It's why I think verbally GT kids sometimes have a tougher time than mathy kids. A teacher can often give harder math problems without too much trouble, but they almost never assign a GT child a harder book for discussion or give more complex comprehension questions. That sort of differentiation just doesn't happen.
We have actually had quite the opposite experience. In our district (for the most part) students are put into differentiated reading groups so they are allowed to advance in their reading. In English, my dd is in a reading group by herself because she is so far beyond her classmates. Teachers also provide higher level thinking questions for the advanced groups to use in discussing their texts. In addition, during any free time in class students are encouraged to read for pleasure, which can be at the level of their choosing.
OTOH, math has been a real battle. The teachers are not
allowed to present higher level material. They are only allowed to present materials that provides depth and breadth on whatever topic they are scheduled to teach during that interval.
I guess it just depends on the philosphy of the school.
