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[quote=Anonymous]Why not teach your smart second grader that he has the power to learn all sorts of new things in school every day.

Teach him that being smart means he has the power to stretch and grow his brain and challenge himself no matter what or how the teacher is teaching.

For example:

Does he do any writing during the school day?  If so, ask him to reflect on how his writing has improved during the year so far.

Compared to September, is he now fleshing out his ideas in more detail?  Is he using more complex vocabulary and sentence structure?  Is he getting better at brainstorming and organizing his ideas before he starts writing?  Is he using more accurate spelling and punctuation?

Ask him what he thinks his writing projects will look like in June compared to now.  Ask if he would like to pick one aspect of his writing to practice and grow more for the month of February.  It doesn't matter how simple or innane the teacher's assignment may be.  Show him he can set his own private goal -- no instruction from the teacher required.

Let him know that smart kids are not passive.  They are curious and active agents when it comes to learning.  I speak from example and from watching my DD's approach to school.  Anything can be a challenge if we choose to make it so.

On that note, it's 100% not possible that second grade is all "been there, done that" for him.  Of course, you may come back and tell us he's reading at the college level and his reading group's texts are too easy for him.  And sure, I'm guessing you'll tell us he's doing calculus in his head at home . . . .

Even so, school and learning involve SO MUCH MORE than reading group exercises and math worksheets.  My DCs' school focuses quite a bit on the "Habits of Mind" aspects of learning:

http://www.habitsofmind.org/wp-content/uploads/_mediavault/2014/08/Habits_of_Mind_FREE_Posters.pdf

Persisting
Understanding and empathizing with others
Managing impulsivity
Metacognition
Creating and innovating
Striving for accuracy
Questioning and posing problems
Taking responsible risks
and more

There is no way your second grader has mastered all of these.  None of us have.  That's the whole point of growth and learning.  The opportunities are everywhere.  They're all around us, in the conversations we have with our peers, the way our own minds work, the various ways we look at a problem, the choices we and others make etc.

Age eight is far too young to believe that learning is boring.  Focus on his values and the rest will fall into place.
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