Thought provoking question!
Yesterday Mike was off and we had a Parent/teacher conference scheduled with our youngest son,
Jack's teacher!
He has a man teacher this year, and he absolutely adores this guy.
A lot of good energy, and chemistry going on this year.
Jack is a unique child.
I am sure we all think and know are children are unique, as they all truly are their own individuals.
Since early stages of school, teachers have tried to figure out Jack academically.
There are times and situations where you think the boy is a genius, then there are times that you think the boy is not on the same planet as us.
Seriously, he is just that up and down.
All his Pass testing scores reflect this every year...times he is off the charts, and other times, he just makes the average.
A few things the teacher said got us thinking...
The teacher noted Jack has an amazing memory.
We know this, he remembers details of a moment from as early as 2 years old. When I say details, I mean details, where we were sitting, what we ate, etc....etc....
Then if I were to ask Jack what did you eat for lunch yesterday, ummmm...I can't remember.
Well anyhow moving onto my actual thought provoking question.
One thing about Jack, is he asks a lot of questions. Some are relevant to the situation or topic, some are off topic and he is in his own world, and you truly question where are you kid, HELLO you with us?
I think I ask a lot of questions too, but on the flip side, I am a great listener. I think this is where Jack misses the boat..he asks, but he does not always listen to the ANSWER!
{Jack built this lego on his own, he made up his own version and went with it, no instructions}
Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?
I have had this series once before, and I really enjoy hearing what you have to say.
We are not sure if we ever will quite figure out Jack academically! For a teacher to say he has never had a child like Jack in his 17 years of teaching tells you something right there.
We work hard with him, he works hard on his own, he truly cares, continues to grow and thrive. When he asks me questions like "MOM, why is it when people all clap in a group, they know at the same exact time when to stop"?
HUH? the boy thinks deep I tell ya!
We work hard with him, he works hard on his own, he truly cares, continues to grow and thrive. When he asks me questions like "MOM, why is it when people all clap in a group, they know at the same exact time when to stop"?
HUH? the boy thinks deep I tell ya!
I know this is a long read girls, but hey it's Saturday morning, drink your cup a joe and get thinking!
Have a wonderful weekend!
XO
Have a wonderful weekend!
XO
Labels: thought provoking questions
posted by Debbiedoos @ 11:02 AM
31 Comments:
My thoughts are on my own sons this morning...I have FOUR...all grown up now! One of them has a birthday next week! Anyway, I think God has a special blessing for Moms with ALL boys! They are so much fun but their minds work so differently than ours! And guess what...my sons are your age, Debbie and they STILL play with Legos! heehee! ♥
I have three daughters...maybe it's a hormonal issue, but I can NEVER quite figure them out!! Some times they seem really "deep" and other times they are complete bubbleheads! I just realized...I described myself.
BTW Jack is adorable.
I have two girls and they don't ask alot of questions. :) At this age, they really don't say much. I on the other hand ALWAYS ask alot of questions. I am very curious. Your son is a cutie.
Jack sounds like our youngest. He was tested early on for being "gifted". I sat in the back on the test and they asked some NORMAL questions- Like what is half of 8. He was about 4 at this time- He said 3...and I thought- OK..this kid is just different- NOT gifted...lol Well, GIFTED kids look at the number 8 and divide it in half visually - so they see a 3 if the divide it vertically or a 0 if they divide it horizontially.
He had some rough school years because he was bored...and he NEVER quit asking questions. He was tested when he was about 15 and was ranked in the mid-genius catagory. Yes-there are different levels. Anyway, he is an amazing young man (30 now) and is not only smart, but personable...and those two do not always go hand in hand. He has invented several things and come up with several innovative ideas....one of which is being tested by FL/Nebraska/NY right now. It will make some big changes in some government processes.
