Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy High School IEP

I have to confess I'm clueless with econ and requirements. I have faith that DS could do whatever math is needed if that's what he's interested in. My goal was not to push him ahead in math, but to question rather than accept blindly the formulaic schedule (I regret accepting it last year, but I didn't know any better--he should have tested out of Alg 2).

I guess part of me sees the situation like this: DS has done entry level college courses during the summer institutes with kids who are serious students, advanced, amazing, high achievers. They have talked about brilliant test scores and lofty goals of great colleges. Now, he is in "honors" classes that are a charade, he is the highest grades in all but one of these classes (except one--French), and many of the kids don't care. I look at Miraca Gross articles and think about radical acceleration and just enrolling him in college classes EXCEPT he wants to have some semblance of high school experience. He does not want to homeschool, even Stanford online, and doesn't want fancy prep boarding school. I am just trying to avoid him "wasting time" or getting discouraged with busy work, or wanting to drop out (a rising phenomena in our school district with gifted kids), or doing things like DH & I did when we were bored in HS (skipping school).

I already gave up twice after many meetings with counselors, principal. I thought I needed to spend more time thinking about the other boys, but I'm hoping something remarkable will happen at the IEP...but don't want to get my hopes up.

I think you're smart to ask those questions and worry those worries! I wish you didn't have to, but school is what it is.

I guess I'd be less worried about your son missing something important if you were talking about a poet skipping geometry. I suspect geometric proofs and the rigorous logic they require would be very useful for an economist or a doctor. Again, this is a clueless English major talking...so please take with a very large grain of sand.

Could you call a math teacher and ask about the specific courses directly? Especially if there's a teacher who's GT-friendly, you might get a better take on what's REALLY necessary and what's wasted time than you will from our well-meaning but *highly general* generalizations.

Or maybe you've already done that?

Oh Cym, it sure gets harder as they get older and want more of a say in their educational plan. I think the thing to do is lots and lots of conversations with DS about what he exactly he wants from a high school experience, and how he is doing in his 'honors' classes. For better or for worse I think your role here is to be a consultant as much as possible, and to throw occasional fits when he's really heading far off course. Can he do online classes during the school day in the library, and attend art and music at the school? Can he dual enroll college and high school? Is there an independent study he can really sink his teeth into? A mentor?

There probably is a lot to be gained by doing clubs and social life of a high school student, and he probably has more capasity to be bored than he did when he was 5. Now that my DS11 has tasted hard work and academic challenge, he's saying that he can see the benifit of easy classes and lots of friends - not that he could actually pull that off. But I can see that he is hearing the siren call of the social world. Tough times ahead is all I can say. ((pout)) I reminds me of all those in the womb motions that were practice for the next phase of life. I think our boys are making motions for - ug - independent living. Just wish we had more choices.

BTW - please don't be too hard on the school for teaching to the majority of kids - not so many children his age are ready for those intro college classes that he's already done.

Love and More Love,
Grinity

Cym wrote:
I so understand! My DD10 is in top of her class (which is actually a year acceleration), but her math abilities can't compare with Ghost's. I guess here is a proof that there can be a huge difference between 98% and 99%.
Well, I don't know, because Algebra 2 can be a tough subject, plus all college level math courses are based upon a good understanding of Algebra. Geometry on the other hand is never looked into past HS. So I said stick with Geometry because it is on the SAT, and because it is his only chance of really learning it, but Geometry in the US is basically triangles, so maybe he could do it during the summer, or combine Geometry with Trigonometry, and then do Calculus? I am assuming that Trigonometry at your school is combined with Pre Calc. What kind of Calculus are they offering after that? How likely will he be to pass an AP exam?
My understanding is that to be competitve for top colleges, it helps if one has several AP courses - not as means to earn advance standing but to show one is ready for college level work. It also helps when you are looking into scholarships or trying to get into Honors College. How many AP courses can your son take by the time he graduates? Maybe talking about that could be one of your goals?
Remember also, that taking Pre Calc, opens doors to other courses, like AP Physics.
As to math competitions - does the school offer AMC 10 and AMC 12? If they do, have one of your son's goals be scoring high enough to be invited into AIMO.

I think you should push them (the school people) to the limit, because you have another boy following in few years. Think ahead:-) I would really look into taking college classes, even if your son is resistive. Find the info and then talk about it.

I do not know a lot about English classes, but I know that the HS we are looking at puts the kids in the highest track into Honors 10 while in 9th grade. Then they can start taking AP courses in 10.

I have also learned, that you have to really look ahead when choosing HS courses. It is not as easy to jump between classes as it is in MS.

Good Luck Cym!
Ania

You are right, Grinity. The school really does a wonderful job for most kids. Over 74% low income--everyone is fed breakfast and lunch free -- some several lunches (my skinny son has never eaten so well!), the staff and administrators seem to really care about the kids, etc.

Thanks Ania, for your advice. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Good Luck cym,
It really is just plain frustrating.
Grinity

I don't want to sound bad, but I guess there is no other way of putting it - I don't care about the other kids and school efforts directed towards them.
I am not a public educator, I am not an elected public offical, I am a mom of two bright kids. This is my foremost important role at this stage of my life. My responsiblility as a mom is to my kids and my family. By choosing to have them , I chose to care for them ,I chose to protect them, I chose to help them venture succesfully into their own lives. I can't look at how other kids are accomodated if mine are not! WHY is it always that we care so much about those who are struggling and regret to see those that are plainly bored!
I do help less priviliged, do not get me wrong, but I am not going to glorify my school because they are doing a great job for inner city kids. I have to put them down because they are not doing such a great job when it comes to my own kids!
To me the school is ony as good as it helps to accomodate my own kids. Sorry!

Inside my heart of hearts--we feel exactly the same, Ania (actually, no one has to look too hard). I do not like to bad-mouth the school or people, but I really have to stay focussed on the appropriate education for DS. But what am I prepared to do when they say NO. Pull him out and homeschool him against his will? Guess I need to talk to DS about what his backup plan is so we're on the same page.

Today was a terrible day for gifted education in NM. House Bill 241 passed in both houses of the legislature, and removes gifted from under the Special Education umbrella. My understanding is that Spec Ed protected the rights of parents and students with an IEP that was legally enforceable. Now flat rate funding will be instituted and gifted programming will be discretionary (varying district-district). This was widely supported by superintendents and the educators union lobby, despite our efforts to defeat.

I also had DS 13's IEP today (asking if this would be his last one--they said surely there'd be an exit IEP sometime)...Needless to say, they said that they were not allowed anything out of the ordinary for honors students, promising it would be more challenging next year since they'll have weeded out the kids who aren't able to do honors work.

DH, who rarely mentions education for fear it will get me going, actually said we'll have to plan something different when DS 9 (DYS) gets to high school.

Just thought I'd give that update since you all have been so sweet to "listen" to my sagas.

I am sorry Cym :-(
But honestly, even though you had some legal grounds, all that c..p about gifted ed was not working either!
My new secret plan (agent mom) is to corrupt the minds of my two kids, so they will become miserable, awful learners, distruptive to others. Maybe this will get them a one on one class with some special ed person, then I will come in with my full curriulum made out of online and distant ed classes. That the district will pay for...