Why do so many people equate being "bored in class" with being gifted/advanced?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I see a lot of people on here that claim their kids are gifted or "need" to be in AAP because they are bored in class, regardless of testing scores, reading level or other objective measures.
I don't really get it. Yes, I know that a lot of advanced kids do get bored by slower-paced instruction and repetition. I also know a lot of really advanced/gifted kids that do NOT get bored in class - they just dig into whatever they are learning and find ways to enjoy it, even if it is below their level. Conversely, I've known many kids who are academically average (or even below average) who do get bored ... because they don't enjoy the material, it's not interesting to them - not necessarily because it's "too easy". Among the groups of kids I know - the ones that are the most academically advanced are the ones that are LEAST likely to get bored. They are love learning, and know how to challenge themselves. Say they have a worksheet of basic math facts, something they already know cold. Instead of saying "I already know this, I'm bored", they will make a game out of it - look for new patterns, see if they can finish it faster than they did last time, something like that. They are intrinsically self-motivated. The kids who simply don't enjoy math are the ones who will take that worksheet and say "this is boring". I'm not saying that bright kids won't ever get bored, I know that some of them can and will. I just don't get the correlation that any bored kid "must" be academically gifted, or (s)he wouldn't be bored. Am I totally missing something here? |
Anonymous
|
I was always gifted and I can read at least 2-3x faster than others. I remember being in class and being finished reading faster than others and then having nothing to do afterwards. I do love learning, but gifted classes were a better fit for me. Even things I was awful at (chemistry) were more interesting in the higher paced classes.
Also, in regular classes teachers have to go over the math equation numerous times for the slower kids to understand. But quick kids aren't given extra assignments. |
Anonymous
|
But would you automatically make the leap that ANYONE who is bored, must be gifted?
Like I said - I'm not questioning that advanced kids will get bored sometimes. I get that. I just don't see why there's always this assumption that bored = smart, when I don't always see a 1:1 correlation. |
Anonymous
| Dumb kids check out and feel bored too. Their parents would rather think their kids are gifted. No rocket science here. |
Anonymous
|
I'm old. When I was in school and finished early I either read a book I had brought from home or wrote in my journal. My friends and I would write plays that the teacher would allow us to perform. If I was interested in studying something new, I requested permission to the library.
I think one issue today is many students expect the teacher to tell them what to do. In class, enrichment has to be provided by the teacher-- students are not creative enough to come up with ideas on their own. |
Anonymous
It's easier to excuse your child if they're bored by saying they're gifted. If they were truly gifted they would find a way to make learning not boring for them. |
Anonymous
+1 But OP, you are wrong that gifted kids just "dig in" and therefore aren't bored. I was profoundly gifted (4 SDs above average IQ) and would understand concepts immediately and get through the practice materials much faster than other students. The repetition and lengthly time needed by my classmates to finish practice work was dreadful for me. I was much happier when I got to do extra work (back in my day, we called gifted classes "enrichment" and I got to take the extra work to my regular classroom so I had something to do when I finished my normal coursework). It wasn't as much of a big deal in high school, since many courses at that level become naturally stratified (e.g., AP calculus or AP chemistry), and in my HS, I could take courses from the local university for course credit once I turned 15. I do think, though, that some boredom is healthy -- it encourages kids to daydream, gives them time to think, allows them to relax and refocus. But a truly gifted kid will have the grades and scores (and formal assessment from a psychologist) to show that they are bored because they need more challenging work. |
Anonymous
 A 7-year-old who finishes an entire book during silent reading time (instead of just the chapter the class is working on) can't "find a way to make learning not boring" without getting in trouble with the teacher. Have you ever been in that situation? I have, and it stinks.
|
Anonymous
Get another book. Read a more challenging book. Write a book report about the book. There are many things he can do. And yes I have been this student. |
Anonymous
| OP - I'm not sure if being bored is a sign of being gifted or not. Like you said, other factors have to be taken into account. But...why do you care? Your post makes me think that you feel you or your child are somehow being put out by someone making this assumption. Life is too short to worry about that! Hopefully your child/children are not bored in their academic setting, so you should probably be a bit thankful and move on to worry about something else. |
Anonymous
You have been this student? I seriously doubt it from what you've written here. |
Anonymous
Frankly, this boredom phenomenon is more a creation of parental projection onto their kids. I think a lot of people are using boredom as 1) an excuse for poor classroom behavior 2) a reason that their child NEEDS to be in AAP. Most kids these days are bored in class at some point. My 2nd grader gets bored. My AAP 6th-grader gets bored. Were you bright-eyed and excited most days of your schooling? I wasn't though I was well-challenged. |
Anonymous
Not that PP (actually OP here), but I was that student, and my 7yo is now. He will finish the entire book... Then start over and read it again. He will happily read the same book three times in a row. He enjoys the characters, he'll make up side stories about them in his head. He gleans more from the story every time he reads it, and he just enjoys it. |
Anonymous
| Silly OP, everyone on DCUM is a genius, as are all of their children. Just look at all the profoundly gifted people in this thread! |
Anonymous
I think this about sums it up. OP presents her child that has finished a book and re-reads it and gleans more from the story. He finds ways to be creative and make learning fun. PP presents that her child finishes the book and is bored. She does not offer ways that her child has found to make learning fun and creative on his own. OPs child sounds gifted. |