Where are you?

No problem at all. Glad to help and just send me an email and I can post some more science and CSE . If this site prefers, just post it under this topic. Then I'm notified.

Good luck. I hope it relieves some of his tension and the pressures upon him (very smart and very aware and often very sensitive). Consider looking at Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities (just type it in online). It is such a relief to find that they are perfectly normal for who they are. He's not a "nerd", he's a wonder---just like you want your surgeon or doctor or inventor or scientist to be. You're a good mom.

KarenTC

Thanks sooo much!!!!

Websites are no problem. I am the family apprentice, but I've learned a lot since I retired--especially in the area of what our son needs and I'm volunteering with GT families (esp those that are homeschooling--having taught for 30 years and homeschooled for 5, I have a good resume or maybe it is age...:-).

Our son prefers the Java Tutorial website from Sun Microsystems, but you are probably better off to look or try each and see what fits. Jeff is 14.

Introduction to Computer Science using Java

fp.lhps.org/scarbeau/javaonlinelessons/cs151java.html

This is from Central Connecticut University and has chapters on analog and binary signals, running Java programs etc. It comes with interactive quiz and flash cards. Very nice professor created it and responded to questions I sent to the college. FREE


The Java Tutorials (by Java company--Sun Microsystems)
java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/
This is more advanced and more updated and recommended by Dr. Kjell (from CCU) because Jeff complained that the other one was “outdated”. Dr. K said that his site is used by most high schools so if Jeff recognized it, he needed something more advanced--hence this site; so it depends on where the person is (I probably wouldn’t understand either one ….) also FREE


Animations to Assist Learning Some Key Computer Science Topics
courses.cs.vt.edu/~csonline/
This is from Virginia Tech, but not focused on Java (I don’t know how updated it is). It is interactive, quizzes, animations etc. It goes into algorithms, artificial intelligence, data structures etc; set up in modules. And FREE

PLEASE NOTE "FREE". I really believe that schools could save so much money if they used the internet more. Books are wonderful,but when they cost $30-50 per subject, it adds up.

Get good ones for fiction or reference and use the free sites that interact and adapt to a child's ability. Then the teachers would have more time to "interact" with the kids.



There are tons of AP chemistry websites that I haven't used yet (I've just been researching).
I don't know if they are right for your son. I will do a little research and post some other ones. Again, we have TONS.

www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/APtaters/directory.shtml

shs.nebo.edu/Faculty/Haderlie/apchem/apchem.html (list of many sites)

www.chemistrygeek.com/ap.htm
(has online 3D lab, too)

www.chemcool.com/

chemunder.mps.ohio-state.edu/under/microchem/microchem.htm

Most are from colleges. Type in 'chemistry online' and a BUNCH come up and could save schools megabucks. I guess that is a new topic I should start and then a portion of the savings should be spent on gifted education...I'm sure I have several math ones,too--oh, try Geogebra. Great program designed by a Austrian-born, now USA professor, Dr. Markus Hohenwarter . It combines geometry and algebra. Your son will love it. It accommodates abilities from age 5 through college. Here's the basic website (and it is FREE) to download and then 247 is a walk through with visual and auditory instruction.

www.geogebra.org/cms/

math247.pbwiki.com/Learn-and-Use-GeoGebra

If you show this to his teacher and she/he can see the benefit (after he's started it at home and perhaps don't tell him the school plan until it is possible), he could do it at school on an independent or self instructed project....when there is a review going on ...he's learning not playing.....it's the teacher/mother of a gt in me... good luck
Karen




Karen

Thanks for the great response!!!..My son would love any links to all the interactive java , algorithms,and science sites.Trust me ...he will go to ALL of them...thanks..

Hi--I know exactly what you mean. Our son is a computer geek/guru (lovingly and respectfully said) and loves science (especially physics and astronomy and chemistry). He's now 14 and we had the same situation in school. If you decide on regular school-school, be sure to visit a teacher to see who fits. The truth is that he isn't average--he's probably one of 2-5% of the population. He's probably gifted.