You just foster every think you can in Jack to keep him thinking "outside the box"...I have a feeling you might have a tiger by the tail there- xo Diana
Hey Debbie, first off Jack is such a cutie! I kind of have a similar situation here. My oldest daughter Mackenzie is very much like my husband academically, she does very well in school and it comes very easy to her. Will my middle child also does well in school but works very hard at it and we work hard with him! Which is not a bad thing, after all all kids are different. But I get what you mean when you say how one minute their right on track and the next they say something that has nothing to do with what your talking about! I think it's them trying to process to much at once! I'm like you I ask a lot of questions, I always want to be up on everything and I kind of push that on my kids. Like the more you know the better you will be. I know that's not always a good thing. Now my youngest daughter Victoria she's 5 going on twenty five and she asks so many questions and but why's that sometimes I wish there was an off switch LOL! Martina
That IS a deep question for a Saturday! Ha! I have 2 sons and believe that they are not near as organized as girls. I don't think boys learn the same way as girls either. My boys were both diagnosed with ADD. Go figure! It seems nowadays that all boys get that diagnosis. I don't have them on medication for it though. My oldest used to be, but didn't like how it made him feel so he controls it on his own (so to speak). My youngest is not a good eater and is very thin (through genetics and picky eating) so I don't want him to be on it because it suppresses your appetite. All of that being said, I think it just comes down to how they're hard wired. Each has their own personality and you just need to teach them according to the best way they learn. I wouldn't know how to act if I had a child that ate good all the time, loved school, had wonderful grades and was organized and took the initiative on things! I certainly hope that will come later since it isn't happening right now. Your child is probably just doing what he's hard wired to do. He is curious about things which means he cares what's going on around him and why it happens. He's obviously smart by how you mentioned he has performed on tests. Boys daydream (heck don't all kids) and so the times that he isn't doing well, may be a result of him not focusing. That famous "F" word that teachers love to use! I say, count your blessings that he's healthy and able to process what he learns at school and is curious about the world around him. That's a great trait to have. He's also creative by the fact that he plays with legos and can build his own ship like that! One thing I've learned by now having a senior in highschool is that they don't stay the same way forever! They may struggle in one grade and fly through another. They may hate school at one point because it's hard or not like their teacher(s), and then not mind going to school and enjoy their teacher(s) the next. As the grow older, they are able put all the pieces together a little better and they start becoming the young adult you've raised them to be.
Your story reminds me of my daughter. My son looks at something once and knows it forever so he does exceptionally well at school easily. My daughter works very hard at every subject, spends tons of time on homework and does well in school...but with so much work. I truly believe there is a part of her brain that has not developed...that's the common sense part. For instance, she was studying for a spanish test and the teacher sent home a review sheet. One of the questions was "I have (blank) eyes". The teacher was looking for the color of her eyes. My daughter was confused and said I don't know how to say blank in spanish. Every kid is different and unique ways of thinking is what makes people special.
Oh man Debbie, my middle son Nicky was a challenge to raise. He was always a bit flighty, I'd ask him to go into Christian's room to get me baby wipes and he'd say ok mommy then head into the kitchen. In elementary school they set up a big meeting with me to try and get him on meds which I flatly refused. They said everything distracted him, even the buzzing of the lights would cause him to stare up. I've spent countless hours in meetings over his academic issues but he's such a good drawer and also a deep thinker. Now at 19 I'm just really glad I never put him on meds!
Your little man is so darn cute:)
Thanks girls for engaging in this conversation. That is exactly what my husband feels in regards to Jack Judy what you were saying regarding the brain. Both my boys are bright and mirror images of one another, however in the opposite ways. Alex has proven to be a very fine young man both socially and academically. He was a challenge at times growing up, believe me!
I agree that Jack is probably just bored. He souds a lot like me when I was a kid. I've always had a great memory that drives everyone insane and I was always interested enough to ask questions in school so much that one of my teachers was afraid she wasn't teaching the material correctly. That wasn't it at all, but I was bored because I was getting it too quickly.
Maybe he just needs to be challened somehow. Even if he isn't in the gifed class, maybe finding some kind of class or group outside of school he would like would help. Or just keep encouraging him by buying more legos to build things. Maybe you've got an future engineer on your hands. If so, I doubt he will ever get over the "weird phase.
No disrespect to anyone....I have both family and friends who are engineers!
Jack sounds somewhat like my boy too and my son has loved building unique things with his legos since he was 6. He also has an exceptionally good memory. Sometimes I have to ask him what he's talking about because I don't remember LOL
I am a question asker when it comes to certain things, but not in others. For example, I will ask you 700 questions on how to spray paint something, but when the cable guy said we needed to have the whole house rewired that it was done incorrectly, I just nodded assuming he knew what he was doing. Tom, of course, then plied him with question after question until the supervisor ended up coming! We didn't need the whole rewired...
