Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment should we contact district Gate coordinator

Hello! I just want to say that you are not alone. I could've written this very post. My DS6 was tested last fall and had a well-rounded GAI of 158, so very similar to your daughter. He's not much of a mathy kid, but very creative, highly verbal, and loves to read. He was a couple months ahead of the kindergarten cutoff, so we sent him to kindergarten last year. He's one of the youngest in his class. He's now in 1st grade and starting to hate school because it is so boring for him.

We've been told the same thing, that even gifted schools are generally for 2-3 standard deviations. When a kid is closer to 4SD, then it's just as different as average to gifted is. Homeschooling may, at some point, may be the only option for challenging them.

Our school district, also in CA, does not recognize or identify gifted students until 3rd grade. We do not even have a magnet school though, so that's not an option. We've realized this year that public school, in our current city, is no longer an option. It has been hard for us this year. His teacher also doesn't believe he's as highly gifted as he is even after seeing the report. His achievement test scores were also very high at 99.7%, but this is a score that can be affected more by education than IQ can. He also liked to shout out the answer, but he didn't get in trouble for it. Instead, the teacher asks him to answer things she hasn't taught and it embarrasses him because he doesn't know the answer. Now he doesn't like to answer questions anymore, even if he knows the answer.

There is no support at his school or administration. We are just getting through the year and enriching as much as we can at home. We keep him home once in a while for "mental health days" as our edpsych suggested. Next year is either a private gifted school or homeschool. There is no way I can live with guilt of sending him to school for 6 hours just to socialize. The school is geared toward meeting minimum outcomes and not for cultivating the highest potential. A good teacher will attempt the latter, but it varies every year.

We also had some questions about ODD because he was defiant and has always been an intense kid. The overexcitabilities are all very pronounced. It's tiring being around a fluttering ball of energy! The opposition has gotten better though. We frequently use "Are you being a problem-solver or a problem-maker?" It is too easy to forget that they are only 6 when it feels like you are talking to someone much older. Something I've found that works to ease the "spinning" as we call it, is to throw out math problems in rapid-fire. It gives the mind something to do and it calms my son. Anxiety is often an issue too that can cause behavioral issues.

I'm totally rambling, but there are many of us that feel your pain. We are stuck, unsatisfied with status quo. Our kids are the future and yet there is nowhere to turn to get help. We are expected to either give up, homeschool or use sheer willpower to make a school do what is needed. I am so happy for those who have found a good fit for their kids. I am beginning the battle, and it's tougher than I thought it was going to be. Everyone wants their child to be smart. It is such a blessing to have these issues, but it also comes with unique challenges.

Do look into Davidson Young Scholars. The IQ qualifies, but you will need a portfolio of work. We just applied this month. We used some 3rd grade worksheets for the portfolio since he was just 2 points shy of a qualifying score on his achievement test.