I didn't know turtles COULD make noise.

I prefer to think of turtles as silent

Sara is indeed adorable, as is the house.

I want a house, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen for a year or so.

Clearly, I missed the memo about soaring into the 5 digit realm. Scary. Is this due to some of ita's tweaks to the code?

So, does this one goes to 11(K)?

30k, in fact!

Jeez. Over-achiever.

All the gifted kids talk has been interesting. After just two months of school B. moved up a year, and is still coming top in everything.

We still have two big problems, though. One is that he's physically wee, a good two hands smaller than the next kid in the class. The other is that, now he's moved up, the school seems to think it's done all that's required of it, but he's already starting to get bored again.

He has quite a lot of extra-curricular activities but there are no gifted-kids programs to speak of here. At least he seems to fit in well socially.

Next academic year should be interesting - English lessons start. Unless he's co-opted as an assistant teacher, I've no idea how they're going to keep him on board.

And that, my dear Fiona, is when your bit comes in. Talk to the teachers about allowing not-age appropriate books in class, giving more autonomy after the reading list is done. I always provided a biblio so that kids who finished fast could do verbal or written reports on books are articles that would inform the main text.

Ask if he can be paired up to help a lower-skills level reader, maybe in a lower grade.

Ansd always remember that it's not just teachers to whom kids should talk about what they're reading, and how -- you can talk about logic and desicions making and good v. evil and metaphors and plots at all kinds of weird places -- cars are good. Compare and contrast TV shows to books. Read what your kids read and then talk about it. For every 5 beloved genre books, ask them to choose a one-off, and then tell you exactly what he liked and didn't (with three concrete examples) about it. And then let him flip the switch -- He picks for you and you do the same.

This will do more for him than (unfortunately) a week of lecture time will do. And you really bond with your kid at an early age and will make all those awckward teenage talks and rebellions come from a better place, becasue you will have set up a long-standing habit of comminication, respect for differing ideas and the ability to passionately debate differing views intelligently and respectfully.

For the most part!

Talk to the teachers about allowing not-age appropriate books in class, giving more autonomy after the reading list is done.

They already do this. His teacher is very cooperative, as far as she is able. But both she and his previous teacher are, I think, a bit frustrated, as their main emphasis is supposed to be on the weaker kids, with the stronger ones expected to take care of themselves.

B. and I still read together and talk about what he's reading. He is generally a very interested kid and pursues those interests with gusto, independently and with us, which is great. Thank goodness for libraries.

We do our best to make sure he's getting a balanced range of interests by keeping his extra-curricular stuff mixed - sport, chess, piano, seeing friends, etc.

(Sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread with B. talk).

But both she and his previous teacher are, I think, a bit frustrated, as their main emphasis is supposed to be on the weaker kids, with the stronger ones expected to take care of themselves.

One of the big problems. I'm fighting it myself, so I have no idea what to recommend, other than good luck!