DH and I approached the evaluation with no expectations for her to be identified as gifted; in fact, in my mind, I had already written off the gifted school as a possibility, because although we certainly thought (and still do!) that DD is bright, we did not think that she would meet the 145 cut-off for admissions. However, when she exceeded that score, I was kind of thrown for a loop. We have a follow-up scheduled with the psychologist next week, so I'll have more information then.
Wow, what a story! Sounds like you have a good friend who has done you a good turn. Give her a hug for me, ok?
It is a bit dizzy-making to get those '145 and higher' results. Remember that you and your family members are probably all gifted and 'not reading' or doing more than counting in Math is very very normal for a 4 year old. My son, now 12, also knew all the letters and their sounds at 2, but didn't move on to reading til age 6. I didn't have any friend to steer me, so I also worried, and did nothing, since everyone thought I was crazy. I would try to spend an hour sitting in your local public school's kindy class though, just so that you can really see what ND (normally developing) kids are like. Just as you gravitated towards a friend with PG kids, you also have (most likely) been surrounded by family members who were bright or gifted as well. It's hard to get a grip on how diffferent our kids are when we may never spend time with ND kids. So go to the local school, and observe!
Then spend a few hours at the 145 school, again, observing the teachers and the students. Look at several grades.
As for the reading, did the IQ testing turn up any insights? I still don't really know what was up with my son, although I susupect that his visual system was age appropriate and that easy readers held no interest for him. It's also possible that he got some messages from the preschool teachers and got a fixed wrong idea. These kids do make mistakes; Mine remembers confusing Cinnimon with Synonym.
In a way, you have to be grateful that she isn't reading or mathing. It will give the school something to teach her. We call this a GAP and we love those gaps. Wouldn't it be nice for her to learn early that learning is a process and doesn't come without time and effort?
The teacher is the main thing for our kids. So forget what they said at the open houses, and observe with your own eyes and ears the teachers. Private schools can have the disadvantage of only having one choice amoung the teachers per grade, so check them out! Look for a sense of humor, and how the teacher handles kids who correct her.
No school is going to be perfect. I've heard from folks who are thrilled with their plus 145 school, and folks who are miserable. Did you get any hint if your daughter is 'near the cut off line or possibly way beyond it?' You want you kid right in the middle of the pack, if possible. Now I'm asking for the moon. I would have been delighted with 'the school has seen a kid like mine before.'
Smiles,
Grinity
