Hi Wolfson,
Sorry to hear that your dd isn't enjoying school. It's interesting that you are asking "Can a gifted child thrive in a a school that has no gifted program?"
In a way, even her current school, that is labeled a gifted school doesn't have a 'good academic fit' gifted program for your particular daughter. I have heard this story many times - the school 'says' it's gifted, and meets the needs of many gifted children - but doesn't meet the needs of a particular 'highly gifted' kid.
not because the academic are hard (as they are not for her, AT ALL),
So that tells me that the current schools program was not a match for your DD. By 3rd grade a child should have to work hard some of the time. This is particularly a problem if the other kids are obviously working hard - observing this messes with a kid's head.
So what is the answer? It doesn't matter what the school is labeled, it matters the vision of the people who work there.
1) Can they understand that hard work is part of what a child needs to grow? (The only way to build self-esteem is by tackling jobs initally that appear difficult to the child.)
2) Can they see your dd's academic needs for what they really are?
3) Are they willing to use their resources flexibly to meet her academic needs?
4) Are they willing to group your DD with kids who share her academic readiness level - even if - gasp - the kids are older, even quite a bit older?
5) Do they create a school environment where everyone is valued, or is conformity the top value?
Hope that helps,
Grinity
