Hello all,
I believe my DS7 (in 1st grade) is likely gifted, but we haven't done any testing yet. He attends parochial school, which currently has no GT program, although one is supposedly "in the works" with no ETA. Our county public school system has GT programs, but we're uncomfortable with the schools he would attend, so unless we moved, that's not much of an option for us.
DS has always been different from the other kids - began obsessively writing his letters just after his 2nd bday, and now reads well above grade level. For example, he recently read the 1st 3 Harry Potter books. He told me that there were a lot of things he didn't understand in them and now I'm reading them aloud to him and his younger brother so that we can discuss the things he doesn't understand -- he gets all the events, just not why someone is mean and things like that. His ability to comprehend most things has always seemed to vastly exceed his peers. In addition, he loves to play chess (plays fairly well, but not a genius at it or anything), has an amazing memory for things like spelling, and enjoys sports and outdoorsy things too.
I am quite concerned that his schooling is insufficiently challenging, and that he'll encounter problems in a few years, when things do become more difficult. When we met with his teacher, and I told her that I worry that if he's not challenged academically now, he will not learn how to master things that are difficult, and may lose his innate desire to learn. Her reply was that there are those people for whom everything in life comes easily, and perhaps he's one of them. My argument is that those people are likely the ones who learned HOW to overcome challenges. She also said that those who are bright like DS is will learn no matter what. I couldn't disagree more.
My husband believes that DS IS learning in school (to follow directions, get along well with others, simple facts), and while I agree he's learning those things, I also think that the other kids are learning HOW to LEARN and he's not, because none of it is challenging for him.
So, I have many questions for those of you who have been around the gifted block a few times. Did you have your child tested? If so, what help did it provide? Has anyone dealt with schools that have no GT program, and were you able to keep your child in that system? If so, how did you go about challenging him? (DS is away from home 8 hours between bus travel and school and then has homework....) Has anyone been successful in getting a school to implement a GT program? Have the CTY programs and others been helpful? My husband is VERY opposed to the idea of homeschooling, so that seems to cut off our only other alternative.
So, if you've made it this far, my greatest thanks to you. Any input would be appreciated. I'm just trying to keep my head from spinning into outer space trying to figure all this out.
Cheers to you all,
~S from MD
