I wonder about Characteristics vs. Scores? DS in 3rd Grade is an obsessive self motivated learner, who gets things very quickly, with quick reading speed and wonderful comprehension. I do believe it's not only what you have, it's what you do with it.

When you have a highly motivated learner but didn't give him exactly what he has asked for is that person just as Gifted as a child who really followed his own lead. Will the IQ reflect ability potential with out having enough opportunity. In math for example he could be much more knowledgeable at this point if he was exposed to more. He will be taking a IQ test at school. WJIII already given.

In some ways My DS9 has been held back by me. Well, maybe I should actually say I redirected. I question what I'm doing sometimes but I feel like it's not so much what he learns it's more about learning and the joy of it. Is this the best approach if school does not support accelloration? I do try to follow much of his leads. I certainly wouldn't take something out of his hands and say don't learn this now.

Acceleration vs. Enrichment??????

Here is an example of redirecting. My DS's Spelling words he knows the first day. I think he feels obligated to be a good student and wants to study them every day. I tried to tell him if you know it the first day you can be done. Just review the day before the test. That did not satisfy him. I suggest he go on Spelling City because he could practice his typing and do the games. He liked that. He said to me the other day he would like to do more advance words on spellingcity. I said if you really want to you can but how about spending your time doing something else. He jumped on the opportunity to do Scratch to learn computer programing. So the big question is What does this redirection say to the child? Am I sending the wrong message in a way?

Here is another way I've held him back. He is very sensitive and has had some scarey dream issues at time. I was worried about advancing to quickly to unapproprate book content so even though I knew he could read higher level, I just let him go with series after series. He read 350 books in 7 months - most only a grade up. Finally, He complained about lack of details so I moved him forward so I let it go.

2nd Grade was a socking experience for me, when I realized he was learning very little material. I never told him the following thought I had - Why should he learn anything acedemic outside of school, it will just make school more boring? I have noticed a decline in Non fiction type learning to more Fiction. I not sure this is so bad. Could it just be a change in interest???

This kid has jumped on most opportunities I suggest - Magic tricks, Balloon Animals, Yo YO tricks, Cats Cradle String Games, Comic Strips,Drawing, Lego Robotics Class, Nature classes, Mindware Math Books, Chess Club, Writers Workshop with Gifted online summer Course, ect. The list is endless. He loves projects.

School is making some nice enrichment opportunities. It certainly is not the perfect situation. He is up a grade in Math. I think he will be ok this year. He does have some tolerance (within reason) for too simple stuff because he really wants to be a good school boy.

I do understand that if Math talent is not developed by a certain age they may not reach their potential. He is most gifted in Math according to Achievement scores so far. I encourage expanding his Math talents with the Mindware Math books. I have not accelerated Math at home. My husband is the Mathie parent and has never redirected his requests. One day he found DS up in his room trying to figure out square roots- so he showed him. I think this is good. He never pushes. DH just follows his lead. Can he reach his potential if we hold him off for a while and keep him enriched. Can it wait until Highschool? Science and Math are a major passion

At this point, maybe there is a better solution with school but I still need more information before I would be comfortable making a big change. Money is a issue too. I don't feel totally panicked right now. School is about to make some more accommodations. It might be enough for now.

Our principal believes in enrichment by given a child more depth. I am thankful for this. Ex. Ds has finished 40 of his 50 AR goals for the year. So instead of more AR, She will allow him to do an art project related to future books so the reading becomes more meaningful. This seems good to me. They are letting him read above level books.

Reading, Math, Spelling are easier for me to see what he needs.