Why do so many people equate being "bored in class" with being gifted/advanced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an advanced degree in English Literature

also, BS major...talk to me if you're an engineer or something

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Some gifted children do become bored in class, but that is because their teacher isn't differentiating instruction adequately and providing enrichment tasks or options. Usually "bored" children have learned that complaining to their mothers about being "bored" will redirect their mother's ire/blame for lackluster reports from the child onto the teacher or school.

First you say the kids become bored because their teacher isn't differentiating instruction adequately, then you say the kids are saying they are bored to deflect from lackluster reports. Which is it? Hopefully you are clearer with your students.

Find a good dictionary and look up "some" and "usually", and maybe "but" as well. Careful reading is so important! Perhaps you were too bored to read carefully, though.

You need to hone your writing skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an advanced degree in English Literature, and I was in gifted programs throughout my high school years. Last week, I reread the Narnia books, and I enjoyed them tremendously, despite the fact that I can actually read at a much "higher level."

I must be really stupid because I sometimes enjoy reading books below the highest reading level of which I am capable. If I were really gifted, I would be bored by anything beneath the standard of the Bard.

Also, I actually sat down and read my DD's copy of Where the Wild Things Are last night after I found it under the sofa. I was fascinated by the way the author achieved an intense, distinctive tone in so few words.

If I were gifted, I would probably be reading The Tempest right now. Anything less would be boring.

Can we PLEASE stop comparing ourselves to CHILDREN. I'm never bored because my regular life is so busy that I welcome doing nothing. I also have learned to meditate. Children are not at the same level of development as adults, even gifted children. You people!

+100

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:In my view, a child that demonstrates that he/she has the curiousity, creativity and work ethic that could potentially produce changes that will improve our society is gifted. One who obtains high scores on IQ tests does not indicate giftedness to me. It just means that they are good at solving problems and taking tests in pressure situations. I wish they would evaluate these kids based on how they creatively solve problems and/or create innovative products at home on their own. I see it as an investment by taxpayers in future generations to improve society, eg., our transporation MESS in Northern Va. Otherwise, why waste the $ if its just the parent pushing their snowflake to test well? What does that give society?

Create products at home on their own? How are children from lower income families who may not even have funds to provide sufficient, healthy meals each week going to get supplies for these innovative products? I have to guess your child did not do so well on the testing provided but you think he shines in the area bolded above which proves (to you) he "needs" AAP while you believe others do not.

The actually do "evaluate these kids based on how they creatively solve problems and/or create innovative products at home on their own"...but a parent would have to include info on that in their packet. This is exactly what I did. As far as lower income people not being able to do it...the stuff my kid did that I presented was done on paper with colored pencils, paint, crayons...I think most people have access to these very basic materials.

Lower income families are not "in the know" to even understand that there is a way for them to submit additional materials. I'm sure they have much bigger problems on their minds on a day to day basis, like making rent, paying for gas to get to work, health insurance coverage, medical costs, etc., don't you think?

So, how do you propose FCPS selects for the program then? It seems like some people have a gripe about every element of the selection process.

I would add that it's not only lower income people who aren't "in the know", but people with more income than even me (household about 190K, both DH and I professionals, etc.) as a friend/acquaintance expressed disappointment that he son didn't get in, I asked if she was planning on appealing and whether she'd submitted a packet of info and she said no, she didn't even know there was a process til her son sad he was sad he wasn't in.

So...if smart, educated parents can't even be bothered to avail themselves of the information on the web and given freely by staff at the school, I don't even know what to tell you.

People know what they want to know. I bet these low income people know what the latest Rihanna song is or what Bruce Jenner is up to.[/[u]quote]

Wow - just wow. So you're saying that lower income families can't listen to the radio, know pop culture, or read the news without it being considered a waste of their time when they could spend every second doing something active for their kids. You go stock groceries all night at Giant and come home at 7:00 a.m. while listening to the news and/or pop radio and tell me how much YOU fell like logging onto FCPS' website to gather information about the process. Instead of being thankful for your "190k" combined income status, you just want to be on your high horse looking down on others. Mission accomplished.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread quickly devolved into parents patting themselves on the back for how very "gifted" they are. It's really pretty amusing to see how desperately you all want to share your personal stats. I really, truly hope you don't feel the need to brag about your personal "giftedness" IRL.

Thanks to AAP, this is all some parents fixate on. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this thread quickly devolved into parents patting themselves on the back for how very "gifted" they are. It's really pretty amusing to see how desperately you all want to share your personal stats. I really, truly hope you don't feel the need to brag about your personal "giftedness" IRL.

Thanks to AAP, this is all some parents fixate on. Ugh.

It would be fun to see if the kid themselves read these comments from the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to AAP, this is all some parents fixate on. Ugh.

Why thanks to AAP? Seems like the people are the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to AAP, this is all some parents fixate on. Ugh.

Why thanks to AAP? Seems like the people are the problem.

because this is what her agenda is all about.

[Anonymous]

Omg people. Have we even discussed that the word "bored" may mean different things to different children/people?

Just like the word "happy" -- it's all relative, defined by the person and influenced by all sorts of things.

My child said he was bored in school prior when he was in GenEd.
Now that he has been in AAP, he has not said he's bored. Not even once this year.

He must not be gifted. Yeah, damn that watered down AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg people. Have we even discussed that the word "bored" may mean different things to different children/people?

really good point...

it's too bad that they can't have AAP-like classes earlier, and for all kids...I understand AAP to be more dynamic, less didactic...little kids don't learn by sitting there listening to a teacher yap or by doing worksheets... http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/opinion/sunday/let-the-kids-learn-through-play.html

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Dumb kids check out and feel bored too. Their parents would rather think their kids are gifted. No rocket science here.

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.

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.

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.

You have been this student? I seriously doubt it from what you've written here.

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.

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.

NP, I had to petition to get into gifted classes and eventually attended the top engineering college. Rereading a book is not something I would have done. Then again, I didn't complain about boredom, but wanted the challenge of harder classes.