I agree completely with kcab. I believe that the ability for giftedness does not wax or wane, but the expression of that ability - the part that we measure and observe - does. If a gifted child ends up in the middle of the pack in 7th grade, then that is called underachievement. It a *regular* child suddenly shoot ahead in 7th grade, then they were probably a gifted child that never had the fire and love of learning sparked before.

It is the primary job of education to find that spark in all children. The heights to which that spark takes them is based on their giftedness.

Mom to DS12 and DD3