Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment SB5 Results - Inflated? Need advice on my DD6

Hi, I would really appreciate advice on my DD6's test results. I'm fairly new here but have a HG DS8 who is in a FT gifted classroom and have had some background on testing, etc.

My 2nd child, DD now 6 1/2 always seems to be more concerned with socializing and was never really as "academic" seeming as a preschooler as my DS. She started K last year at age 5 1/2 and after a month and a 1/2 of school, she hated it. Never wanted to go back and said she was board. So we figured we should have her IQ tested so we at least knew what might be going on with her.

We went to a nationally known tester/gifted specialist for SB5 and she was age 5.7.
She scored as follows:
NVIQ - 132
VIQ - 144
FSIQ - 140
FR - 135
KN - 131
QR - 122
VS - 143
WM - 141

We were of course, shocked that she scored so high because we really didn't see that in her. Or maybe it just presents different than our DS (he's very high in the Knowledge area and seems to "know" so much that we always thought he would be higher.)

Anyway, after receiving those results, we pulled her out of K and kept her home to "homeschool." Problem was that she fought me on all academic work the entire year. She was not at all interested in learning schoolwork and we barely did anything. It got to the point that I just figured 1st grade teacher would have to take charge of it and all would be ok.

Well, about a month before school started the program director called and said that her test scores were much higher than other GT 1st graders. They suggested a better placement for her would be the FT GT 2nd grade classroom. The school did not ask for Achievement testing and just asked if she was reading. She hates to read but seemed to be at about a 2nd grade level so I told them that she reads. I also made sure they understood that she had never really been in a school environment so this would be an adjustment.

We all agreed to give it a shot, including DD. She loves older kids and was fine with the age difference. This classroom is 2nd grade but teaches 3rd grade math and Language arts.

Well, she started school this fall and socially it is terrific. She has many friends and no issues in that area. Academics are another story. She took the MAP test and only scored like a typical 1st grader in math and reading score was only about 2nd grade level. I think the low math score was due to her total fear of reading on her own and inability to do the word problem reading. In general, she seems to completely freeze up when asked to perform at school. Very afraid to take risks and always has been.

We have her in reading tutoring right now and she still complains and says she "hates to learn." However, since starting school both my husband and I and her teacher have seen academic improvements. She is more receptive to reading and has gotten better at writing and math facts. Her teacher seems to think it will all come around and talks as if she will be moving to 3rd grade next year.

I just don't know what to think of her. If she scores this well on IQ shouldn't she be more academically interested?

and second,

Does it seem like we are expecting too much from her in this skip? The rest of the class reads about 4th grade level on average and math about 3rd grade level. My DD6 hasn't really even learned to count money or tell time yet....

Oh my, I apologize for the long post, got on a roll with typing. Thanks!

R

I wish I had a nickle for every suprised parent of a younger daughter. Girls, especially 'not first born' girls, can show themselves in very different ways.

You are describing a classic story of 'Enforced Underachievement' - keep her right where she is - the fact that she is happy socially is a good indication in this situation, that her IQ is 'real' and not an artifact of the test.

I do not think that you are expecting too much from her. Reversing Underachievement takes time. Your oldest son might lead you to think that Gifties don't need adult teaching or guidance. This isn't true for many, many gifted kids.

You are seeing improvement - stay the course!

My hat is off to your school system, BTW, they may be able to save her from a life of misunderstanding herself.

Smiles,
Grinity

Have you had her vision checked? Seems like a good precaution.
If her vision has already been checked by a 'regular eye doctor' you may want to take it to the next level with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Optometrists_in_Vision_Development

Part of me thinks it is snake oil, and part of me is very impressed with the results some families have seen, but my son is a PG/late reader, and in retrospect, I think that his eye muscles just weren't developed enough to read any earlier than 1st grade. He knew all the letters and their sounds at age 2, and was very frustrated at the time. He's 13 now! He didn't have a disability, just his body wasn't where his brain wanted it to be.
Love and More Love,
Grinity

I agree w/ Grinity - hats off to your school district! I'm just floored! In a good way for a change. 8-)

I agree about having her eyes checked by a developmental optometrist.

'm just wondering how much she compares herself to her big brother? perhaps she feels she can't measure up to him and so is scared to be proven right by trying to do academics. If you're not already, be sure to praise her effort rather than results.

Good luck!

I also agree. If she fits right in with the kids socially, I don't think that her IQ scores were inflated. It means that she belongs there, and the academics will level over time. It is a good experience, that she has to work for something unlike sitting in the classroom bored.
Good luck!

I was also surprised that achievement wasn't done. They do usually require that testing at this school. I think part of it was that they were trying to even out class sizes. Her class is small and the teacher is fine with doing "different" lessons with her if need be. The teacher has noted that the new math concepts he introduces are something my DD picks up on right away so he has seen her "ability." Although I am struggling with understanding her ability. It is so different than how it looked in my first born ds.

The 1st grade class isn't GT. Although there is a cluster of kids that will probably be moving to the GT program in 2nd grade, the teacher doesn't teach to that level (just some parent led enrichment). It still might have been a better fit right now but I think the slow pace would have gotten to her.

We have had her eyes checked (her brother had some issues that needed Vision Therapy and it turned out that his were developmental and he is fine now.) My dd does have reading glasses. The eye doctor thought this would reduce the strain enough to help her until her eyes more fully developed. It has made a difference and I hope to avoid the Vision therapy (not sure that I fully believe in all that either.) The eye doctor seemed to think this is hereditary which might explain why my 4th child (ds3 1/2) doesn't want to advance with reading. He learned his letters/sounds on his own at about 22mths and now has turned away from it. I wonder if that is a vision issue as well.

I agree that pulling her from the class now would be worse. She would have a hard time readjusting and not feeling terrible about leaving her friends behind. We are in for a year of hard work but I think in some ways it's good for my husband and I too. We have left my son slide by without a lot of homework or studying and maybe it will help all of us learn to focus and work harder.

I just hope she has reasonablly caught up by spring time but it seems to be quite a lot to learn.
R

The year my son reversed his underachievememt, I found out that I too was addicted to the 'easy A.' LOL on me! Really, the grades she gets now won't show up on her college application. As long as she develops the proper attitude towards learning - who cares if she is at the top or bottom of her class?

Smiles,
Grinity

Exactly Grinity, it might be good to experience some hard work this year and imperfect schoolwork.

We sat down today and taught her to tell time to the minute in about 20mins so I guess maybe the scores weren't that off.

She seems to be opening up more and more each day. It's actually kind of cool to see this change happening. I think I'm beginning to believe she is actually capable of all this. And she seems to be gaining confidence.

I am going to try to do some more reading on underachievemnt so that I can do my best to help.

Thanks!
R

R
I really liked the book 'Genius Denied' for the parts about 'enforced underachievement.' What a concept!

My son also blossomed in a way that was cool to see - he started being interested in 'uncool things' such as the Rubix Cube, and even showed off his ability to his friends who weren't 'academic achievers.' That was so different from the boy I knew before the gradeskip. That boy was only concerned with being 'normal.'

Smiles,
Grinity

new