tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post1167160781101783435..comments2024-03-16T04:07:17.971-04:00Comments on Gifted Challenges™: Banish boredom from school for your gifted childGail Post, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-72414749126514849572023-10-17T08:31:12.916-04:002023-10-17T08:31:12.916-04:00Thank you!!! My teenager is bored to beyond tears ...Thank you!!! My teenager is bored to beyond tears in 9th grade. In 1st grade, they were identified as gifted, and every year, told that academically they could skip a grade but socially weren't ready. The only year they weren't bored in public school was in 8th grade in Menlo Park CA (sabbatical year) where the teachers actually differentiated -- kiddo was given different challenges and expectations so 8th grade was a joy. Now home, they are starting to get depressed again, and met with their counselor to figure out how to graduate early so they can take a gap year and then go to college. We would switch schools but there is no other high school (other than the fundamentalist Christian one) and homeschooling would be a disaster as we tried during the pandemic and failed miserably. I wish American public schools better prepared their teachers and principals so they could support gifted kids-- it's not enough to say that the gifted kids will teach the slower learners. They need rigor and support. Kiddo can identify mistakes the French teacher makes in accents and grammar, blazes through all assignments in Accelerated English, Advanced Geometry, and World History. We were told that these were our choices for accelerated classes this year. Other than moving away, which comes with it's own set of issues, I'm not sure what to do. We're meeting with the counselor and Gifted coordinator and teachers this week, but I 'm afraid we'll hear the same spiel about how smart kiddo is (we know -- IQ of 133, 99th+ percentile in Language abilities and reasoning, right up there isn Mathematical reasoning), how great the school is (!,) and how important social and emotional learning is....we know. And our gifted kid is still miserable. What we need are supportive challenges for our teenager who wants to go to Stanford or another elite university and study Psychology, Gender and Sexuality, and Literature/Creative Writing.... because we've got a future bilingual or trilingual researcher/professor and therapist here. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-78981620792455012112019-09-09T09:04:17.719-04:002019-09-09T09:04:17.719-04:00This article is our current situation! We just mov...This article is our current situation! We just moved into our new house, and my son started first grade in a new school immediately. So I made sure the teacher knew what was happening, because I anticipated behavior issues. But not like this. She describes him thrashing on the floor and scream-crying because his clip on the clip chart had been moved to yellow because he wouldn't do the assignment. They read a story (I'm guessing the teacher read it) and the class came up with answers to questions about the story, and then they had to write the answers down. He refused to write. I had already met with her a week before, showed her iReady growth results from the previous year (nearly 300% for reading, 270% for math), explained that we think he's gifted and why, and she doesn't seem to get it. In this incident, instead of calming him down and redirecting him to read a book or something (I told her he's reading chapter books, but he says she hasn't had him read for her at all, he currently refuses to read at home now), she threatened him with the dean and wrote up the behavior on an incident report - this is his second. In her email to me, she complained that she did not want him becoming a distraction to the class or to her, so much that she cannot do her job. Basically, she wrote to me to tattle about my son. After this happened, we had him assessed - 152 cognitive IQ, with some tendencies toward ADHD and a little bit of ASD. The ADHD is keeping him from concentrating and it brings his processing speed down, and the ASD slows his maturity. He has a 10 year old's cognitive function, with the emotional maturity of a 4 year old. The psychologist recommended OT for his behavior and an IEP. We wrote to the principal, copied the teacher, guidance counselor, etc, and got an immediate response and have a meeting scheduled for next week. Our fingers are tightly crossed that they actually act on the things they're saying and it's not just lip service. I really needed to see this article and the comments, it reinforced our mission to get the best education for our son! Thanks for giving me a place to vent with other people in the same situation!GtrGrl96noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-1645547522957814282018-08-21T11:23:51.912-04:002018-08-21T11:23:51.912-04:00When I was in elementary school decades ago, I sum...When I was in elementary school decades ago, I summarily skipped from kindergarten to second grade on teacher initiative. No fancy tests or assessments except that the first grade teacher had me read from graded texts and found I was good up to grade 5. A few days later I was in second grade. No extra cost to the school district, and it greatly helped the cause. Best of all, I was able to go to UC Berkeley a year sooner - a huge gift from my brief first grade teacher, Mrs. Davies. School still didn't cut it, so I came up with a bunch of projects on my own at home which later became my career in technology. Simple grade skipping worked well as a terrific compromise solution. My parents had no idea about all this and just said "OK" to the skipping. Two things as a package here are the simple grade skipping trick and autodidact