Jemma asks 780 million questions a day! She will see something and ask all about it. She will ask the same question over and over throughout the day. This doesn't bother me because that is how she learns and I have learned to be very patient!
He sounds like he has a typical attention disorder, but that doesn't mean "run and get drugs". I think certain phrases can be taught like "stop, focus, listen" when he's doing the things that show he's wandering in his thoughts. Sort of a way to snap him into the zone for the moment. I'm a very easily distracted person, and had to work at studying as a child. We all mature differently and there is no one way for every child, that I am sure of.
We had a boy in my first and 2nd grade that was incapable of sitting near anyone without causing trouble, and he liked to make occasional noises. The teacher chose to keep him off to the side so he wouldn't bother everyone. I heard later in life he was tested and was a genius. Their brains are wired differently, but even so I think they have to have guidance so they can accomplish as much as possible and not be cast as an outsider.
He's just adorable and I can imagine he's very creative- his lego creation shows that!
My first thought is that he is a gifted young man. Maybe excels where he is very interested and the stuff that possibly bores him a little.....well, it's a thought.
My middle daughter worked hard, too hard, in school and eventually was diagnosed with Dyslexia. In college, testing proved her to be just below genius and she is so smart in so many ways, that didn't surprise us. That being said, there are so many common sense things that go right over her head. She just honestly doesn't "get" stuff that we think she should as a 24 year old adult.
Sometimes it's hard being a parent and just understanding our kids. We all just need to be accepted and loved just the way we are, even if sometimes people don't "get" us. I can feel your love in this post. You are a good mom.
Wow, he is deep isn't he. Not sure what to tell you though. Guess he is just very special. Sounds very smart to me and like he can't learn enough fast enough.
Jack sounds alot like Logan. He seems like a conundrum.
As an Educational Diagnostician, I love giving IQ tests. The "overall IQ" is just a number, but when you start looking at the different "intellegences," you see individual strengths and weeknesses. Different areas include: Long term memory, short term memory, processing speed, auditory attention, fluid reasoning (problem solving) and others. Looking into testing might give you some answers and ways to help Jack.
I look forward to see how the rest of the school goes for you. Shoot me an email if you want more information.
Wow! Our boys sound really similar! Ian literally never stops talking and asking quetions. Usually they are about how things work but they can quickly shift to questions about life and matters of the heart and then just as quickly shift back again to how a motherboard inside an appliance knows what to do...whew! It is hard to keep up with him and he does the same thing where he remembers details from years ago but when I ask him who he sat with at lunch he completely forgets! I finally figured out that it just isn't important to him to remember that! :-) I'll tell ya what though...he wears me out with the questions and the talking, but I have learned so much from his curiosity over the years. I'm so grateful for his thirst for knowledge but pretty sure that while he is getting smarter, I'm just getting dumber. LOL!
Great post Debbie!
Vanessa
This by far is one of my favorite postings. I know just who Jack is. I can tell you just what his mind is doing. I pretty much operate the same way. In time he will learn to harnish that mind and create a beautiful world. It just that we are always thinking outside the normal box and one step ahead. We get lost in our thoughts and questions about what we are seeing around us. He will be just fine. You are doing a wonderful job.
Debbie,
Your son is adorable. Your child sounds very intelligent, and I can tell you, gifted children are very different. But since your son's teacher made the statement that he did, then I would stay on top of what's going on. It's wonderful that he has a male teacher this year.
Debbie,
You're a loving and wonderful mother, and you'll undoubtedly provide whatever direction Jack may need to fully excel in life. It sounds like he's a very smart and insightful child. Curiosity is a great thing!
Our daughter didn't speak until she was almost four years old. She was diagnosed with Autism and a moderate to severe learning disability. Even though we were advised not to, we followed our instincts and enrolled her in the regular school system.
Long story short, Jess was soon placed in advanced/accelerated learning classes by her teachers, graduated from high school at the top of her class, and is now in her third year at university.
She still struggles with certain autistic tendencies, but has worked hard to develop the skills to overcome these obstacles.
Even though a highly respected group of professionals told us Jess had little chance of ever becoming a functioning member of society, we believed otherwise, and obviously, so did she!
