Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Interesting Perspective on School

Last year D15 and I were discussing an exam that had not gone as well as expected. Somewhat ironically, I pointed out that just because she knew something didn't mean that the teacher KNEW that she knew. And that the point of most of her assignments is to prove that to the teacher, so actually TELLING WHAT SHE KNOWS is good. D looked flummoxed. Somehow in all her years of schooling, she had missed this... She said, "But it feels so stupid to tell the teacher material that THEY ALREADY KNOW". And wouldn't that be boring for them to grade so many assignments on material they already knew??

She did accept this new (to her) viewpoint, and has pretty much played along with it since. Resulting in a definite improvement in her grades But she itches to work on something her teachers don't know... Just thought you guys would understand this story better than anyone else I know.

I really get what your DD is saying, I always felt the same way at school Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing that. (Will go tell DC now... We were having similar problems because the teacher and classmates should know this already...)

We have a bit of the flip version of this. DS9 was often spoken too for dominating classroom discussions. The teachers and I had to tell him that we know HE knows - he needs to let the rest of the kids demonstrate that THEY know. But he does love to share things with the teachers that he thinks THEY don't know...LOL Also a discussion that although the teachers know he knows the material he still needs to do his work etc. so that they can give him the grades his knowledge deserves. Luckily this year he has teachers that do their best to challenge him.

Intparent
This is great! And as a college prof, let me say, it is boring to always read/grade stuff I know, but the fun part is that every once in awhile you get people (like her) who give you back what you know plus something they know, a different perspective, or a new area of focus. And then the fun begins!

Love that she missed this!!!

DeHe