It surprised me how many on this forum have younger children higher on the scale than their older children. How many studies have been done that show the eldest to typically also be the smartest (for whatever reasons). Interesting...
For us DD9 is HG and DD8 is EG/PG - depending on the chart you use. DD8 was a total shock for us because we were just hoping she would score well enough to qualify for the gifted program at school. After all the reading and research I did after DD9 was tested, I still didn't have a clue with DD8. I just kept thinking and saying, "but she is so social".
I believe DD9 may actually be higher than her tests results say because she just goes with the flow and doesn't get too worked up about answering the questions correctly. She is also our child that will give a wrong answer just to see if you catch her doing it. DD8 on the other hand will really think things through before answering and is more deliberate. She is the pleaser and wants to be right. However, I also still have a gut feeling that DD8 has something else going on that we just haven't figured out yet - possibly mild dysgraphia.
DD8, by IQ and desire to do well, could end up passing DD9 up at some point. We are not there yet, and I'm not really sure how DD9 would take that. I've often said DD9 is very apathetic, so if she sees her little sister breathing down her neck maybe that would snap her out of it. I could just as easily see it going the other way and taking DD9 down even further.
We try to keep things pretty level with both girls, but I think a little healthy competition can be good. They have some similar activities and things they both like to do, but we also try to give them other activities they can do without the other being involved. This gives them each somewhere they can shine without feeling like they are competing with their sister. They are 2 grades apart, so once they reach high school they will be on teams and in groups together for a couple years. DD9 seems to be the more athletic of the two, but again DD8 is more determined.
DD9 already has a GIEP and DD8 will have one by next school year (3rd grade). I'm excited for them to both be in the gifted program at school and I hope their class schedules work out so they get a chance to work on things together. I think the gifted teacher will be a good resource for us then by being able to see where one might be stronger in a certain area than the other, etc.
They really get along very well. Once they become interested in boys and both are eyeing the same little stud...now that might be a totally different situation all together. LOL!
