being able to take the SAT in seventh grade was a wonderful experience for me because it was the first time I felt like I had any sort of recognition for having academic ability. It is hard to see differences when everyone is doing the same grade level work and these out of level tests can be very useful.
So true!! My husband's words are that, with validations that the kids get from outside activities, we can afford to ignore what the teachers have to say. My DS13 has had so much trouble at school for not paying attention in class, reading in class to the point that he couldn't hear the teachers, not participating in classroom discussions, forgetting to turn in homework--all because these activities were so much below his level that it was hard for a kid to play along day in and day out. A friend recommended that we let him take the SAT/ACT and said that the tests were a huge confidence booster for her kid who had the same issues at school. And it really worked for my son!
