I once held the title of educator. For several years, before embracing the stay-at-home mom lifestyle complete with yoga pants, I navigated the world of teaching. My days were spent in professional attire, guiding students through the intricacies of Shakespeare, understanding sentence structure, and distinguishing metaphors from similes. Once the school day ended, I returned home to lesson plan, grade assignments, and prepare for another day in the classroom.
Having been a teacher, I fully grasp what it’s like to stand before a classroom of diverse students, each with distinct needs, learning styles, and backgrounds. I’ve witnessed the impact of relentless budget cuts—schools stripped of basic supplies, heating, cooling, and even administrative support. I can relate to the immense challenges educators face.
Now, however, I find myself on the other side of the table during parent-teacher conferences, advocating for my son. I understand that my requests may add to your workload, and I empathize with the stress that can accompany it. But, like many of your students, my gifted child has special needs.
What does this mean? It means he is intellectually advanced. He was reading by age 2.5, tackling algebra and fractions in kindergarten, and devoured the entire Harry Potter series three times by the end of first grade. I share these details not to boast, but to convey the reality of our situation, which can be overwhelming.
While I relate to the struggles teachers face, I am acutely aware of the potential pitfalls for gifted children—children like my son. Throughout my years teaching high school English, I encountered bright students who, despite their brilliance, often fell through the cracks. These were students who could analyze literature far beyond their peers, yet chose to disengage from the classroom, frequently leading to poor academic outcomes.
My concern for my son is ever-present. From the very beginning of preschool, he has experienced a sense of boredom in school. I don’t expect teachers to eliminate all of his boredom—after all, learning to deal with it is part of life. However, there is a thin line between boredom and apathy. As his mother, I am determined to prevent him from slipping into the latter. I refuse to let him become disenchanted with education, as I’ve seen happen to too many gifted students.
According to an article titled “Special Needs of Gifted Children”, this disconnect is common among gifted youths. The article notes, “When children aren’t challenged, then they can’t grow. As a result, they become bored and fidgety. If this boredom becomes part of their daily routine, then children will simply give up hope that school will ever provide them with an avenue for exploring curiosities or trying new things.” When hope fades, so does the motivation to engage in classroom activities, and ultimately, the desire to attend school.
So, what do I do? I advocate actively. I make time to be present in the classroom, observing how my son interacts with peers and reviewing his curriculum. I invest extra effort at home with research projects, library visits, and hands-on learning experiences. This includes driving him to science camps, math clubs, and seeking out friendships with like-minded kids.
Teachers, we need your collaboration. The National Association for Gifted Children emphasizes that “parents, educators, and the broader community have a responsibility to support all children as they reach for their personal best.” Supporting gifted children requires special strategies like acceleration, flexible ability grouping, and specialized programs. We’ve explored various teaching methods to find what best suits him, his classmates, and his teachers. He has had an IEP, individualized reading and math programs, and higher-level assignments. Together, we must continue this partnership to ensure my child thrives.
He is not homeschooled, nor is he skipping grades. Every morning, he boards the bus to attend third grade at our local public school, where he enjoys hot lunches, plays Four Square at recess, and participates in P.E. He wears comfy sweatpants and hoodies, just like the other boys in his class. He is simply gifted, and if he is in your classroom, you will surely get to know me as well because that’s part of my role as his mom.
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