Almost forgot I wanted to chime in on the Ruf's levels and the GT denial.
We won't be able to have our ds4y5m tested anytime soon. Some times I wonder if he is GT at all and if I should even be reading these boards. And then I have an aha moment. Yesterday we were at the library and my ds made a new friend. The library has a play area with blocks and other building sets and my son and the other boy quickly started making up games, cooperating, taking turns, building towers and making up scenarios. It was fascinating to watch them and hear them. The language they were both using seemed atypical for 4 year olds. "I know, what if we try this?..." "Oh, I see what your talking about..." etc.
And as for the social aspect, they introduced themselves and proceeded like they had know each other for ages.
They also did some spontaneous math. After putting together some plastic blocks that fit together...
other boy:"What do we do now?"
my ds: "I know, how about we split them up?"
ob:"Yeah you take half and I'll take half"
mds: "yeah, you take three and I'll take three because 3 plus 3 is 6"
The other boy was a lot smaller than my ds but it turns out he is 5 yrs old. And his mom seemed surprised to hear that my ds is not yet 5. We exchanged numbers and arranged to meet up again.
So in small pieces I am solving the problem of getting him around other (slightly older)kids he can relate to. But I have yet to figure out,
#1"Is school is no longer interesting for him to the point that he doesn't want to learn there? (and what to do if that is the case)
#2 LOG? Like others have said, when I read Ruf I see level 3, maybe a tiny bit of 4. Most of the time he seems like a regular kid who is just regular smart and advanced verbally. He is not reading yet. 3+3= 6 does not indicate HG+ but I know that is probably what he would be asked to do a year from now if he were to go to public K. etc. etc.
Enough rambling!
Mewzard - what are your thoughts on "afterschooling"
When I read Dr. Ruf's book I was sure he was a solid level 2, had lots of characteristics of a level 3 and one or two characteristics of a level 4. He is like your son. Very much like what you describe. Lots of questions but not the type often described by others. Never really questions concepts like death or existential stuff. Often "shuns" learning and tells us he prefers to "learn it on my own" - seems to prefer self discovery over being "taught." He was an early reader (before 4 years old) but doesn't have a voracious desire to read for pleasure. And he doesn't really have anything he is passionate about except maybe playing video and computer games!
But we actually took him to Dr. Ruf and she tested him and put him at a level 4! We were shocked. I said "he's not that motivated" and she replied, with a smile, "oh yes he is. Just not for what *you* want him to do!" She explained how personality types play into the way giftedness looks in children. My son is highly extroverted and very feeling - really outgoing and very sensitive. She said he doesn't read so much for pleasure because he'd prefer to be with people and doing something more actively engaging. Makes sense.