initiatives on my part.Arrowcatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08501931190176118586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-4387947757493524442018-08-20T10:15:50.264-04:002018-08-20T10:15:50.264-04:00I have a gifted son (just started 3rd grade) who n...I have a gifted son (just started 3rd grade) who never causes trouble at school, his teachers say he is friendly, he participates in class, he laughs and plays with his friends. But he comes home and tells me how bored he is at school and how much he would rather be at home doing what he wants to do. He says he hates school and sometimes will not get out of the car once we get there in the morning. I have had to get the principal to get him out of the car and take him to class. She says once he gets in his class he is all smiles. His teachers always say they had no idea he didn't want to come to school today. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-17936063688320392332018-08-02T22:59:00.206-04:002018-08-02T22:59:00.206-04:00Hi Gail. We have a similar situation. Our son is i...Hi Gail. We have a similar situation. Our son is in Grade 6 and he has been criticized by most of his teachers as restless, distracted and always jumping from his seat. Every teacher also opines that he is a very brainy child but only if he stops his hyperactive behavior he would be one among the best. Here I am confused whether he has ADD/ADHD or whether he is a gifted child. Kindly suggest what must we do. It's really frustrating for us. <br /><br />Shibi and Mathew <br />Shibi Mathewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782718893325496320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-22733745376573466932018-03-22T22:42:18.417-04:002018-03-22T22:42:18.417-04:00So sorry you and your children are experiencing th...So sorry you and your children are experiencing this. I don't know where you live and what legal grounds you have in your state, but I hope you can insist that the schools offer more options for them. Good luck.Gail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-40892425751362446382018-03-22T17:48:44.808-04:002018-03-22T17:48:44.808-04:00This is the problem I am running into with both of...This is the problem I am running into with both of my children at their public school. After wading through the proper channels, I emailed the superintendent today. My daughter has declared that math at school is boring, but will avidly sit at home with me and work on prealgebra (she is 9). Her reading responses to the first question on her test include so much intricate detail that she runs out of time to answer the other questions in enough detail. But the school refuses to consider that she isn't getting what she needs each day. I haven't even really begun fighting for my 7yo son because I have hit so many roadblocks with my daughter. I just want my kids to get to learn at school and play at home. My husband refuses to consider homeschooling, although I suspect it could eliminate the behavior we are seeing in my son when he gets home. He becomes manic when he first gets home, not able to stay with anything for more than 3 minutes, and can eventually become violent. But we don't see these manic or violent reactions on the weekend when he's not forced to sit at school for 6.5 hours. I'm interested to see his behavior this next week when he's out of school for spring break.teach2183https://www.blogger.com/profile/15588993832727584041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-40964887080495128822017-09-10T07:39:35.861-04:002017-09-10T07:39:35.861-04:00Kyra, This is a tough situation, and there can be ...Kyra, This is a tough situation, and there can be multiple reasons - and solutions for the problem. I can't really comment on it, since I don't know more about the situation. Hopefully, you can speak further with his teacher to come up with ideas that can help him. If you are interested in speaking further with me about it, see my coaching services above. If not, I hope that you come up with some direction for him that works. Gail<br />Gail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-65614249403448715572017-09-10T03:19:34.151-04:002017-09-10T03:19:34.151-04:00Hi! The teacher says my child finishes his work, i...Hi! The teacher says my child finishes his work, isn't problematic, but becomes bored if he's left alone. I know for a fact that the school isn't the best, and they're not trained or experienced enough to know what to do/say in this type of situation. He's stronger in some subjects than in others, which may be a cause of the problem in some classes, but if he's not intrested in doing anything when he doesn't have personal attention, what should I do? I teach him at home in addition, is this the problem??Kyra21https://www.blogger.com/profile/02968344917570976208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-61250397206160661582017-07-10T17:42:50.314-04:002017-07-10T17:42:50.314-04:00To Anonymous before me, math is not a mere sequenc...To Anonymous before me, math is not a mere sequence that you run through. Math is a language, and like all languages, it is impossible to achieve fluency. No matter how greatly you believe that you have taught yourself these math "courses", if you do not understand the relationship, complexity, and perennial value of what they make up [rather than what they are], then you ought not to be bored.