My kid is bored...

[Anonymous]

My DS is a 7th grader at basis and is just plain old bored. Says classes are too easy. Already plays a sport several days a week and takes advanced math at mathnasium. He is just over the poorly behaved kids in class and the inability to go faster than they are, because they have to be sure they arent leaving anyone behind.
Anyone in a similar boat? Have suggested to enrich otherwise?
When he is bored in class and asks for more work, he gets word searches.
Cannot afford private.
Its just going to be a long year.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. I mean, I don't think you will get a more advanced curriculum than at Basis unless you go private ... my kid is also in 7th there and is killing it (99% GPA for GP1) - but certainly doesn't complain about it being too easy (probably puts in 1-1.5 hours of homework a night). Have you looked at the materials and think they are easy? From what I have observed they are pretty hard core/legit - e.g., the physics problems are no joke.

My kid is pretty happy this year - but acknowledges that s/he is in a great element with very few/no rowdy/misbehaving kids (s/he notes that the language class is not as good/fun b/c indeed some of the rowdier/poor performers happen to have chosen that language). Your son must have gotten a bad element draw - bummer (that was my greatest fear before the year began - my kid had a terrible element in 5th and really dreaded class b/c of the disruptive kids).

[Anonymous]

Have you talked to the 7th grade BASIS dean about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you talked to the 7th grade BASIS dean about it?

Not the dean, but the teachers...they basically say he is free to work ahead.
But he doesn't even want to do that...because its so boring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. I mean, I don't think you will get a more advanced curriculum than at Basis unless you go private ... my kid is also in 7th there and is killing it (99% GPA for GP1) - but certainly doesn't complain about it being too easy (probably puts in 1-1.5 hours of homework a night). Have you looked at the materials and think they are easy? From what I have observed they are pretty hard core/legit - e.g., the physics problems are no joke.

My kid is pretty happy this year - but acknowledges that s/he is in a great element with very few/no rowdy/misbehaving kids (s/he notes that the language class is not as good/fun b/c indeed some of the rowdier/poor performers happen to have chosen that language). Your son must have gotten a bad element draw - bummer (that was my greatest fear before the year began - my kid had a terrible element in 5th and really dreaded class b/c of the disruptive kids).

Yeah, he is totally in the trouble making element, that is making it rough.
Homework is done before he gets home from school. I think it looks legit...the sciences are not my schtick, I say it looks interesting, but he rolls his eyes and says "so easy"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you talked to the 7th grade BASIS dean about it?

Not the dean, but the teachers...they basically say he is free to work ahead.
But he doesn't even want to do that...because its so boring

I would talk to the dean, especially as it seems like he's bored in every class. He needs something that is coordinated across all his classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. I mean, I don't think you will get a more advanced curriculum than at Basis unless you go private ... my kid is also in 7th there and is killing it (99% GPA for GP1) - but certainly doesn't complain about it being too easy (probably puts in 1-1.5 hours of homework a night). Have you looked at the materials and think they are easy? From what I have observed they are pretty hard core/legit - e.g., the physics problems are no joke.

My kid is pretty happy this year - but acknowledges that s/he is in a great element with very few/no rowdy/misbehaving kids (s/he notes that the language class is not as good/fun b/c indeed some of the rowdier/poor performers happen to have chosen that language). Your son must have gotten a bad element draw - bummer (that was my greatest fear before the year began - my kid had a terrible element in 5th and really dreaded class b/c of the disruptive kids).

Yeah, he is totally in the trouble making element, that is making it rough.
Homework is done before he gets home from school. I think it looks legit...the sciences are not my schtick, I say it looks interesting, but he rolls his eyes and says "so easy"

I have a kid in the 5th grade who is in a rowdy element -- to the point that the 5th grade dean sent a note to all the parents of that element to let them that she was aware of the behaviors and was taking steps to get the element to settle down. My kid is now reporting that the element is much better behaved now. Agree with the poster who said to talk to the dean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. I mean, I don't think you will get a more advanced curriculum than at Basis unless you go private ... my kid is also in 7th there and is killing it (99% GPA for GP1) - but certainly doesn't complain about it being too easy (probably puts in 1-1.5 hours of homework a night). Have you looked at the materials and think they are easy? From what I have observed they are pretty hard core/legit - e.g., the physics problems are no joke.

My kid is pretty happy this year - but acknowledges that s/he is in a great element with very few/no rowdy/misbehaving kids (s/he notes that the language class is not as good/fun b/c indeed some of the rowdier/poor performers happen to have chosen that language). Your son must have gotten a bad element draw - bummer (that was my greatest fear before the year began - my kid had a terrible element in 5th and really dreaded class b/c of the disruptive kids).

Yeah, he is totally in the trouble making element, that is making it rough.
Homework is done before he gets home from school. I think it looks legit...the sciences are not my schtick, I say it looks interesting, but he rolls his eyes and says "so easy"

I have a kid in the 5th grade who is in a rowdy element -- to the point that the 5th grade dean sent a note to all the parents of that element to let them that she was aware of the behaviors and was taking steps to get the element to settle down. My kid is now reporting that the element is much better behaved now. Agree with the poster who said to talk to the dean.

Will give it a shot, thanks for the suggestion!

[Anonymous]

Is your kid maybe depressed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

[Anonymous]

As someone who was that kid: do homework for other classes, read a book, write a novel, design theatrical sets in class. Most of these weren't exactly teacher approved but basically finding non-disruptive personal projects to work on when bored can be a solution. (Also school got more interesting in high school; he just has to survive the next couple years.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

here's a hint. smart kids are constantly challenging themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

here's a hint. smart kids are constantly challenging themselves.

Not all kids. Many get bored and lazy.

[Anonymous]

Yeah your kid was home all of last year and could distract/entertain themselves while in class which is real hard to in the classroom.

Learning how to sit still and pay attention is a skill a really smart 7th grader should have.

And as said before really smart kids figure out how to self teach/entertain deal.

I’m hearing this all the time (even from kids in privates).