Parents should ALWAYS trust their instincts. Every child is unique and special in their own way, and should all be given their chance to shine.
I love that Jack ask so many questions and thought provoking ones too....I wonder why we all stop clapping at the same time....
I think I was raised to not questions anything just trust. My hubby is more science minded and he questions everything.
Great post! Have a wonderful day!
you know..your son's brain is changing everyday of his you young life. be patient...pray...and be amazed! your son will do great things...he is bound for success! you will see!
blessings,
rebecca
Your son is so cute! He sounds so much like Chase. We have always laughed about all of his crazy questions. He wants to know everything! He is also very skilled at Leggos. That is all he has ever wanted for birthdays and Christmas, besides computer and xbox games. He also excells in school. He was mad when he had one B at midterm and has brought it up to an A. Believe me, he didn't get it from me though, he got his smarts from Kevin. Kevin and Chase definitely use their left side of the brain and I use my right! No doubt about it.
Oh, one more thing...does Jack like to play chess? Chase was on the chess team last year and actually one the school tournament. I bet Jack would be good at it too. Have a great Saturday! Kristen
P.S.Chase said Jack's ship was really cool!
My son was the same way in school. I'll never forget when I went to a parent teacher conference, and the homeroom teacher brought in seven other teachers, and it was one big love fest over my son. (The only criticism was that he didn't live up to his leadership potential). It was kinda strange, but wonderful, too. I eventually went back to homeschooling him so he could excel in the areas that were his gifts.
Enjoy your special boy!
Cheers,
Tracy Screaming Sardine
I am a mom of three boys and all three have a different learning style. I reallydont have to worry about my youngest and oldest, but my middle son has his challenges. He's extremely smart, and very inventive (always building or tinkering with things). He makes super grades, and then can have horrible the next. We had extensive testing done finally in 7tht grade when we were all at our wits end. Turns out he has an Auditory Processing problem and Inattentive ADHD, and qualified for the Gifted program. We have learned meds aren't for him and instead he has mods put in place for his classes. He always sits in the front of the class, is allowed to record lectures, is given copies of the lecture notes. The counselor at his school is working with him on easy organization skills that work well for a boy. The main thing is he's given a quiet place to take tests away from distractions. My point is, work with teachers, counselors, and principles for help. You will eventually find out what will work best for your son so that he can be successful. He sounds like a really bright boy!
This is very interesting. I think the questioning thing seems very normal to me and is most likely how he learns. I tend to question things a lot, but more in terms of emotions and relationships, only occasionally about skills or objects. My questions are usually reserved for what or whom I am in interested in though. If it doesn't interest me then I don't give it much thought or questioning at all. Not the best habit to have when you really need to learn about something even when you are uninterested.
I think it's great Jack has a very detailed memory and that the teachers have recognized it as exceptional too. I am betting he is very smart but still maturing and developing (the listening) as he should be at this point. You know most genius's often have a very flighty side to them! Probably because they aren't as caught up in the mundane as we are. LOL!
Thank you for sharing this side of your son with us. After 28 years of teaching, I can say unreservedly that children learn in all sorts of ways. The best thing a parent can do to help is be an advocate for their child's learning style. It sounds like you are right on target with that responsibility. (I loved the "clapping" question.)
I haven't read the other comments, but your son sounds gifted in my opinion. I am pretty qualified to give that opinion!! His pattern of thinking, the inconsistency, etc. all indicate a gifted student. Have you ever had his IQ tested? I believe you would find that he is indeed way more intelligent than the average bear. Thank God for his way of thinking....we wouldn't have the things we have in this world today if everyone had convergent ways of thinking. He is a DIVERGENT thinker, the kind that will find cures for diseases, the kind that will create amazing things in this world!!! Aren't you a lucky mom?? School isn't designed for kiddos like him, unfortunately. It is designed for the convergent thinkers. BUT..it sounds like he has a teacher who cultivates divergent ways of thinking, which is what we should be doing instead of creating cookie cutter kids. :)
I love a kid with questions! That means the mind is always going, always dreaming, always thinking. The mind of an engineer perhaps. My middle son was a questiony kid. And he always had to have the last word too. He certainly tried my patience more then once. He's at GA Tech now becoming an engineer :)
That is a great question from Jack, indeed. He is a great observer too.
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