Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion no testing until 3rd grade???

Hi - I don't think there can be any "official" checklist for gifted characteristics, but this link (found on hoagies) has a good list:
http://www.nswagtc.org.au/info/identification/characteristics.html. Each state that provides gifted services will likely have its own requirements for qualifying for programs, and they might provide some info on their identification processes.

FWIW, I would say that getting 100% on all work and tests plus extra credit is "not being challenged enough."

Yes, I agree. Thanks.

I wouldn't go there. I'd just shrug and give that little tilted smile, and say, "I'm sorry it's extra work for you, but we feel that we need to be prepared."

We Gifties think that if we give another person enough facts, that they will suddently agree with us. That might work with us, but with ND folks, appealing to the emotions is the better route.

I might be confused, but I thought you said that your school was allowing subject acceleration (where your son physically goes to different classrooms during the day?)

I stand by my position that IF the school is already accomidating the child, then the 'paperwork' is worth very little. Sadly, even if the school isn't accomidating then the 'paperwork' is still worth very little - unless it answers your own questions about your child.

If you want to know where you child stands in a subject area, get your school's books in that subject area for various grade levels and see what your kid can do, or learn quickly.

I believe that to develop good work ethic, a child needs to spend lots and lots of time in his or her 'readiness level.'

Best Wishes,
Grinity

I would say that 100% plus extra credit represents a 'ceiling.' It certianly is possible to get enough challege and still get 100%s, although I don't think it's likely.

see, this is where only reading some of the posts gets me in trouble - i see "is there a checklist?" and i give a checklist. I tend to agree with Grinity that if you're school is willing to accelerate to the point that you are satisfied that he is learning and being sufficiently challenged, there's no need for any additional paperwork/testing.

(Grinity's the BTDT grounded person around here!)

Yes, subject acceleration is common in this school. Since we are still in the 1st month of school, they have just finished "reveiwing" last years studies & she is now "evaluating" where each child stands so she can place them in groups or in another class. So, we are not there yet. Reading groups don't start until 10/1.

So, I am waiting to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Oh no! Well, good for your DS. I guess that's something to keep in mind. Even with radical acceleration, some of these kiddos will still be at the top of the class.

(By the way, i'm only speaking from my own experience of not ever having enough challenge in school, and that was years ago. DS4 isn't there yet.)

OK, here's the new news...DS6 teacher told me today that she called the district & they told her that if testing was requested by a parent, they had to follow through. Also, a parent could request this test & evaluation every year if they wanted.

On the otherhand, if a teacher saw giftedness in a child, they could not test until 3rd grade.

I received the packet to give the teacher...of course, I had to peek inside & see what it contained! It is not the "huge" packet of work that she had told me it would be. It is 4-5 pages of questions about his behavior & academics.

I will give it to her this afternoon.

Our meeting is set for 10/9.

Well it's weird that a teacher can't request testing until 3rd grade (although the studies say that most teachers are quite bad at spotting giftedness,) I think it's wonderful that if the parents request testing, it must be done!

I guess a teacher could type up a request and ask the parent to sign it - LOL! I basically sign anything that I find in my kid's backpack by reflex.

I'm glad to hear that the form is only a few pages.

I'm sorry that your son has to wait for October. That is such a long time for our littlest young ones. 15 lifetimes, I would estimate.

Love and More Love,
Grinity

That must be their unofficial policy. Basically the school will delay testing until third grade unless somebody makes a stink. Anyway, you have a small victory. But prepare yourself for the possibility that they will look over the test scores and checklists and say that they want to wait until third grade for the gifted testing. I believe they tell ALL parents to wait and only test when pressed.
Good luck at the meeting!