W's Mama - thanks very much. I just heard back from DYS last week and we were given a similar response to you - reapply within 6 months. I'm not sure if they will accept new portfolio samples without new test scores in our case, but I did ask and am waiting for a response.
In our case, I submitted samples of work 3 grades ahead, more for reading but it wasn't enough.
Like you I submitted work that DS7 had done spontaneously on his own, from his previous school, or from grade level that he had been working on (3rd grade stuff). I didn't think about handing him some worksheets from grade 5/6, videotaping him, and seeing if it would convince them.
I got the feeling that they really want the test scores AND the portfolio. One problem for us is that DS was not cooperative with the WJ-III test or earlier WPPSI and we now have to wait another year or so before we can re-test. Another problem is that DS has not been productive or doing much in math and therefore I don't have anything that jumps out to identify him as DYS material. It's frustrating because he's reading adult-level books on ancient Egypt. Now reading this thread, perhaps I should consider videotaping him reading such a book and submitting that to DYS. I don't know.
I'm beginning to think that a lot of it is due to exposure. I'm not a math person, but I know DS7 will eventually take off in math. Yet I can't converse in math well like I can in history/English or talk about advanced math/logic puzzles or mathy things that would appeal to DS and DYS. Urgh. As a result, I've enrolled DS into Math Circles this term.
I'm just thinking - another problem is that DS likes to do the really advanced stuff (i.e. reading adult-level books on ancient Egypt or reading Murderous Maths books) in his bedroom on his own. So any suggestions here? DS can be a bit of a control freak, introvert.
Staceychev - I think you're right. I think it's easier with a mathy/science/engineering/physics kid for DYS. It can be harder to capture the creative, highly imaginative ones. I had some of the same issues you had with school and gathering work samples. I'm now homeschooling and trying to recover from it, which is easier said than done.
Bronalex - I can understand how you feel. I think DYS could word their rejections differently.
