Reply to smart, bored 2nd grader, can't afford private, what to do?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm a teacher, and any teacher who gives a reason for doing things a certain way, "It's for the standardized test," sucks, unless it's literally practice for the test. There's test preparation and then there's real learning and inspired teaching -- intelligent teachers know the difference.

This sounds dead-on like a bored 2nd grader being taught by an unimaginative, worksheet-style type of teacher. Don't let people diagnose her with anything unless and until she's at least had time in a productive, differentiated learning environment. Most behavior and learning problems can be solved by engaging the child differently and in a more effective way. I hope you can get her moved. Good luck.
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+1. I was bored for years in public elementary school -- by the way, I did not and do not have ADHD, and have no problems with concentration or focus, thank you very much -- and it was because of uninspired teachers and uninspiring curricula. It wasn't until I was in fifth grade that a really great teacher took me under her wing, made sure I got tested for the gifted program in our school district, and lo and behold, by grade six, I was in the gifted program -- and not bored at all. It turned me around. I don't know whether or not your child is gifted, but it is certainly possible -- AND it is also entirely possible for bright (not necessarily gifted, but bright and energetic) kids to be bored stiff at school -- doesn't mean they're all ADHD.

I'm also surprised to hear how many posters think it's incredibly important to respect authority and follow orders, and that a kid who has trouble doing that must have ADHD or something wrong with her. A lot of our great leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs, and artists bucked authority and followed their own paths -- maybe they all had ADHD  :roll:

OP, I don't have much concrete advice for you -- sorry -- except to say that you know your kid best and it sounds like you are genuinely trying to engage in a thoughtful dialogue with your kid's teacher and school. Keep exploring avenues (another teacher? skipping a grade) at her school, and if this doesn't lead anywhere, then maybe it's time to check into financial aid for a private school -- maybe a Montessori school where your kid gets to choose her own work. Alternatively, maybe your kid has to suck it up at this crappy school for the near future and you try to get her involved in extra-curriculars that will keep her engaged and "make up" for the boring weekdays. Good luck.[/quote]

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