<br /><br />This is the true downfall of modern education. It weeds out those who would see more than the mere practicality of its study from others who procure in them the aspirations to reach the unattainable. Continue with "Algebra, Geometry, and Pre-calculus", but recognize that the road to inaccessible fluency requires depth and breadth beyond many individual's comprehension. <br /><br />I, too, was like you, trying to better myself on my own, but I relied on them to provide me with a suitable education. However, I was also too foolish to question teachers at the time and too complacent in my anger to absolve what predicaments I could have. That I commend you for. At least now, I can do what I love. I can let it believe that it has possessed me, only to show it that I have the power to confine it to myself. I have that will. <br /><br />In essence, I want you to grasp that the entelechy that you have procured now should be enduring. You may be bored, but why teach yourself math in the manner that they plan to teach you? Why stoop to such a level? If you desire to learn, then learn. And if you wish to subside boredom, then subside boredom. But to go about it in this manner is futile. Very few people wish to hear or see your "cries", and so it shall be. I could never wish the torment of suffering alone, but I will surely not deny the necessity in discovering solutions on your own— especially if you intend to endure it on your own. If this morbid system of mathematical competency cannot enlighten you, then that question that you asked will do so. That is your first challenge. You have seen it, now get out there and grasp it before it takes possession of you.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-6489047338320584562017-07-10T16:54:40.003-04:002017-07-10T16:54:40.003-04:00What hurts the most is not my memories, but the fa...What hurts the most is not my memories, but the fact that the nuances of my traumatic childhood could be so vividly explained. It is the shear fact that so many other children went through similar frenzies. That it could be so generalized is the sole reason why giftedness is my greatest curse, my enemy, my foe, but still the one thing that keeps me yearning for more. It is my second greatest refuge, my protector, my ally. <br /><br />01010100011010000110000101101110011010110111001100101110Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-51818232593908924562016-10-27T22:27:17.097-04:002016-10-27T22:27:17.097-04:00Anonymous, Wow. You really must be bored in that c...Anonymous, Wow. You really must be bored in that class. I hope that you speak with someone at the school who could help you find an alternative that would be more advanced. If your teacher won't help, speak with your guidance counselor. Try to enlist your parents to speak with the school also, so that you find some opportunities that are more challenging and educational. Good luck!Gail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-8424529623296683272016-10-27T21:03:15.449-04:002016-10-27T21:03:15.449-04:00I am a middle school student, in normal middle sch...I am a middle school student, in normal middle school curriculum, but I also taught myself algebra 1, alg. 2, geometry, and I am halfway through pre-calc. The pre-algebra teacher doesn't know of this, and because of this, the class has become true torture. Although I recognize it is wrong to use sigma notation, functions, field axioms, and sarcasm to answer simple math questions, I just can not stand the math class. I am by no means a genius, and I would probably be the first to get a negative IQ, but I take pride in being smart enough to know when I have no idea what to do. With this being established, I would like to ask one question. What should I do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-51473926895660113982016-10-27T17:08:26.202-04:002016-10-27T17:08:26.202-04:00Thank you, Lisa. So true. It would make a huge dif...Thank you, Lisa. So true. It would make a huge difference if schools, administrators and teachers truly understood what it meant to be gifted.Gail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-51581042542807814442016-10-27T14:41:31.720-04:002016-10-27T14:41:31.720-04:00Unfortunately, this is very common. It would also ...Unfortunately, this is very common. It would also help if schools understood giftedness, but often the parents are the ones informing them. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06453680556602847475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-65901955477129213862016-02-24T22:12:53.973-05:002016-02-24T22:12:53.973-05:00Thank you, Atlas. You raise an important point abo...Thank you, Atlas. You raise an important point about the choice of homeschooling for those who are able to take on that decision. It sounds like a great decision for you and your family.Gail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-10308270026082892462016-02-24T09:46:12.395-05:002016-02-24T09:46:12.395-05:00And don't rule out homeschooling. This article...And don't rule out homeschooling. This article fit me perfectly (and sadly). I grew up to be an underachiever giving up the "game" of learning in school. Instead, I went to the library all day on Saturdays and learned my way. I kept waiting for someone to understand. They never did. When I saw it in my own child, I chose to stop teaching in the classroom and start teaching at home. Never say never. It's your child and our future. