think he will blossom next year based on what I'm seeing with my daughter. I just don't know if he will survive. I feel like he is falling through the cracks.

If he gets a lot of worksheet-y homework, you might consider doing it for him if you can mimic his handwriting. I did this for my DS with math in 2nd grade. It was a big help to his mental health.

I did this because I'm not a believer in forcing kids to do pointless work. So this may make me a bit of a radical. That said, the Mommy Homework Syndicate only came to town when the homework was truly pointless.

Val

IMHO he really needs to not be with that teacher. I think you need to tell the principal everything you have said here and make it clear that your son will obviously not thrive in that situation. Would there be anyway to move him up a grade? Perhaps not officially but it isn't difficult to teach down to one or two kids in a classroom. He could use the books from his current grade, but be with a different teacher. I think even an undifferentiated non-gifted class would be healthier. He'd have to deal with boredom, but not being given up on...

I should warn you that I can be VERY mama bear... I mean no offense to any choice you make.