Bright ds. What to do?

[GeorgianMumto5]

Ds (6) is very bright. He is on the G&T list for maths and has just been bumped up two school years for guided reading. He's a happy chap, who doesn't have any extra tuition, but does do after school sports and clubs. That's pretty much how I plan to continue but...is that OK?

For the moment he's way ahead, but still within the primary school's teaching range and range of resources. What happens to these children (assuming they don't just level off, which of course he might) as they go further up the school?

Dmum is convinced I should send him to private school, post 11, but since I can't afford it, that's not going to happen.

Can I just plod along, looking after him, finding him books to feed his interests, taking him to places he finds interesting, answering his questions and just generally treating him like the interesting little chap that he is?

Please say yes.

[ShowOfHands]

Yes!

[GeorgianMumto5]

ShowOfHands, I love you!

Good, because that very much ties in with my vague, general plans. :-)

[melonribena]

Yes! It sounds like the school are already making good provision fo him. This hopefully should continue! Just make sure you have regular chats with the teachers

[iheartdusty]

may I say yes too?

And over the years learn chess with him, sort out music lessons, encourage hobbies, take machinery apart, learn programming, watch interesting documentaries, see whether he fancies learning another language, walk in the woods finding things, make the necessary books & other resources available to look things up, get him a library card - that sort of thing.

[ilikeyoursleeves]

He sounds a bit like my DS1 age 5. I don't know if he is gifted or not but he could read freely age 4 and since he started school last August his teacher quickly recognised that he was beyond his peers re reading. He was therefore assessed regarding reading and writing and he now gets books and exercises that the class 2 years ahead are doing. He could count to 100 age 3 etc but he's pretty average re doing sums etc I think. He has an amazing memory too but other than that and reading he's pretty much normal so to speak.

His teacher is excellent, she does specific tasks with him like spellings for homework, certain books etc and he goes to a learning support teacher once a week. I am happy with that and said to his teacher I wanted it all done low key so his peers don't realise he's getting different work and that seems to be the case. I want him to focus on socialising, developing emotionally etc too at school. Luckily our school is just as good as a private school (IMO) so I wouldn't even think of sending him elsewhere. There are only 18 in his class so he gets enough attention.

I actually have no idea what happens as they move up the years, I think many of his peers will catch up but I would also want him to be kept stimulated. I'm going to see if he wants to learn an instrument maybe next year. Other than that all we are doing is getting him lots of books (he read all 50 Mr Men books in one week!), visiting the library, going on day trips, lots of play at home with his siblings, having mates over, answering his crazy questions etc. i will be interested to see if anyone else thinks kids like this would benefit from anything else!

[evertonmint]

My DS is in Reception. First term was all about socialising and getting used to school so no real progress seen. No interest in reading until February but is now already at Year 1 level. Ahead in maths, but it his knowledge of the world and questioning of things which is a long way ahead of peers. Teacher is pushing him into Year 1 stuff now on reading and maths, and just running with the questioning and sometimes using it to direct whole class sessions which thrills him! So I suspect we might have similar issues.

Private is an option for us later but we've agreed only if he seems bright enough to get there himself - no extra tutoring or hot housing etc.

We're planning to carry on with library, Lego (which is fantastic for his creativity and thinking about the world), days out etc. lots of questions which we try to find time to answer properly - recent topics include gravity and infinity so I'm already struggling myself!

[simpson]

DD is also in reception and taught herself to read (at a basic level) at 3 before she started nursery.

Her reading is now mid year 3 level and her writing is progressing very quickly too.

Numeracy she is ahead (but not exceptionally so) but it does not float her boat really.

I am deliberately not "teaching" her anything in numeracy as I want her to feel that she learns at school iyswim.

I don't do much with her tbh (or her yr3 brother who is also very bright). She does some after school stuff ie a youth club, sports etc...

I go with the flow really, take her to the library to make sure she has endless books, make sure she had enough arty/crafty stuff.

The only vague plan is possibly for her to take up French...

[BlackeyedSusan]

how much is private school a year? now compare that to books from the library, few of his own books and a range of trips and excursions, plus internet access and a computer and a few resources you buy to help him learrn.

doing your own tailor made thing for him can be just as good. school seem to be on top of extending him at the moment.

[inthesark]

Yes, absolutely, as long as he's happy.

Which I think is relatively easy to ensure in reception; further up the school, when there is less play and more work, it can get a bit more difficult [bitter emoticon]. And the range of resources depends very much on the school and the teacher

The other key variable is the personality of the child, some get a little, um, restless if they are bored, which can make the strategy a little harder to follow...

[GeorgianMumto5]

Thanks, everyone. iheartdusty, I love your suggestions. He's learning chess and is soon to start music lessons, just to see if it's for him. He loves Lego and badgers me to go to the library. I've just told dh he's in charge of programming and machinery deconstruction (because he's good at both of these).

My main worry at the moment is that he's used to finding work easy and doesn't seem to know how to problem-solve when it's not. However, his fabulous teacher is onto him here, so hopefully he'll soon figure out how to work, not just swan around being effortlessly brilliant.

[Xenia]

It sounds as though he is happy as things are.

Also children change over the years so he may not ultimately be too different from the top set for most subjects in secondary school.

You say you cannot afford to pay school fees but you may at 7+ or 11+ if he is really exceptionally good obtain a free place for him on a full bursary at a top local private day school perhaps. Might be worth a go.
Ours were / are at fee paying schools from 4+ but plenty of bright children aren't. Our learned a couple of musical instruments from age 6 or 7 which helps too I think. Chess as people say is another one but I leave it to the child as well to decide what is their own interest.

[SaveMeNow]

The main thing is he's happy and is being stretched. It's really important that he doesn't start to coast as he needs to learn how to apply himself - otherwise he's going to come unstuck when something comes along that is harder for him. These are really really important skills to learn. He will also get a lot of satisfaction from completing something he hasn't found easy - so make sure he is able to experience that.

I also agree with Xenia - don't write private school off just based on the cost. Most schools have generous bursaries available at 11 and 13 and some at 7 - so may be worth some investigating.

[LucyLucas]

My ds1 is 9yo and has been like that since about six and he is perfectly happy. he does loads of clubs, has friends round a lot, is doing extremly well at school, etc. he used to be a bit naughty at school (and sometimes still is!) , but he sais it was because he was bored and so we sorted it out with the teachers and all is well now. Trying to teacher dd3 to read...she's only two!

[LucyLucas]

Ds1 is trying to teach her to read.

[LucyLucas]

he goes to a local comop too, and I did too.