I realize this is very broad but I'm looking for some insight.
Do schools generally believe in the talent searches research and reccomendations. Do they believe in gifted experts or does the information have to come from a more traditional education
source?

My son is too young for talent searches, but I'm guessing this depends entirely on the school. The founder/director of my son's private school was a former student of Julian Stanley, the talent search pioneer, and relies heavily on gifted experts and the literature. However, when I visited our local public school, the counselor I talked to there clearly had no interest in (and was even dismissive of) any of the above.

I agree that it depends on the personnel at any given school. The principal at my son's school wouldn't acknowledge giftedness even if Galileo, daVinci and Hawking were all enrolled this year!

You may want to inquire before committing any time or money, if school changes are the only reason you're looking into talent searches.

I'm wondering about reactions to talent search assessment. DS will be taking the Explore and they will give a report based on results.

Also when the principal did research on acceleration in Math I don't think she looked at gifted resources. She did refer to the gifted teacher as very knowledgeable.

My DD10's school actually gave us a Duke TIP invitation based on her state testing scores and TIP is linked from the GT teacher's website. We're in an upper-middle-class suburban public school. I'm not sure what, if anything, they do with the talent search testing results. I haven't asked for any acceleration (yet).

DD is taking EXPLORE in February as well. Good luck!

The problem is that most 'educators' only see giftedness in their own terms. So, if you have a child who is a whiz at maths then they are seen as gifted. If the child can ask in depth questions that challenge, or has 'unusual' interests or talents then they don't even register. In my experience, that is.
Having struggled, and still struggling with this with my just turned 10 yo I am just about to give upon getting any recognition, resigning myself to providing all the important lessons outside of 'education'.

I have come up with a quote, which I think after years of frustration I think sums my feelings up - and I would have it pinned on the desk of every teacher who comes into contact with my son

“It is my honest opinion that the measure of a child’s intellect is not in what he knows, and the knowledge he possesses, but in the depth and intelligence of the questions he asks”

This put into words the similarities I see with both of my kids. They both seem to have amazing comprehension and depth.

The difference I do see is DS has strongly wanting to learn so much and has gained so much knowledge. DD does not have the same desire or quanity learned. Does that make her any less gifted? Can anyone speak to this?

Lately, DD seems to be wanting more learning. Maybe a reaction to school.

onthegomom

Perhaps DD learns in a different way than DS.

Some kids pore over books for hours. Others are like my son, who hates reading. He sits and plays with model soldiers, or makes little sculptures, just 'playing' but at the same time he will have put a CD on - maybe history or science, sometimes a Roald Dahl story - and he just soaks it up. Not only that he is thinking all the time. Another thing, after his story at bedtime he will put a history or science CD on and just read a comic and listen to the CD until he nods off. Another way he learns is by starting a conversation about something, then his mind finds a path and we are soon discussing meaty issues and subjects that interest him. More hard work for you, tho', if your child starts asking toughies, or expects you to know the answers :-)