Have a year 2 student that is years above his peers. Each topic I introduce he has already learnt and understood. I've extended the topics we work on for him but the topics I introduce are rudimentary and very basic. I'll be teaching basic shapes and types of triangles, and the student tells me he is learning trigonometry of triangles and algebra at home through Khan academy and his parents. We do not have a gifted talented program and I feel stuck trying to actually give math work that I am imparting knowledge on him. Unfortunately the pace he is learning far exceeds the curriculum. The parents do not want him moved to upper grades for his social wellbeing. I do not have the capacity to teach 31 other students and also try teach more advanced topics to this child, without it impacting the classroom. How have you coped with a very advanced student in your classrooms?
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2$\begingroup$ Why not give them a few books and let them do whatever they like in class. This won't take you much time and will still encourage the student to learn more. $\endgroup$– LeafGlowPathCommented May 9 at 5:56
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5$\begingroup$ What age group does year two correspond to? $\endgroup$– TommiCommented May 9 at 12:10
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3$\begingroup$ "The parents do not want him moved to upper grades for his social wellbeing." Does this mean fully moving this student from 2nd year to 3rd year? I remember advanced students just being moved into the next grade level for a specific class (e.g. math). Is that an option? $\endgroup$– Nick CCommented May 9 at 15:02
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$\begingroup$ "he has already learnt and understood" -- What do you think the students needs or wants from you? It doesn't sound like they need you to impart knowledge. They get it on their own. Maybe show them some appreciation. When I was aged 9 and 11, the students worked at their own pace. When I was aged 12-14, I was put in a corner and given the next-years book to read myself. I was only a year ahead, not as advanced as your student. My school was small, and all the 12-year-olds were in literature when the 13-year-olds were in math. So I had to stay with my age group. $\endgroup$– user1815Commented May 9 at 15:24
2 Answers
All of the comments seem helpful. I'd recommend that you ask the parents what they'd like for him while you are conducting math class with the others. They might have some great ideas.
Does the school impose any rules about this on you? I'd have him take the major tests you give, to document that he's learnt it.
Does he also read above grade level? If so, I'd give him books like The Number Devil, that have fun mathematics in them, along with a storyline.
If your classroom discipline and the social situation allow, I would have him work on a self-guided instruction book while the others in class do the normal routine. Put him on a wall to isolate him a little. He would need to be made to understand that he work silently (e.g. noting any questions down in a notebook to be asked after class).
You could give him the book Surely You're Joking by Feynman and call his attention to the anecdote about Woods Advanced Calculus.
In terms of a book for him to work out of, I recommend a programmed instruction text because that approach is very handholding in terms of self teaching. For example KA Stroud's Engineering Mathematics. (Despite the title, it covers a lot of basic college algebra topics. You have to go to his Advanced Engine Math book for a real Engine Math course.)
https://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Mathematics-K-Stroud/dp/1352010275/ (click image and navigate to Table of Contents)
An alternate might be Frank Ayres, First Year College Math:
https://www.amazon.com/First-College-Mathematics-Frank-Ayres/dp/B009NNXQF6
(There can be some quality differences in Schaum's, but this is one of the best. I think the wording and style is very clear also and much easier to progress through than a typical wordy textbook. It covers all of high school math.)
Note, I'm not asking you to self-buy books for the kid, but you could tap the library (use Interlibrary Loan if needed). Or have the parents buy them.
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1$\begingroup$ I don't think OP will actually give out a Feynman book, but just in case I'd recommend photocopying the relevant pages. Lots of great stuff in his books, but the kid probably doesn't need to read everything in there. The "pick up artist" stuff with the sleazy mentor was especially weird (perhaps that was a different book though) $\endgroup$– ThierryCommented May 9 at 18:14