Day in the Life of an Idiot

I agree with Michael. As I've learned with Cameron (both special needs and G/T), it ultimately comes down to you. YOU are your child's best, last advocate. If you think the teacher is not meeting his needs, then you need to address that. If he/she is not seeing your concern, talk to the admin, the Gifted & Talented co-ordinator at your school, and so on.

However...a couple other things to consider:

1) Do not automatically assume Capitol Hill will be a cure-all. Their program may fit Mason in some ways, but poorly in others. Just because it is the G/T magnet does not mean it will be all cake & ice cream. If you decide to leave your current school, check other schools, too. Some of them may be a better fit in the end. You will ALWAYS find some things lacking in any school -- the question is which are the things you can deal with?

2) Don't take everything in GENIUS DENIED at face value, or any other book on schooling or education, for that matter. Step back from it for a sec and try to be objective. Is what you are encountering systemic, or is it a glitch with this teacher? I say this because you are referring to GD a lot in this post, which tells me it is fresh in your fore-brain and possibly steering you. I've been there with books and articles on autism, only to have a different take a couple months later.

3) One thing I know is that even if some kids can read at higher level, they do not always comprehend at that level. I don't know Mason well enough to say he is or isn't, but comprehension is more than following the story line. That he is jumping back and forth between levels shows he is needing a break, which is great self-regulation. But his jumping back and forth also shows he still needs to be reading the stuff his friends are reading sometimes, too. The teacher may be leaning too much towards the latter.

My advice would be to schedule a meeting with the teacher so you both have time to prepare and talk at length. You felt slighted, she may have been feeling defensive (or has had this conversation with parents who *thought* their kid was where Mason was, for example) -- neither reaction helps Mason. Prepare your thoughts and reasons and have a sit down. If that doesn't pan out, move on as Michael suggests. But I would counsel at least one more try with his teacher when you both have time to express yourselves fully. You want her on board if at all possible.

I expect you are going to be facing this battle over and over, in various forms, as Mason grows older. Now is the time to start developing a strategy for dealing with the teachers, the administration, Mason, and your own feelings. Changing schools will not always be an option.

See, it's an opportunity! ;p