A Smart First Grader

Okay, I admit - my son talks a lot. But so did I when I was a child...okay I still do. And apparently my husband did too in school. My son has been getting some 'bad marks" in school for talking too much. As the weeks have gone on I have found out they have very strict rules in the school about talking - they can't talk in the bathrooms or in the halls at all. Now, kids have to be kids, right? But they also have to learn the rules too. I know it's hard, but it's a part of life.

Anyhow, back to my son. As the bad marks kept coming home, we had to sit down and talk to him about why he was talking so much in class. We came to find out that he is getting done with is assignments quickly in class and starts talking to the other kids. He told me the worksheets are easy and it takes him no time at all to do them.

They were told they could only read during this time from the teacher. I suggested he ask the teacher if there was anything else he could do during this time. Raise your hand and ask. It doesn't hurt to ask.

He did this the next day and was told he can pick something from the fun pack - the fun pack has word searches, connect the dots and other fun, learning worksheets in it. A few days later she also told him he can write in his notebook or journal.

This has helped to minimize the talking. He is getting better marks and is enjoying writing a story in his notebook.

It's been hard to convince the teacher in first grade that the assignment's and worksheets are easy for him. I'm just the parent and every child thinks their kid is smarter than the rest, but my son is excelling in most things at school. He is now meeting with the Project Arrow (gifted) teacher twice a week to enhance the skills he is learning in the classroom. He is reading at a third or fourth grade level and we as his parents are struggling to keep up. Every book he brings home to read and write a book report on is too easy for him.

He is now reading a Magic Treehouse Book and I'm amazed that he knows all the words - Emperor, Tokyo, audience are some of the harder words that he has no trouble with.

I sound like I'm complaining and I'm not. I am thrilled that I have a smart kid. It's just hard to keep him challenged every waking hour of the day. He gets bored very easily and then gets himself in trouble. We are still learning how to deal with this at home. I hope we have it covered now at school, but time will tell.

I am proud of him. He is excelling in school at 6 years old. Let's hope it continues until he's well into college and beyond! This is one proud momma realizing yet again, another beautiful day!