Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments I Don't Agree with Recommendation for Son

Diamondblue,

Are these the requirements for the one-day per week gifted program at his current school that you mentioned in the OP or are they the requirements for a full-time gifted program? Whichever program they are for, I'd just add that it looks like the school is looking for the typical high-achieving-in-the-classroom student rather than an outside-the-box super-high-IQ type student... so you might find once he gets into the program that it was perhaps *better* than where he's at now but still not *enough*.

I can empathize completely with the situation you are in - we've been in that very same place, and had a tough time in early elementary getting a teacher recommendation for our ds to be considered for our local gifted program. Our is 2e so that's part of the issue that was up here, but really - now that he's older and has accommodations for the 2e issues etc in place - he still doesn't really "look" like that super-eager-to-get-straight-As high-achieving student that is also friendly, cute, adorable and all that. I'm not trying to sound snarky here either - that is basically the description of what our school district's elementary school teachers were looking for in referring kids for gifted screening. We did successfully advocate for our ds to be id'd as gifted... but ultimately we realized that we were getting a label but not getting what ds needed, and we gave up on our local public schools. We didn't have an HG program here offered outside of the public schools, but the school we landed in ultimately worked much better for our ds anyway, because they are willing to differentiate based on ability, it's a small school with an interesting, challenging, creative and fun curriculum, and most importantly - the teachers genuinely *like* our ds and they care enough to be interested in his deep thoughts and out-there ideas. Having a teacher who cares has meant more to ds than any type of gifted program could ever have. Ideally the teacher and program would come together - but when things aren't working, it's time to consider what your alternatives are.

Best wishes,

polarbear

eta - fwiw, I wanted to add, I think you have a very strong case for an appeal. I'd include work you have for his portfolio, as well as a recommendation from any other adults who know your ds well (preschool teacher, piano teacher, whoever...).