Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School Kindergarten 2009-2010

As far as for giving him more math I've asked for that and she said that she'd gladly send some home for homework but she doesn't give him any in class. He does get a first grade reading worksheet about twice a week and he sits in the corner and does it while she teaches the rest of the class their letters. I can bring in some of his math worksheets that we worked on today to show her what he's doing though and maybe she'll change her mind.

I have a plan for naptime and I'll talk to her about it to see what she says.

Oh I love buddy bear! That's such a great idea. I wonder if she has anything like that.

Yes, naptime. In pre-k they were napping for something like 2 hours. I think this year it's either an hour or 45 minutes.

renie1 - I hope you have luck getting library books that are at your daughter's reading level.

JamieB - how did your conference go??? I hope it went well.

Today was a bit better for DS, although he did have a problem in PE. My head is spinning with this roller coaster ride. I know that since my son is very asynchronous, some of his issues are social, and the school is working with him on that (e.g., his use of personal space, being aware of the kids around him). Some of the problems stem from his very strong-willed personality, and he at times will be very defiant, and not follow directions, or be disruptive (silly) if it is something that he doesn't want to do. It's crazy. Sometimes I don't know what to make of it. I talk to the teacher yesterday and get a laundry list of behaviors that he did, so it wasn't a good day. But yet, when I went into school today to volunteer, the teacher tells me he has really improved a lot since the first day of school, it's like he's a different kid. So my head is spinning. He did have improvements today over Monday, so I'm hoping the week is a steady improvement. It's just a bummer because last week was so great. And so it goes...

Thanks for asking...it actually went well. The teacher said that the counselor suggested the behavior plan. This is the counselor who said to me that she's suggesting putting him in first grade so maybe she wants this to show that his problems are when he's bored? I can only hope. His teacher said that his behavior is much better and gave me the list of site words that they'll be working on in a few weeks. I told her that I wasn't sure if she was aware or not but he can read any word put in front of him. I hope she didn't think I was being rude but I have to somehow let her know what all he can do.

So many of our kids seem to be like this m2gts. It's like one day I feel overjoyed and the next I'm deflated. I think that it's really good that the school is working on him with his issues so at least they are aware of it. What issues does he have with his personal space?

JamieB - you hit the nail on the head with regard to how I feel and why I always say this is such a roller coaster ride. Thank you so much saying that many of our kids are like this. It makes me feel better to know that DS is not the only one. Glad your meeting went well!

WRT personal space, sometimes when DS talks to a classmate, he gets right into their face to talk - definite invasion of personal space. Also, he has a hard time sitting still, so when sitting at the table with classmates, he is up on his knees, back and forth, leaning over (therefore infringing on a classmate's space). He definitely has a lot of energy and the arms and legs are often moving around a lot. When standing in line, he bumps into the kids around him (not intentionally), and while he says he's sorry, he still continues to do it and the teacher said that the kids don't understand, become impatient, because it's not just once or twice, it can happen every day. Yes, we are very lucky in that the school is addressing his academic needs as well as his social needs. In fact, with regard to the personal space issue, they decided to set up a desk for him at the end of one of the tables, which is where he now sits (sort of like an extension of the table). This gives him more room, plus, with the academic work he is doing, he has more books/binders than his classmates and he needs a place to store them. So it serves two purposes and so far seems to be working well.

I was wondering if he was doing the same thing as my DS. He has the hardest time keeping his hands off of the other kids. He always seems to want to touch them or bump them or something. We've been working with him at home and it seems to be helping a little.

Jamie B: Glad to hear the conference went well.

m2gts and Jamie B: Agree with you. It really does feel like this major roller coaster ride. Every time I have a good experience and feel like someone is listening and going to help, what we discuss doesn't happen. While your guys act out from boredom, mine just lets it slide off his shoulders and then tells me about it. One of my friends told my husband last week that I worry too much and should just let it go.

For instance, follow up to library yesterday: DS comes home with One Duck Stuck. I ask if the librarian showed him the dino books he wanted. He said, No, he was only allowed to pick from the table and he didn't want to/think he could ask for something else. GRRR. It should be so simple. Plus, the reading specialist who was supposed to retest him last week hasn't gotten back to me. I sent a follow-up e-mail today, so back to the waiting game.

We've got PT conference on Nov. 11 and I need to figure out how to address this all. A friend's mom who navigated this path in our school 8 years ago under a different principal is giving me advice and has told me I can use her daughter's name to make the point that the school has appropriately dealt with this before.

What's sad is I live a county that many rank as one of the tops in the country. But only if you're a round peg in a round hole. Sigh.

Did your friend's daughter skip a grade? I can't believe that after talking to them they still didn't let him pick another book from the library! They should have guided him to the dino books.

I know that personally I can't let this go. I want to give up sometimes but I can't. I know that my friends with kids that fit in well in the normal classrooms don't understand why I get so upset and worry and why I want to make my son "different". I'm so glad that I can come here

I hope that you get an email back very soon from the specialist. It seems like here, at least, nobody gets back with you...you have to go find them.

That is really unfair that they aren't letting him get books at his level

On the other hand at least they can take books home from the library there. K kids aren't allowed to bring books home at our school so we just get them from the library instead.

We use our library a lot too. I don't know what I'd do without it!

Just have to type this out before I leave work

The principal finally called me back. She said that she meets with a team and she wants to talk to them about this. She's never grade skipped a kid before but said that she's not saying that she won't do it. One of the members of her team is the counselor that's been observing him (the one that said that she thinks he needs to be moved up) so that's good, right? She told me to give her until Monday to observe and talk to her team.

So today has been an up date in the battle for a proper education What will tomorrow bring?