Thanks all for the feedback! Good info!
I do think these results fit with the overall behavior of my daughter - Kriston's description of "deep but not fast" fits very well. I think she does have memory issues, particularly when she is not thoroughly engaged. As for her age, she just turned 8.
The test anxiety issue is an interesting one - she is a perfectionist and a "pleaser", so I can see how this might have affected the test results. My understanding is that she cannot be validly re-tested with the WISC for another year, but it would be interesting to see what another assessment shows. I also did not tell her its a test - she thought she was going to play games with "someone who likes to learn how kids learn".
I do not have achievement test data. I'm trying to decide if and how to pursue. The GT program here requires an additional battery of tests including the Terra Nova, the Torrance Test of Creativity, and the Stages-2 K-3 Reasoning subtest. Additionally, there is a teacher questionnaire to identify gifted behaviors.
My quandary at this point is the balance between her self image and the stretching of her abilities (a common concern, I'm gleaning)! She has already identified herself as "not a smart kid" because she is not a part of the gifted program. In order to pursue this, she would need to take these other tests- administered by the teacher she knows to be in charge of the GT program. If she takes these tests and does not qualify, it will be devastating.
If it were possible, I would be glad to have the tests administered by an independent party (so she won't make the connection). I don't mean to express lack of confidence in her ability - only in the tests being an accurate reflection of her ability. For example, with the Torrance, I know she is so detail oriented that she is not likely to score well because time management is not her forte!
She also appears to be both frustrated and underchallenged in the classroom. The things they are doing really emphasize her weaknesses (a lot of mental math). I would love to homeschool her, but it is fiscally impossible. I do think she would benefit from the extra stimulation of the GT program but am concerned about her relative weakness in working memory and processing speed leading to more frustration for her.
So the central question is: do I pursue the additional testing at GT program, or is it best to just continue to provide as much enrichment out of the classroom as possible?
Sorry for the long post!
THanks again for all the support!
