For my child with normal PSI and WMI, it's a difference of effort and repetition necessary for learning. Although abstract thought and incredible insight comes pretty easily, computation, reading and spelling have required effort and learning over time.
Very interesting. I wonder...do these children have less risk of underachievement because they have to put in the effort and learning at an early age? Or do they equate smart = no effort and shut down?
For DS12, having a low-average PSI didn't protect him from underachievement one bit. He did equate smart=no effort for many years, and still shuts down occasionally when he starts to think that he 'won't be the very best.' He mostly felt FRUSTRATED! He knew that he could think 'better' than the other kids because of all the comments about how he was great in class discussions, and even in 2nd grade, he could tell that they comments the other kids made were 'rudamentary' by his self-standards, but because he was slow at things like 'looking words up in a dictionary' he felt that there was something wrong with him.
I think he saw it as the 'Transitive property of Stupid.'
If I think that kid over there is Stupid, and they can do something much faster than I can, I must be really Stupid.
Now you know that my kid didn't get that attitude of judging and comparing from ME. I consiously taught him that everyone is good at something and deserves respect and to be valued. I really think that it was just so scary for him to be in years and years of school that taught material below his readiness level. One of our biggest difficulties, is growing up and being without a workable Reference. Mine drew his own conclusions. I'll spend the rest of his childhood trying to get him to see more and more shades of grey, and he has already made great progress, but I so regret leaving him in those poor fit classrooms for so long.
Love and More Love,
Grinity
