I really mix it up with my DS8. A trip to the library is interesting. A few books on physics, a little Harry Potter, some JRR Tolkein, a book on Big Foot, and then a little Diary of a Wimpy Kid and a book on cute kittens. That way he gets his urge to read at a higher level and still get some fun kid reading in.

My son took the WISC IV when he was 6.5. I told him that he was going to meet with a woman and do fun puzzles and thinking games. I told him to have fun, pay attention and do his best.

My DS is also a self proclaimed hater of math. He can do math, and he gets the answers correct, but it is like pulling teeth. This year was our first year homeschooling and we started with BA, switched to MM, then to Khan Academy and at last tried LOF. The only thing he liked out of it all was LOF. My son loves to read, so any math that mixes reading into it works for him. We will continue LOF next year, but I am not sure what other math to include. I think we might revisit BA.

I agree. My son had tracking issues as well. And really poor handwriting. I took him to my optometrist who noted that he had trouble "tracking". She referred him for a full OT evaluation and he does have tracking issues. We are going to start visual therapy soon.

Or the non-stop "Mom, do you want me to make you a water park? Watch me make it. Tell me what you want. It will only take an hour or so. Then we can make another one for dad."

I admit, I would say something about it if the person was going on and on like the OP stated. I know that sometimes people use the word "genius" loosely; however, this parent wasn't. She was referring to her child as a genius. The comment about her son being normal, not like aspergers or weird autistic kids would put me over the top.

You all are so much nicer than I am. I would probably not have been so cordial. I may or may not have said that technically an IQ of 130 is not genius. And I definitely would have responded to her comment about her genius son being normal, not having aspergers or like a weird autistic kid. But, hey, I am the mom of a genius, slightly weird, anything but normal son. And I wouldn't change him for the world.

I always knew that I was smarter than my peers. I didn't have to study and still got great grades. We didn't have "gifted" programs when I was in school. I took an IQ test in high school and I remember that when we got the results my teacher said that mine was good enough to join Mensa. I thought that was pretty cool, but didn't do anything with it. I had no idea what "gifted" was. I was just smart. I grew up in a very dysfunctional family and I always knew that I was different than my brothers and sisters. I spent my youth dreaming of the day that I would graduate from high school and move away. I didn't have a lot of really close friends because I was different than them too. At the time I thought it was because I kept myself at a distance due to my family situation. I didn't realize that it was due to my giftedness until I had my son tested and did some research. I realized that I really was "different", I just didn't know why. Looking back, it explains so much; why I didn't feel as connected to my peers and family, why any friendships I did form were not based on age, but on intellectual levels. I have to say that now that I have some answers to my past relationships, it makes it much easier for me to understand my son. He reminds me in so many ways.

I knew something was different when he was a baby. He was so demanding. And stubborn. And curious. When he was 2 he knew all of his colors in English and Spanish. When he was 3 he was helping the preschool teacher pass out papers because he knew how to read the names of all of the kids in the class. When he was 4, he read to the kids at naptime. Beyond the typical "advanced signs" (early reading, etc.), the biggest clue was his personality. He was always so strong willed, always knew what he wanted. Always aked questions and never stopped talking. NEVER!

Thank you all for your input re: portfolios. It is very helpful.

Those of you who put together a portfolio, what did you include? I know they ask for work showing a few grades above the age expected grade, right? How does that work when we are homeschooing? Also, regarding the Explore test: where did your child take it? When I look online, it states the test is for 8th graders and up.

DS7, reads at a 11th grade level, wants to study ancient weaponry, creates his own board games. Can't tie his shoes. Cried because his team lost the super bowl. Runs through the house yelling "bananas" (for no apparent reason).

I just ordered the first set of 4 LOF books for my DS7. He has always disliked doing straight up math problems. Give him a complex word problem and he has no problem. Give him 28+33 and he will sit there for a good ten minutes just staring at it. I had bought him a math book of just word problems and he loves it. So, I am thinking LOF will be a good fit for him. We are starting at Apples, but I am sure he will breeze right through that since he loves reading.

I am so glad I read this first thing this morning. This sounds exactly like my DS7. I have been getting really frustrated lately. This is our first year homeschooling and, like you, I have no idea how my son got such rave reviews at school, because he won't sit still at all for me. "Goofy and obnoxious". Really... Our sons are two peas in a pod. He really doesn't respond well when I read from a teachers manual with his lessons. He likes to lead himself. Heaven forbid I give him tips or attempt to instruct him. He says he hates math. Can't stand it. Yet, when he actually does it, he is really good at it. I have tried three different math curriculum so far. BA, MM and Khan. He doesn't like any of them. I finally bought a Kumun work book with word problems and he likes that. One day he sat and fretted over his math for a good 15 minutes, getting nothing done, complaining the whole way. As soon as he realized that he was supposed to go to a friends house to play, he finished the math in 5 minutes. Got them all right. Aaaahhh!!!!! I really appreciate reading all of the responses. I need to make some changes. I think that I will need to move towards a more independent learner approach. Maybe let him pick a theme or two and take it from there. I will be following this thread for more ideas.

Definitely transfer packs. This was totally unacceptable on many levels. Also, like others have said, write letters to the cubmaster and charter organization. I would even cc the BSA council. They need to know that this is how one of their packs is acting. It sounds like the campout was understaffed by pack leaders, ran poorly and completely out of control.