Originally Posted by sallymom
Also, the gifted program is not advanced curriculum per se, they described it as a half day of creative projects related to reading/math topics. So it could vary widely from what she is learning in class.
Recognizing that some kids are gifted and don't need yet more drill is good. This sort of program is used by districts to contain kids within the grade level curriculum, though. We have that sort of district that does this through well-implemented differentiation: the gifted kids make lots of public service posters for the school and do plenty of enrichment in place of actually learning more.

It hasn't worked out that well for us and your DD is far beyond our kids. I would not expect this program to offer her much. In your place, knowing what I know now, I would try to either send in my own above-level material to work on in class or pull her out to someplace she would be learning something new. A friend homeschools outside of her work hours, and has a nanny during regular school hours, which works well for them.

ETA: I just realized this sort of gifted program comes with the assumption that kids only learn things IN SCHOOL when a teacher intentionally teaches it to them. This means that if they got 100% on last year's testing, and got 100% again on this year's testing, the child must have learned well from this year's teaching. How else could they have gotten the material? Because it is not possible to have known the material before it was taught.

In our experience the district resents us for sending our kids to outside tutoring to learn beyond the grade level curriculum (when it's just something the kids picked up) and would believe it's simply not possible for, say, a seven year old to read and understand college textbooks. If you are lucky, you may have teachers and administrators that will understand when they take a close look at your child, or when you have conversations with them. If not, the school people may resent you for challenging their worldview. Keep in mind that you will probably have to help them adjust, one way or another.

Not an expert, just opinionated. smile

Last edited by ljoy; 04/14/14 09:35 AM.