Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy frustrated in 1st Grade?

Grinity - thanks! This is an amazing place for support and people to help me lighten up during some of the frustration.

That's a great story! That's what teachers are supposed to do. Sadly, it is often the teachers in the Pre-K and K that are comfortable with a wide range of developmental places within the classroom, and the rest of elementary seems to be most concerned with leveling the kids out.

Glad you got my TV reference. I do feel like that barking dog sometimes. Blues Clues used to make me cry because 'Steve' was so interested in what was on Blue's mind, even if it wasn't easy to find out.

((Hugs))
Grinity

Thanks.

I asked the principal (with some gifted experience) if she would test my DD6 first grader. She said, "that sort of request needs to come from the teacher and NO the school can't test everybody. I'm thinking she needs more challenge and her brother was tested with 140 IQ so that would be reasoning enough. The school tested DS becuase of behavior.

I have a conference coming up with her teacher. MY DD is a "perfect student" at school, straight As, friends, good listener, ect. I'm not expecting her Young teacher to have gifted experience. She is adored by my daughter. Any ideas to incourage testing request to the principal from the teacher?

I think it would be so nice if she was in DYS with her brother. I really don't know if she is a good canidate. DS has all the gifted charateristic. DD is very quick to learn and ahead of peers but not an obssessive learner like her brother.

If the school does not do the testing, I may have it done which will be hard finacially. So if I wanted to start with just one test, Which test should I pick? Do you agree it's a good idea at this age or is there a reason to wait. Should I wait until after the summer, when I get her cogat scores?

Our school informed me that they see no reason to test someone who is exceeding grade level. Umm, yeah, that doesn't seem the brightest to me. But since he is becoming more of a problem maybe they will decide to test him now? I guess they have to exceed lvl AND be a behavior issue?

Depending on the state, parent recommendations are a valid way to have a kid tested. Here in Pittsburgh, they definitely let a parent request testing. You should check the laws in the State and school district. A lot of times schools try to discourage you by saying the child doesn't need it so they don't spend money on the testing, but they cannot blow you off if you present the request in writing.

Our school is private and doesn't do testing unless there is a problem. The public schools do the testing just by parents request but children must be enrolled.

I'll have to look into that. We're in a small school district so I'm unsure what they can/will do. We are supposed to be having a SST (student study team) meeting which I guess is the first step to deciding if he needs anything different. I'm hoping that they decide to do some testing. Technically he went through a different school district's evaluation process at 3 1/2 but I'm not sure how valid that still is at 5 1/2.

I think we'll be looking into having him tested after he turns 6 on our own dime.

onthegomom, find some articles on gifted girls. Most won't be a behavior issue. Take them with you when you talk to her teacher!

Just ask the teacher to refer you DD for testing. You can say that you are worried about DD's 'self esteem' if DS gets all this special accomidations and she doesn't - you don't have to mean it! 'Self esteem' is a hot button issues with most schools.

Do you have any stories that support the 'she needs more challenge' statement? If so, I would share those because I think that this is the 'better' argument, even if the schools won't get it.

Just ask!

Smiles,
Grinity