Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments After-schooling ideas

I asked DS tonight what he thought the purpose of school was for him. He said , "I think it's to review the stuff I learned a long time ago. I guess it's to make sure I can do it really fast without thinking about it. I wish they would give me harder things so I could learn something new there." Is that truly sad, or am I just really tired?

I told him that if they don't start giving him harder things, I'd start giving him some things at home a few times a week. I could tell from his expression that he's a bit worried I might reduce his time for climbing trees, reading books, playing chess, drawing, and other stuff he likes to give him more boring "school time."

What things have you introduced to your child that were TRULY challenging (** he might actually fail on the first try **) that were also a lot of fun? I want this to be academic stuff, because he knows other areas of life can be a challenge. He just thinks that schoolwork/academics will always be easy for him. He likes reading, geography, spelling, history and science. He's not a real math enthusiast, although he's good at it.

Frankly, I'm maxed out with life in general, so I'd be looking for things that are not so complicated that we have to take days and days to do a project. I'm hoping to spend a few hours a week doing something, and maybe we'll do more if everyone's happy with it.

Thanks for being here, and for having already BTDT!

A research paper on a subject of his choice with full documentation and multiple sources (not just books/internet)?

My DS7 loves anything to do with the Greek Gods - perhaps you could combine some fun reading with a Greek God project if your DS likes this sort of thing? There is plenty of detail to go into if he wishes, or you could just stick to one particular God or Titan.

http://www.e-learningforkids.org/courses.html

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/ (also look for Zoom tv show here)

http://www.spellingcity.com

http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com

http://www.brainpop.com

http://www.mindwareonline.com


http://www.show.me.uk/parents/parents.html

Search http://www.legoeducation.us/global.aspx
(for Lego Robotics, science and engineering)

Search the ultimate book thread here

Search the ultimate website thread here

Here's some fun things for learning: magic tricks, card tricks, Pop up, Ed Emberly Drawing (http://edemberley.com/intro_alternate.html), yo yo trick (see youtube), nature books, how to take care of critter you find in your back yard, astronomy, go to a science museum and see what captures his interest then run with it.

Have fun.

I do think that is sad...and unfortunately I think it is common. DS5 just started first this year. Last night we were talking about math as his assignment was to count as high as he could (LOL..that would take all night). And he started talking about algebra and other fun math he likes. I was telling him that sometime we will learn other types of math like geometry, trig, calculus, etc. He was asking what some of those were and I explained. He got all excited. He said "I want to do that kind of math" It was sad to see him get all excited because it just makes me sad that there are children out there that really want to learn and aren't given the opportunity. So...I think it's time to start doing it at home. Not sure when it will fit in but I am excited about how excited he is about it.

You might want to get some of these catalogs to leave out for him to find. He can pick some things that look interesting to him.
http://www.prufrock.com/client/client_pages/prufrockcatalogreq.cfm
http://www.enasco.com/page/request
http://www.mindwareonline.com/MWESTORE/MyAccount/RequestCatalog/RequestCatalog.aspx?

Thanks Inky. I was going to make a post suggesting more catalog suggestions. You saved me time. : ) DS5 LOVES the mindware catalog and I have the prufrck one too...but haven't seen the other one. I will check it out. You should see him with the mindware one...It is like a kid at the candystore. Every single page he looks at he says "wow! look at that, that is so cool!!" That's usually where we do our christmas shopping so we have a bunch of those things already. I swear all the items are made for him.

You're welcome. I feel the same way about the Mindware catalog and my daughters. We had another math catalog that had great stuff but I can't find it right now. I think my daughters may have it squirreled away somewhere.

Wow! I knew you guys were good. Thanks a heap for all the suggestions.

It may be that I also have to switch my idea of what is "academic." Before DS7 started school, I used to say that his hunger for learning was just as critical to him as food, water and sleep. If we didn't feed that hunger, he acted out and had much greater anxiety issues than if we did. From 3-5, he ADORED history, and would beg to go to the library to get more books on historical figures. (He still enjoys history, but is more into fiction at the moment.) I think it seems like none of the stuff he "loves" is academic to me/him -- it's just fun! *lol*

Now that I'm re-thinking, a lot of his areas of interest are "academic." So, I guess I should think of ways to push him further with stuff he already likes into a zone where he has to break a sweat to eventually accomplish the task. You guys have given me a great list of ideas, many of which are in areas DS7 enjoys.

And now, I'm on a mission to find my mindware catalog. I know it's somewhere under all this mess!

Thanks again! Have a great day!

DS5 said to me a long time ago...."to me fun = snap circuits" He said it in a context of how he doesn't think superheros and cartoon characters are all that interesting. It was pretty funny because it describes him so much.

Anyhow, some things we do include tons of board games (which are mostly logic based). He loves board games like Blokus, Othello, SET, scrabble, equate, Quiddler pass the pigs, etc. He also likes those solo games from thinkfun (rush hour, amaze, cover your tracks, chocolate fix, and hoppers). Lots of computer games, and he likes to make his own sodoku puzzles. He also likes to make his own projects and contraptions as well with random things around the house. We also make up obstacle courses and things like that. Frisbee golf (but I am awful at throwing frisbee so I made up soccer golf). And science experiments are fun too.