Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Need Advice

My son did not pass the screener in school, it was the KBIT. He is in first grade. He scored below 100 on the matrices part of the test. This is where I thought he would excel.

I had him tested outside the school and as it turns out he actually reached the ceilings in at least 3 of the fluid intelligence areas of the test. This, averaged in with his other scores, put him just two points below the usual gifted threshold for our school district.

His fluid intelligence scores, though, are in the 99th percentile.

I'm looking for any advice,... the gifted program in our school district would be right up his alley. It spends most of it's time with science and experiments. This is what really excites him and motivates him and they do very little of this within his normal first grade class.

They are still processing and evaluating him for the program with the outside's psychologist's recommendation for a gifted program.

Thanks for all and any help

Ellen

Hi Ellen,

First of all, my humble opinion is don't give up on the school yet. You mentioned they are still evaluating him for the gifted program. You have an outside psychologist's recommendation.
Does his teacher seem to think he would benefit from the program?
If so, that teacher recommendation could go a long way.
Keep working with the school and keep a friendly line of communication open.
I know this is an anxiety provoking situation, however, try not to worry what will happen if he doesn't get into the gifted program. See what happens with the school first.
If you charge right in with swords drawn, they will circle the wagons on you so fast, you'll never have a chance.
You never know, you might be surprised, they may admit him on the psy's rec.

Keep us posted,

Incog

FWIW, neither one of my girls did well on the matrices test they were given as a screener, but they're both very verbal. We're still working on getting them identified. Hopefully, they will accept the outside testing, which is no doubt more comprehensive.