Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy DS wants out of his level up math

I'm sad to say DS in 3rd wants out of 4th grade math. He has been meeting with the gifted teacher 20 mins a week with another boy to do this 4th Grade Math. I never felt like he was placed at his level, but I don't really know. The G&T teacher has been condensing this Math and says he gets the concepts quickly. DS says it just more work. I said isn't is better now that you are doing 4 digit + and -? No, it's the same thing just more writing. This is so sad. The school made a change for him and dropping out feels like it would not encourage more help. Any suggestions?

Does he have to do 3rd grade homework too? I'm not sure I'd let him drop out if he's doing well in the higher math. But if he's getting the concepts quickly maybe see if you can get accommodations to limit the amount of homework he's getting.

DS in 3rd Grade Math
listening to 5 mins of instruction
does 1 workbook page at own pace (takes 5 mins.)
occassionally does an extra front & back workbook page
Hw 2 pages of Fact practice

4th Grade math (G&T instructor is condensing)
pull out 20 mins. of instruction a week
does all the work during school and has time to read daily

He feels like he is doing more work than the other 3rd graders,
and his brain needs a break at school. He is a self motivated hard worker.

We had that problem last year in second grade. DS absolutely knew that he was doing more work than the other children and he stopped putting in the effort. This year he's in a full time gifted class where everyone is doing the same amount of work (accelerated and compacted) and it is has improved a lot even with the increased work load.

G&T teacher is having the boys do every other lesson instead of all and says they should still learn all the concepts. DS and I have settled down. I told him if he dropped 4th Grade Math this year and did it with the regular class next year he would be doing twice as many problems. I think he realized it is saving him some boredom. For now it's ok., not perfect. I'll think of this as something good.

This personal instruction time, although below his level is an opportunity to show G&T a bit more of what he is made of. I'm going to remind him of that today.