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-86424848445981674692015-11-19T22:38:51.456-05:002015-11-19T22:38:51.456-05:00We are in a similar situation with a very bored fi...We are in a similar situation with a very bored first grader. We recently had him tested on the WISC IV and he had an impressive IQ of 143 and the Woodcock Johnson put him at the third grade level academically (purely through osmosis, as he hasn't been taught anything at school since Kindergarten). After much urging, the school finally gave him an Educational Plan. Unfortunately, the teacher refuses to follow it. I complained to the Superintendent who asked our principal to allow me to observe. I was let into the classroom for 15 minutes with the principal and had to agree entirely with my son's assessment of the situation. The teacher didn't move from behind her desk. Some kids were jumping around, talking etc. My son was one of about 10 students working, and his work was single digit addition he memorized over a year ago in kindergarten. The principal said "look, he was given differentiation. There are two blank lines on the bottom of the worksheet where he can add two more animals (the activity was counting animal legs). I requested that the principal follow the Accel Law (in Florida) and provide acceleration by grade or subject if an appropriate education was not forthcoming in his grade 1 class. She refused, saying she didn't believe in acceleration and he had to complete grade 1 first. I suggested he do RedBird math (Stanford program we purchased for him) and read his own novels instead of the whole-class extremely easy "Sam and Scruffy go up and down" stories etc they were making him go over again and again. They refused. I felt like unless I threatened litigation nobody would listen and I don't want to be at odds with the place I send my children every day. The local private school doesn't seem much better and has no current openings. I just want an appropriate education for my brilliant child. It was so disheartening that we decided to sell our dream home and move the family to a location 2 hours away with a school for the gifted. Now we are trying to find a home there and a good school for our other child. Why do American schools refuse to recognize and expand the minds of those with the greatest promise to help our culture, our country and our world?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-9355479293844005402014-09-14T10:02:10.146-04:002014-09-14T10:02:10.146-04:00Anonymous, Yes, it's true that a lot of kids w...Anonymous, Yes, it's true that a lot of kids wait until they are home to share it all with us! Lucky parents! But it many ways, it is adaptive and a sign of strength that your son was able to fit in and not act out at school. That frustration needs an outlet, though, and often comes out in a safe place like home with family. I'm glad you have worked out another alternative for him. GailGail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-68291663600899844722014-09-14T09:58:09.700-04:002014-09-14T09:58:09.700-04:00Kari, I am so glad you found a school for your dau...Kari, I am so glad you found a school for your daughter. Yet your story aptly describes the disregard and often contempt these children and their families experience. Can you imagine the teacher of a "special ed" student refusing to look at a special project? Can you imagine other test results being ignored like this? Anyway, it is wonderful that as a parent, you were able to challenge the system, and eventually find something that worked for your daughter. Good luck. GailGail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-63253058826976377252014-09-14T07:55:02.171-04:002014-09-14T07:55:02.171-04:00Gail Thanks for writing this article. I felt like ...Gail Thanks for writing this article. I felt like I was the only one going through this when my daughter was told to "wait, be patient while other kids catch up, and refrain from those pesky questions!" "Stop correcting me, even when I am wrong.“ The behaviors that they complained about were because she was bored. To have the teacher and principal tell us "We just don't see it - we think she is ADD or ADHD" was infuriating! Even after the testing that showed she was PG we still got pushed back to "sit quietly while the others finish". We tried enrichment activities, but special projects were not accepted & told teacher did not have time to look at it. Without the validation she gave up. Joining MENSA helped as she was taken seriously and treated with respect, not contempt like her classmates treated her. Only after getting the Superintendent involved did she get more challenging work. Now she is in a gifted school and finally feels like a normal classmate because they are all alike & she is adequately challenged. Karinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-25073927774490826162014-09-13T22:23:36.794-04:002014-09-13T22:23:36.794-04:00YES! This is where my 8 year old was at the end o...YES! This is where my 8 year old was at the end of 2nd grade this past school year, and why he is at home now. Thank you for putting to words so clearly what people just don't seem to understand about what's been going on with my son. I'd been told many times the teachers didn't see him act bored in school so they thought he was fine. I got it all at home. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-22982275202244344922014-09-13T16:58:07.547-04:002014-09-13T16:58:07.547-04:00Paula,
Thank you for your kind words!
GailPaula,<br />Thank you for your kind words!<br />GailGail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-30458947820671601362014-09-13T16:57:39.456-04:002014-09-13T16:57:39.456-04:00Nancy, Sorry that your situation was such a strugg...Nancy, Sorry that your situation was such a struggle, although a surprisingly common one. I hope you were able to achieve some success in getting some accommodations for her. Sometimes parents have to continue to advocate well beyond what seems reasonable.<br /><br />GailGail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-66792793512008811802014-09-13T12:07:26.991-04:002014-09-13T12:07:26.991-04:00Thanks, Gail, for this article. It's both comp...Thanks, Gail, for this article. It's both comprehensive and succinct. I appreciate your strong advocacy for gifted kids.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15087968286571895529noreply@blogger.com