So, here is our challenge and I have gotten very diverse opinions. Molly is 7 and profoundly gifted...mostly, incredibly creatively...she reads at a 10 grade level and is very artistic. But, she is advanced in all grades. By age, she is 2nd grade....but is working in 4th grade math and 6th grade in all other subjects. She HATES math because it is so black and white. BUT, if math involves critical thinking, she loves it. She is able to do long division and multiplication....but she has NO interest in memorizing math facts and, while she can do complex, multi step equations, she still uses her fingers or other manupulatives for simple math. As frustrating as this is to me....I have been told not to worry. What I am being told is that it is more important that she undstand the concept....which she does....at a 6th to 7th grade level. I was told to allow her to start using the calculator.....when she does, she can blow through her math at mach speed and do some very complex critical thinking exercises. So, I wanted to field this to other math gifted kiddos and see what everyone thinks. Her little sister (5) is also profoundly gifted in the area of quantitative analysis. Contrary to her sister, she has already memorized math and works through her math (3rd grade) very quickly, seldom using manipulatives or fingers. I am very worried about advancing my 7 yo in math when she still needs manipulatives....but if I hold her back and make her do 4th grade again, she will be so bored as she know how to do it.....it is just a matter of how she gets from point a to point b.....but she still gets there.
Terri
