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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Would your private school allow DS to do some of the online enrichment options from CTY during school? That might ease some of the frustrations for him.

In MoCo, it seems that the deadlines for 4th grade magnets, which are considered a haven for gifted children, have passed for acceptance for next year. But perhaps for 5th? I am not sure how it works to come into the program late. Our HGC teachers talked a lot about how to help the kids cooperate and listen to each other... they seemed attuned to some of the typical social challenges for bright kids.

And OP, I say this with all the love in the world, since I see this in my own family. There is a very good chance that the [b]intensity and sensitivity that your child bears is causing him to overreact. And that he is immature. [/b]It is not necessarily a case of misinterpretation. Be careful that you do not make too many excuses for him, since failing to hold him accountable to himself could lead him to develop a lot of insecurity and anxiety. Some children have to work very hard at learning to read. Some have to put in the hard work for social skills. An environment which ignores his needs is terrible, of course, and I am sure you are trying to help him, but just do check in on yourself and assess whether you could expect more from him in the behavior department, even if his awareness does give him cause to become upset. [/quote]

PP, I appreciate your advice and how kindly it is meant. We do not lower our behavioral expectations. However, please understand that for sensitive children who feel bombarded by emotional and other stimuli, it is more of a challenge for them to maintain their equilibrium. Just as you note, some kids have dyslexia or ADHD, or are challenged in reading or math. They will need more help to reach certain targets.

Gifted kids whose sensitivity means that they are processing more inputs at greater levels of intensity need extra help and support figuring out how to handle them and respond appropriately, rather than being shamed that they are not like other kids.  It’s no longer okay to call kids with ADHD or dyslexia dumb or slow, but it’s perfectly okay to call a gifted, sensitive kid “immature” and “over reactive.”  [/quote]

If the school is intentionally shaming him, then yes you do need to find another place for him. That may have more to do with his teacher than the school, but the administration should be on board, too. Perhaps some kind of action plan that you can all agree is appropriate. But if they understand his needs and are correcting him to help him, then that may be a gift. Eight is old enough to understand that his reaction is too much and that he needs to find an acceptable response, even if it is challenging for him. And he probably does know he is different... I would be matter of fact with him about that. As I say, I see it in our own version close to me and I have tons of sympathy for your boy. And you! Since you seem to be looking for ways to help him get there and not just blowing it off, I am only mentioning it as something to watch out for, not an accusation against you. I know you are dealing with it every day, and I know it is hard, and I suspect that it has probably been very hard since he turned two.

Visiting Feynman might be a good idea. You might well feel that you are suddenly among loving allies instead of loving opponents. That is certainly how I felt in the HGC. Unfortunately, until HS, a kid who wants to go faster is a problem rather than a delight in traditional school structure.[/quote]

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