So far, Jack is enjoying the recess part of Kindergarten, the snack time and the all the new friends ( we keep getting notes from kids moms' to schedule play dates) but the actual learning part is becoming an issue. The other day when I asked him what he learned he said in a totally exasperated tone, "mom, today we counted to 8, tomorrow we're going to count to 9..." Poor Jack, who can do addition and subtraction and today we learned, multiplication tables in his head and is reading to himself every night before bed. Actually reading books, to himself. His little brain is sky rocketing and the kindergarten curriculum just isn't keeping up. We were asked to go to a "Advanced Learning Lab for Parents of Bright Kids" last week to learn more about our options for this boy but most of what they can do for bright kids starts at 2nd grade. There's not a whole lot to do apparently for kindergarteners. We're still working with his teacher to see what we as parents should be doing to help him feel challenged but I think it's going to be a rough this year for our sharp little Jack.
6 comments:
My sister's nephew is a GENIUS and this happened to him. She did a TON of supplementing at home and then he got into another school for gifted children...hang in there! You may want to contact the D.O. and see if there are schools in the district...
I meant to write "my nephew"
Maybe that my problem, too. My boredom must mean I must be just too smart for housework. "Snack" and "recess" are my favorite times of the day, too. If they had shopping in K-garten, I'd be right there with 'em.
Apparently, I can't spell and need to go back to Kindergarten. :)
We had the same problem (if you want to call it a problem) with Zak, but our school didn't have a gifted program until 5th grade (now it starts in 3rd). That is why we put him in the dual immersion program. We figured he could use the challenge of learning a second language in 1st-6th grade and now he is taking AP Spanish in 9th grade. He could have skipped a grade or 2, but Knowltons are small to begin with and I didn't want to do that to him. It is a tough challenge. We just kept working with him at home and now he has all AP classes and is more than challenged in school. BTW, Sean wants to schedule a play date with Jack too.
So, Jen - if Zak is taking AP classes in 9th Grade, what will he do in High School? Will he get the challenge he needs there? Just curious since my 7th Grader is starting the fast track and I don't want him to burn out before he hits the big time. I'll never forget my father's advice while I was cramming for the AP History test. He told me that not passing wouldn't be the end of the world. Having to take college classes AT college doesn't make anyone a failure. There was NO rush to get through my education and just take time to be a "kid." At the time I thought he was patronizing me, but I see the wisdom in it now. There really is no rush to push through. I did pass the AP History test and not having to take American Heritage at BYU was worth ALL the cramming I did. :)
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