Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy G support negative towards PG differentiated path

Our daughter is a year old. If I had to guess, I would say she is likely PG, based on demonstrated problem solving, early language comprehension, etc. But who knows.

First, take a deep breath.
Second, while the RIAS is good at giving you a range it is not the gold standard of IQ test. In fact, it is most often used as a quick and dirty IQ measure when you are going to look at cognitive processing/achievement to look for a learning disability and certainly not to look at a variety of skills to measure giftedness. Also, the nonverbal subtests on the RIAS measure very different skills than say the PRI on the WISC-IV. Also, I am sure your son will develop better verbal skills in school but reading is typically a function of strong language skills and while it may improve some skills, like vocabulary, it is typically the child that already has very strong language skills that is the early and ravenous reader.
In addition, your son is still very young and there may be some regression to the mean as he gets older. In addition, language skills make up the bulk of what is learned in school in early elementary years and he is functioning in the average range in that area.
All that to say, he sounds like a bright little boy, nurture his talents. However, he is the same little boy that you knew before these test results. If you thought this school was a great fit then, it probably still is now.

I live near Reno and my DS10 attends a HG school within a school (SWAS) classroom in the Washoe County school district (DA is in Washoe County). He had one full grade skip prior to SWAS. He is a DYS and I don't really know of any DYS in the area who have had a GREAT experience in the Washoe County District. The SWAS has served us well for the last few years, but this year there has been more emphasis on grade level standards and the program has accepted more students than previous years (this year's 5/6 combo is 30 kids - last year it was 22). SWAS starts at 3rd grade and the program is geared toward high verbal.

I am a native Nevadan and although I grew up in Las Vegas, I have lived in the North since 2007. I like the quality of life here - limited traffic, less crime, good weather (4 seasons)and great outdoor lifestyle. I also lived in the Bay Area as an adult for 14 years so it's nice to be just a short drive away.

All in all though, Nevada is not a state that invests in education so our schools are not great and are not known for being great. I think some districts try and have some good programs but most are doing it on a shoestring and getting additional revenue to fund education is difficult.

We generally plan year to year. We are not ready for DA yet, but my DS is likely in his last year of his current program. Not sure what we are doing next year, but working on it now. I am a planner too, so I get the desire to start on a pathway.

You may also want to consider testing with one of the DYS accepted IQ tests and doing achievement/portfolio and applying to DYS - they can be a good resource in helping sort out needs and options. Good luck in your journey.

Welcome!

Parents are large part of that environment.

You may wish to provide him with an enriched environment by speaking with him more and/or facilitating more conversations amongst family members for him to overhear and/or read more selections which may help enhance his vocabulary.

You may wish to do two things now while your child's needs are fairly straightforward and comparatively easily met.
1- Read up on advocacy as there may not be time to do so later when life may call upon you to be prepared with advocacy knowledge and skill to assist your child.
2- Focus on your immediate family as the first place your child's needs are recognized and met. For example, the vocabulary you mentioned previously. Parents often share how much they have stretched and grown and changed to provide an enriched environment which supports their gifted child's voracious appetite for learning.

Possibly you are exhibiting gifted intensity and overexcitabilities?

Percy:
Thank you so much for the reply. That really helps to dissuade me of the notion that a K-5 option exists in Reno that is a magic bullet for PG. I wish it were not the case. Still, the program you describe sounds a degree beyond what we have here. (G SWAS for 1-8). I am very sorry to hear that they are not meeting your sons needs. Thanks for the general information about Nevada too. Yes, I am in the process of getting him retested using an approved test, then will apply to DYS.

Indigo:
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Your point about reading more selections was eye opening - it never occurred to me to select for him. He’s always picked the books, but I’ll start doing that for a few weeks, see how that turns out. Maybe we will start with a few chapters of The Great Brain.

Advocacy will be difficult for me to master. The principles are simple, but the execution will be more difficult. I wonder if they don’t have whole summits on this through DYS?

You may wish to ask him if he'd like to hear you read some new books, and ask him if he hears any new words in them? A trip to the library can be a great way for him to choose among new selections. There are several booklists on the Davidson Database, here is one: http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10200.aspx

It may seem difficult at first from the outside, but as you read and prepare and become immersed in it, the process can seem very easy and natural. Many parents who learn advocacy proactively express this. It is actually much less time-consuming and much more relationship-friendly than winging it. Here is a link to the page of Davidson Guidebooks. The advocacy guidebook breaks things down into steps. Tips in the homeschooling guidebook may also prove helpful. http://www.davidsongifted.org/youngscholars/Article/Davidson_Young_Scholars___Guidebooks_375.aspx

Check into Lee Academy for the Gifted. They are in Tampa.

We have thought about Davidson and moving to Reno for our 2e/pg ds8, but we just bought a house a couple of years ago and like where we live. It is tempting though. We're un/homeschooling ds now and part of me would do anything to be with a bunch of other pg kids like him, but I know it's not realistic based on where we live and his situation.

I think there are many positives to Davidson, but I think there are some drawbacks to it as well. From what I understand, some families have moved across the county - only to move back a couple of years later when the child is working on college/university level. Davidson Academy has a link with U. of NV at Reno, but this university isn't prestigious or rigorous as some other schools in the country and then there can be 'issues' with other students, etc. In other words, it may not be ideal or utopia.

My point is that the situation with a pg can change rapidly. They can quickly accelerate through curriculums and materials in a matter of months rather than years. You may eventually be in a position where you're going to be re-assessing and re-evaluating the situation quarterly or every couple of months.

Un/homeschooling allows the greatest flexibility in educating a pg child but, again, it may not be totally ideal. It may be a least-worst or temporary case until a child is older and able to attend college level courses online or in person.