Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional A bit if a surprise

So my rising 2nd grader, the one I've been concerned all year that he has dyslexia, the one who "hates" reading (has always loved being read to, mind you) is suddenly reading at a fifth grade level. Quite fluently. He was at a third grade level a few weeks ago - reading 3.1 level books. It seemed like one week his reading picked up - like he was reading more easily, fluently. Then he got out the DK reader on Greek myths and was reading it to his little brother at night for bed time. That spurred him to grab our McElderry book of Greek myths to compare the different versions. He's been reading that to me at night for his reading aloud. He's really doing well with it and I looked up the grade level for it and its at fifth grade level. I'm just amazed at the sudden leap. He did just finish that intense therapy (sensory integration, with OT and balametrics) and he now seems to have no trouble with left and right and seems better coordinated. I wonder if that is a factor. Anyone else have something like this happen? Maybe it's a common 2e occurrence?

Even his word skipping and substituting has significantly decreased....

Both of my kids were sort of like this. Second D, who is 2E, especially... she was slow starting to read, really just getting the hang of it first semester of 1st grade. Her first grade teacher was concerned that she was not a better reader given her very large vocabulary. But when she got going, it was like a rocket taking off. By fall of 2nd grade year, she was reading the full three volume trilogy of Lord of the Rings. She is headed for college this fall, and I have watched that type of lag -- then blazing progress again and again over the years. Have come to expect it. Not sure if it is part of being 2E or just her personality (once she decides to do something, it is OVER -- but until then she just dawdles along).

or just her personality (once she decides to do something, it is OVER -- but until then she just dawdles along)

Could be. DD is like that, too.

When she's motivated, it's as though the floodgates open-- but until then, good luck getting anything out of her.

Irena one of my kids is 2e (MG, dyslexic, CAPD, SPD, AS). She was struggling with the alphabet still in 2nd grade, as in she mostly had it but really didn't reliably have the name and sound for every letter. She was improving but limping along at the end of 2nd. Slow improvement through 3rd. RADICAL improvement through 4th. 2-4yrs advanced in reading by 5th....

For her I think that multiple things were at play, most of them 2E related - remediation of various struggles helped A LOT (OT, piano and swimming for left/right integration and crossing the midline, diet was huge, maturity helped) and she actually IS gifted, once she climbed over those massive obstacles her strengths could actually come in to play. She wasn't reading delayed because she was intellectually delayed and once the decoding and other technical aspects were finally under control she shot up to her actual intellectual ability really fast.

We had more than one specialist tell us that kids who are as delayed as she was in 2nd don't catch up, they fall further and further behind. She still doesn't really "look gifted" at school (and she's never going to be PG) - but the manner in which she has overcome major obstacles is a very clear testament to the fact that she is unusually bright to mildly gifted.

MON: I love this.

DeeDee