Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Leveling off?

When DS now 8 was in K, he tested at 4.2 at the beginning of the year. The next quarter he was higher still at 4.9. The rest of the year he stayed level. I too questioned this, but as he was allowed to supply his own reading material that part wasn't an issue.

A very wise teacher put forth the idea that he was busy learning other things, filling in the gaps, making monstrous leaps in math and probably wasn't focused too much on free reading. She suggested that I let it lie for a bit and see what happened.

It turned out to be excellent advice. The following year, he tested in at 7.3. Over the last two years, we've had a few more of these lulls in various subjects but he always rebounds in a big way.

I would consider letting it lie for a bit. Even if it does turn out to be something, she is far enough ahead that a little lull isn't going to affect the long term.

Shari - I was going to say the same thing. When DD now 8 was in kinder/1st grade the same thing happened to her too. Her reading level had been determined by AR testing and STAR reading tests and the books she selected for those tests were not at her reading level, but rather at her interest level. (Her interest in the illustrations in the books at the time. ) For her if the book's pictures were well done it was a much better book and much more worth her while than a book more at her reading level, but with lower quality pictures. Her ability and interest in art and illustrations is now stronger than ever, so I think she was too busy investigating her new found artistic ability than in improving an already amazing reading level.
Her level has increased quite a bit since then (to the point that her teacher had to call the test makers to get help understanding her comprehension results on a recent test because they were so high she was sure there was a problem with them. ).

This is why our kids need really good GT specialists. This is outside the norm of the overall students. Would a teacher tell a special ed students's parents that their children will "level off"?

I'm glad that DS's teachers at least have the sense to have him start over at the beginning and keep counting when he finishes the page! Sheesh!



Love it! Must remember this.

Yes, sadly, all the time! Despite the opinion of numerous "experts", the development of individuals with Down syndrome does not reach a 'ceiling' or 'plateau' in adolescence. Like everyone else, they continue to learn into adult life and to grow as people, if given the opportunity to do so. The so-called 'ceiling' discussed in past literature was almost certainly the result of the lack of medical care and educational and social experience.

Ah --- so sorry to hear that this is true. How preposterous, and yet, so many things are preposterous.

They used the STAR test. I think it was the same problem as Kerry mentioned.

Still investigating. I am meeting with her teacher after spring break.

Also, I do think DD has been concentrating a lot on music lately. Her piano teacher mentioned that she thinks DD is having a huge cognitive leap- she is playing some challenging pieces very well. Also, her sight reading has soared. She is intrinsically motivated to practice right now, and probably spends more time at the piano than reading books. So that may be part of it as well.

I think one mistake we make is assuming that reading grows at a nice continual ramp. What I have seen with my kids is much more like a step function. They do level off or plateau, until they suddenly jump.

Now is that real leveling? No. They are definitely absorbing a ton at that level before the next leap.

My oldest went into K reading at about a 3rd to 4th grade level. She stayed there for quite a while, and really only went up a bit. During the summer between 1rst and second grade she leaped to a 7th grade level.

My other child was reading at a 2nd grade level at 4, and was reading at a 3rd grade level by K. She leveled off there, and went on a chapter book strike for a year. The summer between K and 1rst grade, she made the next step in her step function, and was reading at a minimum of a md 5th grade level.

I think when we have kids that grow in more a step function fashion, we think when they are at the bottom of the cliff, that they are not doing anything. They are. They are absorbing a ton, until they suddenly leap a few grade levels.

I would not be surprised if your daughter's reading level makes a jump to 6th-7th grade at some point.

At least your school does test reading level lol
Our school doesn't even know what that means.
Well either laugh or cry right : )

i know it may sound ignorant, what is this reading at 3.4 or 4.9 etc, in my DD school they use guided reading levels (listed as A-Z)
Can somebody educate me to correlate numbers with alphabets

thanks