Shitty shite: Gifted & Talented

[MamaG]

shite

It's just a fun thing here, not extra work. No big deal and nothing to do with school. They just write in them when they remember because they like showing off and making us laugh so up the ante with ever more ridiculous tall tales. I think I must be too hands off with school compared to others, maybe. I'm just not that bothered at this stage as long as they are happy. I haven't really got a clue what they're studying and leave it all to the school. They seem to be able to read alright so they have the gateway to learn whatever they want now.

He shouldn't be bored in class. Could he move up one year? I did that when I was 10 and my daughter started school a year young out of the year group (but only just).

In lots of EU countries you can't move to the next class unless you pass the end of year tests and children are not therefore always in rigid age groupings. Sometimes in England very bright children can get scholarships to private schools but I think you said there were no good ones of those near you anyway. Some parents of gifted children take them out of school and educate them at home too.

agree with scummy. IN the UK at least the LEA has a responsibility to provide a suitable education not the best for each child (this applies to children with SN as well- so if you want your child to move to special school for example or receieve funding for ABA you have to demonstrate that the alternative offered by the LEA is unsuitable and inappropriate, not that it is not the best they could receieve.

There are very few children, however bright for whom a general education is not suitable. There are some- hence the existence of places like music schools and ballet schools. Being bright doesn't mean you have to be bored in school. I really agree with scummy- if basic education is taken care of, and bullying is handled well by the school so ever child has a chance to be who or what they want to be, then really if a child can read they have the gateway anmd avbility to do what they want.

Kerrymum-The teacher should be giving your DS work according to his ability. My DS5 is 8 and has AS. He is very bright, particularly good at maths. He is in the top set in his class, but was refusing to do the maths work because it was too easy and he found it boring (and being AS did not see the point in doing it!) His teacher put him on work for the next year up (but still in the same class-he could not cope with being put in a different class). This seems to be doing the trick and he is happily working again.

Meant to add his teacher also allows him to work on a topic of his choice-researching on the PC etc. as long as he does the things she really wants him to do with the rest of the class. The key seems to be flexibility. Would your DS work independantly like that?

Should have read properly-I see your DSs teacher is not keen on the kind of thing I have mentioned. It really is no excuse for them to say they cannot do it because of having 31 boys in the class though. My ds has 28 in his class and his teacher is excellent with him-and she has other very challenging children in the class too.

Any chance of a change in school-sorry if you have covered that earlier!

Have been watching conversations intently, have 4 yr old due to start school this september, his nursery unit have been taking him into 'big school' so he could do work with the year 1 kids, if they didn't they couldn't keep him occupied enough to keep him out of trouble. He reads fluently, corrects everyones grammar - v.annoying in public - and his mental maths is quicker than mine. The school where the nursery is have been fantastic and its supposedly a really bad school servicing a really poor area, cause of this and all the kids that need extra help the other end of the spectrum they have the finances and resources from the govmt. to spend extra time with him and help. and guess what? did he get allocated a place there in september? NO.

am worried for him, new school won't even meet me to discuss

What age is he, Kerrymum?

When kids are young, I don't know that it's all that madly important, to be honest, that they're intellectually stimulated all the time at school, as long as you can do it at home, and they're getting something, probably social skills, from school.

I speak as someone who was also in the 99th percentile or above as a kid. Looking back, I'm glad to have had a fairly normal childhood, not been pressurised or cut off from my friends, who are not officially G&T.

could not get him in to local school with extra help, he got in to a church school supposedly good academically but don't think outside the box.

Kerry, there are a whole range of small, often local charities that will provide extra funding for kids with a special interest. So will help out with musical instruments and lessons, for example. I can't remember where I saw the list, unfortunately, but your local library may be able to help, or ask his music teacher. Or even try googling.

Nonono-I think the trouble is that some kids will not co-operate if they are not being stimulated-like my DS whio simply wont do the work if it is too easy for him. They then become disruptive and it does no favours for them or the rest of the class.

That happens right from the start tiggiwinkle, labelled disruptive before they even start!!!

He does sound like he's bored stiff at school then, which is a pity. If he was getting something out of it, i think it would be OK, as you're giving him plenty of intellectual stuff at home. But if he's getting bored and potentially disruptive, then that isn't great.

I became a bit of a class clown in school, and made really good friends, so that worked for me, more or less, until I got to second level. For your lad, it does seem as though he'll need something to hang on to. And short of changing schools, could he learn a new language, or sport? could he and some friends do some group project work?

what a shock to see this thread still going - what started out as a jokey thread (amongst numerous other "shitty shite" threads) has nearly 150 replies

Am relieved that its not nearly 50 "you jealous bitch" posts

eek - 175 replies