I think one thing that parents of gifted children need to do is unite. When you look at the history of the educational system, special education for children of disabilities started because of parents uniting and contacting government officials. That caused the creation of special education services. I think now we need to speak up for the gifted children.

Our son had some of these same experiences and the only way we were able to overcome some of them is because I taught in the same building....

We shouldn't treat a treasure like a gifted child like this. I heard a speaker recently say that while being gifted isn't cool in school, all those kids that call them-- nerds or geeks or whatever-- will call them something else when they grow up--"BOSS"...Tell your son that one :-)

For what it is worth, mentors from high school (contact a teacher that would understand or loves his subject--chemistry, biology etc--no assignments needed, just inspiration and fun; give a HS student some credit for mentoring)or college (contact Honors College in a nearby university) are great. Looking in his favorite subjects is best. Acceleration in those subjects (not all, in my opinion) is too. It worked for us.

Eventually, I retired from teaching and now we have homeschooled for 5 years. Overall, teachers have no training in gifted education and few schools have gifted programs.

We love home schooling (groups, field trips, classes, flexibility) but now I am on to a new dilemma--finding the right courses and locations for him. It is always an adventure.

We need teachers that love to teach and love teaching the gifted .....

We can't take this risk of emotionally hurting gifted kids. They are gifts and treasures to us all--surgeons, engineers, inventors, scientists and on--we need them.

Karen

PS If you look online under gifted or under gifted homeschool with your state, it might give you food for thought. One person I know is teaching college classes online from her home while she homeschools her gifted nine year old. Hang in there. I wish you lived closer (southern Michigan). And hey, have him try "Incredible Machines" computer programs if he hasn't yet--it's cool--like Rube Goldberg. Post and I can supply some computer science websites on Java and algorithms and such--all interactive and free.

Yes, you can name schools on this site, so long as you're not "blasting" them (ie, "My son attends ABC Academy and the principal, Mrs. XYZ, is the complete idiot...") Because Greatschools is a nationwide forum, most people will probably have no clue about the school you mention, anyway. That's one of the drawbacks, there aren't many families on Greatschools forum from any given city across the U.S., much less ones who have kids of similar age and with similar needs in a particular town. It doesn't really seem like it would matter in your case, because your son's got rather unique needs.

In most states, only special ed students with Learning Disabilities have IEPs. Many people feel that regular public school classes are really just trying to "teach to the middle of the road" and kids at either end of the spectrum should be entitled to IEP's (Individual Education Plans), but few states have provisions for it. The only state I know of where gifted children are entitled by state guidelines to have IEP's is Pennsylvania. I'm in IL.

We live officially at in Tequesta(the border or jupiter and tequesta) in Palm Beach County.Right now our son is going to a private school near pga blvd(am I allowed to name schools on this site?)He will be in 6th grade next year so he is 2 years from even considering Suncoast.If you know any "tech- minded" private or public schools near us please let us know!!!! (within 50 miles or so,the drive is our least important issue right now)

Hi. We don't know where you live, but has your son been evaluated for gifted/talented programs, or does your school district not offer any? I know some charter schools that have different focuses, such as "technology" or "fine arts," and so if there were options like that in your area, I would expect your son would be happier. Unfortunately, not all districts offer such schools. Would you consider a private school? My son attended a smaller gifted elementary school, and while tuition wasn't cheap, he found quite a few "tech-minded" kids, who would rather absorb themselves in science and math experiements than sports. You could check www.nais.org to see if any indpendent schools are in your area. Homeschooling is another option that you might want to explore, as really bright children often struggle in conventional schools. You might like to join Greatschools Gifted Group at community.greatschools.net/groups/11537 and OGTOC at giftedonlineconferences.ning.com/?xgi=caROhJu
The link noted above is an invitation to join the NING website
for OGTOC (Our Gifted/Talented Online Conferences)