opinions needed about 8 year old and school
By elemental69
@elemental69 (1561)
Ireland
October 9, 2007 8:14pm CST
I need your opinions about my 8 year old son and school. In Ireland you probably know its a lot different than other countries. School years start at junior infants, senior infants, first class all way up to sixth class. Well my problem is my son is in 2nd class this year. But he is in a mixed class of half 2nd and half 3rd. He is a very bright little boy and very advanced for his age. He has told me that his teacher often lets him do 3rd class work which he shouldnt be doing yet. Plus he is not allowed to join an after school homework class because his teacher says "he is too brainy". What are your instincts on this? should I let him carry on and hope that it doesnt affect him next year? I just dont want him getting bored with school and falling behind.
3 people like this
4 responses
@asgtswife04 (2475)
• United States
10 Oct 07
My suggestion would be to go and speak with the teacher and express your concerns about her letting him to older work. Maybe that way she will reevaluate and put him back on his grade level. It's awesome that your son is so advanced, yet at his age I believe it might be in his best interest in the future to keep him with his own age group for now. Just my opinion though. but in all seriousness, the teacher needs to be aware of your concerns and she needs to know that you feel differently about the way she is handling your son. hope this helped
2 people like this
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
10 Oct 07
Yes I agree with you. And yes its great that he is so advanced but at the same time I cant help worrying that he will get bored. He was able to spell and write his own name at the age of two, and when he started school, he was only there a few weeks when he was complaining that his teacher was going too slow!!!! So she started to give him some extra work in school when he was finished his lessons ahead of his class mates. And this was after she had spoken to me about it. Thank you so much for your reponse much appreciated.
2 people like this
@asgtswife04 (2475)
• United States
10 Oct 07
No problem, if you need to talk anymore i'm always around here somewhere. I hope everything works out with your son. He sounds like a very intelligent young man. Maybe instead of the teacher giving him extra work to do, he could do something he enjoys like drawing or reading a book or something like that until the other kids get finished. something to think about. talk to you later. let me know how everything turns out.
2 people like this
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
11 Oct 07
That is so nice of you thank you!!
He has admitted to me that when he knows an answer to a question in class he wont put his hand up answer, and if the teacher asks him he says he doesnt know!! I have told him that it is wrong to do that. I used to do that in school too but somehow the teachers do know what you are up too lol.... This teacher sometimes let him on the computer when he is finished before everyone else but he cant let him do it everyday. They also have an hour on a friday afternoon for fun time where they can paint, draw, write and just be creative, or just play games. So they can just be themselves.
1 person likes this
@babygurl850406 (1322)
• United States
10 Oct 07
Is there such a thing as being "too brainy?"
She shouldn't discriminate him from the homework class for that reason. Talk to his teacher. It might be best to put him in a better school if possible.
When I was in school I was also very advanced. I would get bored and sometimes when nobody knew the answer to a question I would get tired and slightly embarrassed even to raise my hand with the right answer.
Sometimes I would do poorly on purpose because the popular kids were not as book smart.
If he is advanced I would be looking at places he could go for gifted children so as to encourage him in all aspects. It is a strong possibilty for him to become bored and need a challenge here and there.
Discuss this and see if he can pass a grade or 2 in school that will be more to his level. Good Luck :)
2 people like this
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
11 Oct 07
I dont think there is such a thing as being too brainy lol. But when it comes to kids of 8 years old people dont expect them to know a lot more for their years. He thinks his teachers go too slow for him!!!!! and it should be the other way around....
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
6 Jun 08
If he gets bored he will act out. If he keeps doing what he's doing, maybe he should skip a grade, if social life isn't that important to him, or if you think he won't mind older kids and older kids won'd mind him, or if you think his younger peers will still play with him, if he's in 4th class when hey are all in third. If these things worry you, then you should tell the teacher to just keep him with second class, and not let him get too far ahead.
@miqile (38)
• China
7 Mar 08
i agree with you ,as your son is brainy, he should be in his right class. the teacher also asks him to do 3rd class work,and are not allowed to join the after school homework class,he should have more time than other students of his age ,and he can learn something esle too, this is my suggestion.
