Is my ds 8 gifted? If so, how can we help him?

[Dirtypaws]

DS has just had his y3 results and is outstanding in both effort and level of achievement in nearly all of his subjects. He is above national standards and is best at maths and science. He also gets top marks for PE.

He is also high mantenance! He was assessed for ADHD a few years ago and they thought he was borderline but he hasn't been statemented. It's a watch and wait. he is a ball of energy and a real hand full sometimes.

Since a baby I have noticed he seems to hit all his milestones (physically and mentally) early and just completely amaze me with some of the things he comes out with. I wish I'd made a note of some of the things but he'd remember such obscure stuff even as a toddler. By age 2/3 his language skills had matched his Dsis - 2 years older. By age 6 his maths was better than his sisters. By 7 he could spell complicated words and beat his sister hands down. Having said that dd is bottom set - complete opposite!

He noticed the other day we'd been charged twice for something and told the till assistant so. She insisted she hadn't and I hadn't even noticed so we asked for a receipt and lo and behold we'd been charged twice!

Dh did an online gifted test and he comes out advanced as we knew he would. Dh also noticed that whilst he was doing the test he was sitting still for once and was totally focussed. He is incredibly competitive, sometimes not to his advantage, as he can't help but blurt stuff out in class and also home.

We moved in feb and they started a new school. Both have said they think the new school is really easy which is worrying. Both of them have had spelling homework with words like: it's, come, help, etc. I have mentioned a couple of times to his teacher, trying to be a bit discreet, that he's found his schoolwork easy but I don't think she's a lady for turning. He went through a bit of a rough period and was getting in to trouble when he started in feb. the teacher had threatened to take him out of the high achievers maths class if he didn't behave, which I was annoyed about. Luckily he's calmed down now. I hope he gets a better teacher next year!

Anyway, I think he needs more. He just drinks stuff in and he needs the stimulation to keep him focused. What can we do? And we also have to be careful not to leave dd out, he has a habit of dominating everything sometimes. We have to work hard to keep this from happening. It's bloody exhausting sometimes!

[iseenodust]

If school are running a high achievers maths class then they are attempting to address the needs of high achievers. If the class teacher isn't differentiating adequately in literacy then speak to whoever coordinates the maths class about how the philosophy is spread across the school.

Do the free stuff like museum visits - let each DC choose which one would interest them most. They'll both get something out them and lots of free hands-on activities in the holidays.

With DS we found he had an interest in wildlife so he's learnt a lot about that (which is not racing the school curriculum) and we've visited RSPB sites, gone pond dipping etc.

Your DS has to learn to manage boredom, as do all DC for some aspects of school. I've told DS to keep an ear open to what is being taught but maybe make it more interesting for yourself. eg Counting to 20 in French - count backwards, what is the number in French of your fav footballer etc.

[JustRichmal]

What about getting both children started on Khan Academy? That way they will both go at their own pace and not be competing.

[Jinsei]

Regardless of whether or not he is gifted - and it's impossible to say from what you've posted here - he needs to learn to behave in school. Even if he is playing up out of boredom, he needs to learn how to manage his responses properly.

With regard to the work being too easy, you need to talk to the teacher if that's the case. You say that he finds the new school "too easy", but you also mention that his attainment is outstanding, which would suggest that he is being taught to an appropriate level?

I agree that it might be helpful to find him stimulating things to do outside school - the previous poster made some good suggestions,

And you are right - please don't let your ds take over at home at your dd's expense!

[JulieMichelleRobinson]

Short of getting the school to provide some challenge (which would help behaviour)...

Chess club?
Astronomy?

Reading any random books - depends how advanced he is, but at 7yo I was reading the Prisoner of Zenda, Moonfleet, Treasure Island, the Lensman Series, Michael Morcock... any of those might appeal to a boy of that age but you may want to vet the latter (there's nothing too explicit but there are references to adult activities). A lot of Sci-Fi books by Clarke and Smith have advanced scientific concepts, because they were written by actual scientists.