Just looking for a reality check.
Background: DS was identified as gifted by his Kindergarten teacher. She felt he was basically in a league of his own when compared to the other kids in his class and that it was going to be nearly impossible for her to challenge him in that setting, so she asked for a conference with DH and I to discuss options. We considered advancing him to 1st grade but in the end sent him to 1st for reading and math but kept him with his same-aged peers for the rest of the day. She told us that arrangement would work for that year but she wasn't sure what would happen as the years progress, and she specifically used the 2nd grade teachers as an example (as in, "I don't know if the 2nd grade teachers will be able to accomodate the same kind of arrangement".) In 1st grade he was lucky to have another child move in to his class who was on a similar level, and a child in kindergarten who was a very good reader so the 1st grade and kindergarten teachers formed a little accelerated group. Aside from reading his 1st grade teacher went out of her way to give him extra challenges in the form of worksheets of harder level activities or asking him questions that were a step beyond what they were learning. He thrived during these 2 years and never once complained of being bored or not wanting to go to school.
So he's now been in 2nd grade for 3 weeks, and I know it's early but I'm getting nervous that this teacher isn't going to try to challenge him at all. She apparently teaches most things in a full group and they have not done any small group activities yet, which means there has been no opportunity to tailor things to his level. I asked him today if his teacher has given him any different worksheets from the rest of the class and he said no - they all do the same things. He mentioned that he has been given 2 warnings this week because the teacher has caught him spacing off. Previous teachers have never mentioned that as an issue so I think it is new this year.
To add to my concern they have also discontinued the gifted program, which wasn't very great to begin with (1 hr once a week pull out group) but at least it was something.
DS being the oldest, I think I expected that all teachers would go that extra mile to try to meet each of their children's level. Maybe that was not a correct assumption? What should I expect from his teacher this year? Any suggestions of how to approach her about my concerns? I don't want to come off as "that mom" who thinks her kid is the most important in the classroom. But honestly, the things he has been bringing home for work are things he could do in kindergarten or even pre-K.
TIA -
Background: DS was identified as gifted by his Kindergarten teacher. She felt he was basically in a league of his own when compared to the other kids in his class and that it was going to be nearly impossible for her to challenge him in that setting, so she asked for a conference with DH and I to discuss options. We considered advancing him to 1st grade but in the end sent him to 1st for reading and math but kept him with his same-aged peers for the rest of the day. She told us that arrangement would work for that year but she wasn't sure what would happen as the years progress, and she specifically used the 2nd grade teachers as an example (as in, "I don't know if the 2nd grade teachers will be able to accomodate the same kind of arrangement".) In 1st grade he was lucky to have another child move in to his class who was on a similar level, and a child in kindergarten who was a very good reader so the 1st grade and kindergarten teachers formed a little accelerated group. Aside from reading his 1st grade teacher went out of her way to give him extra challenges in the form of worksheets of harder level activities or asking him questions that were a step beyond what they were learning. He thrived during these 2 years and never once complained of being bored or not wanting to go to school.
So he's now been in 2nd grade for 3 weeks, and I know it's early but I'm getting nervous that this teacher isn't going to try to challenge him at all. She apparently teaches most things in a full group and they have not done any small group activities yet, which means there has been no opportunity to tailor things to his level. I asked him today if his teacher has given him any different worksheets from the rest of the class and he said no - they all do the same things. He mentioned that he has been given 2 warnings this week because the teacher has caught him spacing off. Previous teachers have never mentioned that as an issue so I think it is new this year.
To add to my concern they have also discontinued the gifted program, which wasn't very great to begin with (1 hr once a week pull out group) but at least it was something.
DS being the oldest, I think I expected that all teachers would go that extra mile to try to meet each of their children's level. Maybe that was not a correct assumption? What should I expect from his teacher this year? Any suggestions of how to approach her about my concerns? I don't want to come off as "that mom" who thinks her kid is the most important in the classroom. But honestly, the things he has been bringing home for work are things he could do in kindergarten or even pre-K.
TIA -
). Hopefully you can help the teacher develop a habit of differentiating for and challenging your son.
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