Mack isn’t just a smart ass. He’s also a pretty smart kid. As such, he is enrolled in the gifted education program at his elementary school. Once a week, he leaves his regular classroom for about an hour, and goes to a special program for kids who need a little extra enrichment.
Or, as my sister (who has a Masters degree in gifted education) used to put it, “He gets to be gifted for an hour a week.” Of course, said sister is now the gifted education teacher at my son’s school, and the one who teaches him for that hour every week. So I feel confident that he’s getting the maximum benefit from that 60 minutes.
Anyway, the program sent home a form today asking us to provide a little information about our expectations. It also had a few questions for the child to answer himself. It asked what topics the child would like to learn about this year, what types of activities the child likes, and so forth.
The last question is “What is one thing you think is special about yourself?”
Mack’s answer: I am a super accuracy quarterback, and I am good at booming it deep.
That is exactly the type of answer I was looking for. I want to get to know the kids more personally. That’s how I handle the behavior management. When a kid is starting to act out (not that Mack ever would) I just make a comment like this . . .
So, let’s say my favorite football team is the Vikings and I’m a really good quarterback myself, I might put a note on my graph that says “I love the Vikings. I am an awesome quarterback.”
Suddenly, the kid is totally back with me and the activity I’m doing.
(By the way, it’s 90 minutes a week now!)
So here I am, thinking Mack made a totally ridiculous answer…and it is actually what you are looking for.
But then it’s not funny!
In 4th grade, they get a WHOLE DAY to be gifted! I did not know this. The only downside, according to Tommy, is that there are no snacks! NO SNACKS! He has to eat it when he gets home, the horror! Guess there’s just too much giftedness they need to shove into those kids.
Nice answer, Mack! And way to go Emily – I wish you could teach my law students, too.
Jimmye has a scholarship ready.