I'm Jen. Live in Texas. Writer and SAHM. My daughter, 8 (Nov.) qualified for GT at 7 yrs using acheievement tests (COGAT) and ITBS (Iowa I think it is). My son, 5 (6 in July) qualified for GT at 5 yrs 5 months taking the exact same tests as his older sister. These tests do not give us IQ and we haven't done further testing, yet.
Texas is an interesting state. I believe that they will provide K12 homeschooling curriculum to any homeschooling family who wants it. They will also provide a grade skip to anyone who can pass their draconian tests. I would reccomend asking, in writing, that your son get thoses tests now, while in the lower grades. Have you connected with the state gifted association? Even if you don't homeschool, try connecting with other homeschooling parents on the idea that the most extreame kids are going to be disproportionatly represented in the homeschooling bunch. Lots of what you are asking will be told to you by the IQ tester you hire - the point isn't to have a number, the point is to get guidance for you and the school as to what "might" work.
One year after qualifying for GT, my DD was diagnosed as dyslexic, though my research says it's dyspraxia. She can read at 6th grade level, comprehend at 9th grade, but can't write or spell above 1st grade. The classroom teacher, language tester were both floored at her tests: "We've never seen anyone like this and honestly, aren't quite sure how to handle it."
Here's the story. The more you do, the less ownership the school takes. Request an IEP, again in physical hard copy, if that hasn't happend yet. They are responsible for her education. Keep reminding them or pull her out and homeschool. They have a state education board and professionals that they turn to, so play dumb and ask them, "Isn't there someone on a state level who supports schools when they don't know what to do?" Asking for them to put in writing that they can not met her educational needs may also help spur things forward, obviously this can be confrontational, so be sure to smile, act like they are your best friends, and continue to play dumb. "Of course your motto is: "Educate every child" so of couse you would want to help move things forward by giving me a little note that says what you just told me, dear.
Who knows? The state may end up paying a private tutor to come to your house and do school that way. I've never heard of it, but yes, they do have a responsibility to provide for kids with disibilities. Its a law. Your job is to be aware of your kids strengths and keep asking questions until they, at the very least, provide gradeskips for your son, and special ed. services for your daughter that also challenges her strengths.
My son has only been in school 180 days in his short lifetime and we'd been dreading those days since he was 8 months. You know how you can just tell their personality, especially the strong ones? He was 1 yr and the family saying was, "he's so intelligent and so charming, he'll either be a great leader or leader of a cult. *Use your powers for good, Luke* Hee Hee
I do know exactly the type of personality you discribe. Yes, personality has a lot to do with school fit.
We knew DS had mastered all "required" K material before stepping in the school but fear of being labeled "pushy" held us back. Then finally when the GT teacher tested him people believed us. She sat there glowing about him: "He did this thing; I've never had a student do this at any age. He'd explain to me each and every step as he was answering the question and WHY he was answering it that way. It was exhausting. I'm not sure what to do with him, as we've never had a Kindergartener qualify before."
Well, the first step in making a change is to admit our mistakes. Of course we don't want to look like pushy parents. I think that how we act matters a lot more than what we actually do. All that smiling and listening and nodding really helps. "Getting to yes" is a very good book on negotiation, in general.
There is a Davidson service called
http://www.educatorsguild.org/for schools. I would suggest that the school personel get in touch with them right away, because "of course" we know that you are committed to learning new things when the old things don't apply.
Can you see our common issue between two VERY different children? The school has verbally admitting WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. So, I'm spending my summer researching so I can TELL THEM WHAT TO DO with my children.
If you are in a position to spend the money on testing privatly, I would suggest that you put that on the summer agenda, start with DS if you have to stagger it, as his problems may not be mandated to be served by the school, and are possibly easily solved (by acceleration) in the short term. Read -
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0910707553...7553&creative=373489&camp=211189for more info. Also at
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/iowa_accel_scale.htmAnother book you will find very helpful is -
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0910707464...7464&creative=373489&camp=211189Re-Forming Gifted Education: How Parents and Teachers Can Match the Program to the Child (Paperback)
by Karen B. Rogers
Book Description
This book is a real eye-opener for educators and parents unfamiliar with the full body of research in the field of curriculum for gifted education. Many current programs for gifted students are not adequate. Other programs do not fit the needs of particular gifted children. Rogers uses a solid base to explain to parents and educators what is needed in both cases. Various types of acceleration and enrichment, as well as grouping practices, are examined. For each educational option, Rogers delineates what the current research says about the benefit or lack of benefit to gifted children.
Features:
* A sample inventory to determine strengths and weaknesses.
* Designing an educational plan to fit a child's academic and social needs.
* Explanations of current gifted education research.
* Benefits of gifted educational options.
* Recommendations for gifted education curriculum.
About the Author
Dr. Rogers is Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, MN. She has published over 80 articles on curriculum for gifted students. Her paper for the National Research Center on Gifted and Talented has been read by over 500,000 people worldwide.
Sorry, I just have NO ONE to talk to about my concerns; even another GT parent has told me: "You only want to test him more so you/your husband can brag about how smart he is. WE focus on teaching our daughter to be a good, kind person" (implying that we don't)
OUCH! Yeah, we see this. My Sister in Law asked me, after attending a lecture on gifted ed together - "You spend a lot more time on this than I do. Is it that you kid is so much more gifted than mine, or just that I'm a lousy Mother?"
Way back then I was so naive. I talked about "school fit" and that it isn't about how gifted that child is, it's about meeting that child's learning needs. Now I would say - "Honey, could you please rephrase the question? What is it you are trying to find out?"
And THIS is someone I trusted with my most private frustrations (how he started having toilet accidents mid-year b/c he was so upset, bored, whatever in K);
Ouch. ((hugs))
how he's smarter than me and weaves his way around my rules until I'm dizzy,
Read Sylvia Rimm. this doesn't have to happen! Don't let it continue! But yes, I have BTDT.
how much guilt I feel everytime I waste an afternoon letting them both veg on TV.
((shrug)) My guess is that you have some perfectionistic tendencies also? Time to wake up, give credit and blame where it is due, and start to show by example that how a person can possibly live in a wonderful but imperfect world. This may not make sense yet, but it will. You can not afford to lie to yourself that you are 100% in charge of the outcomes of your children. Yes you are powerful, but .....
So welcome to the forum. Keep us posted. We care, and won't get an attitude.
BTW, you may have noticed that spelling is a problem for me. So is my handwriting. But with typing and spell check, mostly no one knows. Except here, where, if there is spell check, I can't find it. I promise you that I have a good job and a good life, although there were some confusions along the way. HTH ((wink))
Love and More Love,
Trinity
