Day four and Z is already asking to drop out of one of her two summer camp classes. She says that most of what they are doing in the 2nd class is connect-the-dots and coloring in (and let me remind you that this is supposed to be for gifted 1st and 2nd graders.) But she wants to stay for the first class which,even though she is not learning any new information, is putting on a play about extinction.
If she wanted to drop out of the whole thing I would probably say yes because the drive is half an hour each way for me. But I don't know if she would be allowed to drop out of half of the half-day program.
I feel like writing an email to the admin there and asking and even saying something about how Z should have been allowed to go into the 3rd - 5th grade group. But, I don't know if I should bother. I don't think we will want to do this again next year. It is hard to say though, if she was in the 3rd - 5th grade classes and loving it then I guess we would want to come back.
For now I think she will just keep going and I will talk about it to Pere.
It is not like she is suffering, she just thinks that having a whole class where she isn't learning and has to do so much coloring in is pointless. She actually likes coloring at home, but I guess it is something she doesn't want to have to go to "school" for.
A friend of mine recently talked about an outdoor camp where the kids play in the woods and in the mud and build stuff and ride horses, maybe that would be a nice thing to try next year. Or maybe I will just send Z to stay with relative who live near some woods and some mud. *grin*
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4 comments:
If it was me, I would give the camp feedback on Z's experience. Otherwise, how are they supposed to improve their service?
Also, I assume you have paid upfront. I would be telling them that they have provided an inadequate service for my dd and it was not value for money and we would not be returning. Although I would be very polite about it and quite clear about what exactly the problem was (and the good parts of it too.)
Since she is in two other classes I don’t think dropping the one Z dislikes matters.
Are the people teaching the classes gifted education specialists or classroom teachers? I ask this because some camp programs use college students and they wouldn't necessarily know what to do with Z even if they could identify it. And have you casually introduced yourself to the teachers as Z’s mom to see what they say if anything? Are they totally oblivious???
In my experience I have found it useful to make Ami finish what she started with an agreed upon end, unless it is harmful to her emotional, physical, social, spiritual, intellectual being. If it is harmful I would take Z out.
I did let Ami discontinue our preschool trial after she finished the first summer session in a school for gifted kids. She had become an emotional wreck: trying to please, not break rules, be neat and not sleeping due to worry. She told me she had enough of “…” and did not want to go back.
I do look at camp as being mostly fun and experiencing other children but if the organizers promoted it as educational I would be disappointed. Ami’s private program was not perfect, it was disappointing but I have a few options to try because the teachers seemed to get her.
I feel bad for both of you. Sorry for the winded response.
What a bummer! It is odd to think that a camp for gifted 1st and 2nd graders would focus on coloring and such. I mean, nothing wrong with coloring, but I agree with Sarah -- not much value for the money.
I too like camps that are nature-oriented. They encourage a level of messiness and hands-on exploration that I don't always do enough of myself.
They definitely need to hear about the problem as away of improving. I guess if there is some kind of community project (like the play) then it would be useful to continue, as long as it is not harmful. And that can be hard to suss out -- you would know best.
Good luck -- home next time works better!
Actually,
We signed Grace up for a 1st and 2nd grade library program and they did....wait for it....coloring, LISTENING to stories and singing songs. Grace was fine with it due to peer pressure, and she usually does not like to color, but she did a great job last night !LOL
Forte
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