Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Not sure if I belong here

Hello there,

I'm not entirely sure I belong here, but I think I do.

When it came time to send my now 6 year old to K, we decided against it, since we had already committed to homeschooling for his elder brother who was displaying some developmental problems. The problem is, I have absolutely no idea if he is gifted, because I don't have anyone to compare him with as it were.

He was reading at 2.5, I know that is advanced, he also has an incredible vocabulary for his age *I think*. But the thing that really stands out about him, is his processing speed with math and the speed with which he can pick up a new concept. He amazes me, since he is faster than I am. I recently showed him how to multiply multiple digit numbers, I showed him one time and now he is off multiplying big numbers all over the place (and for fun!), I also played a you tube vid of someone doing a complicated math trick and he mastered that too after seeing it once. It seems to take him only a split second to add numbers together and take them away.

I'm thinking that he is probably gifted and I would like to get him access to some programs if he is, but I'm really not sure where to start since we aren't going through the school this time.

We recently enrolled him in an EPGY open enrollment program (actually, it was just yesterday and he went from grade level 0.0 to 2.2 in a day!), but I'd like to get him more help and it seems like these programs require IQ testing? How can I get him tested without a school being involved?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Ok, just read through more of the forums and found the answers to my questions and many more. If DS is gifted, I have so much to learn!

LOL tofu,
I wrote you a big long post, and then hit the wrong button and the whole thing went bye-bye!

Here are a few favorite links, to digest. Make sure that you get back to us with your new questions as soon as you are able, ok?

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/gifted_101.htm

and

http://www.educationaloptions.com/resources/resources_levels_giftedness.php

There is a really good book, http://www.educationaloptions.com/resources/resources_books_journals.php
which I particularly recommend if you are seeking testing, as it clues you in to 'how hard I have to search to find a tester who is not only 'good with gifted' but perhaps 'good with highly or profoundly gifted.'

Have Fun,
Grinity

Hi Tofu and welcome. I have two DS's - 5 years and 7 years - and they certainly keep me very busy! This is a great forum and everyone here is very supportive and full of advice (I am usually one of the people asking for advice...).

Doesn't look like, at least at first glance, that you need to worry about belonging here. I've found this a wonderful, supportive site as I am just beginning to navigate all this with my own DD6.

Read through the messages in the testing forum. You'll probably find a lot of very helpful information. And then, begin looking for a private psychologist experienced in testing gifted children.

Best Wishes,
Crazy Daisy

just wanted to add a welcome.

Hi and welcome!

You can always go through a private tester if you wanted to get him tested without going through the school. We went through the school board for the IQ test since it was free and then I went to a psychologist for the academic tests.

Good luck!

Thank you so much to everybody for the warm welcome! I am so happy to have found a place where its ok to talk about the kind of things he is doing, such a relief!

I will definitely check out those resources, Ginty, thank you! My local B&N say they don't have that book, so I'm going to order online.

I'm also going to start the search for a good psychologist in our area.

Thanks again!

You may have to order it directly from the publisher or the author, because it is going through a title change.

Enjoy

Yes, welcome Tofu. You will be happy you found this place!

Welcome Tofu!

Reading your post I have to ask about your older child. You mentioned some problems that led to homeschooling and I have to wonder if the problems are tied to him being gifted as well. It isn't absolute but there is evidence suggesting that siblings IQs are usually about 10 pts apart. You might not have picked up on your older sons traits like your younger one since the younger son is clearly showing his abilities. Some gifted children have other issues which is classified as 2E (Twice Exceptional) and your older son might very well be one of those kids. Again ... I don't know what you have experienced but it is definitely worth considering, because a lot of gifted kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD when they really have something under SI. (just an example)

Thanks again, everybody!! I have ordered the book and am anxiously awaiting its delivery.

Katelyn'sMom: My eldest son is biologically mine, but not my husbands, so I'm thinking he could just be completely different.

The more I look into this, my younger two, who are biologically my husbands, are both displaying signs of being very gifted. My husband was/is also gifted, he was tested but we don't know his scores, we do know that he was invited to join Mensa, when he was very young. I was a good student, but I don't know if I was gifted, as I was never tested, same for my eldest sons biological father. The pediatrician suggested we have my eldest tested when he was 6 because I had mentioned that he was struggling at school. We were referred to a psychologist, he was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type and fell into the high-average IQ range.