Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Got scores, hoping for feedback

This is a thought-provoking discussion... it's always dangerous when I think out loud, but this is one of those afternoons... I'm guessing that the problem that giftedticcypher is experiencing (or her son, rather) is that enrichment in core subjects is not enough, but then I guess I'm not sure what true enrichment would look like (forgive me, I keep seeing "enrichment" and thinking "pull out" and maybe that's wrong??). My dd is MG, with similar, just slightly higher wisc scores, and she'd be pretty bored if she was strapped to the regular curriculum in certain areas (e.g. math). As it is, she's asking for more at home re: workbooks even though her pace isn't supposed to be limited in her montessori classroom (I think her teacher is not one to seek out opportunities to make her stretch her knowledge. But at least she's better off than a traditional classroom). So, from what I know about our regular neighborhood school, she'd be pretty bored in there. But, if she were at that school, I don't necessarily think that in her case a grade skip would be the answer. I have a hard time putting it into words, but I think the challenge wrought by a grade skip in a traditional classroom would be too full frontal. Too much all at once. I think it might scare her. (Maybe I'm not giving her enough credit?) It seems to me that I'd rather "stretch" her knowledge rather than challenge her - kind of a distinction of gentleness? But I see the stretching taking place in a way that means advancing through the curriculum rather than enrichment (though again I may be mistaken about what enrichment means). She's heavily interested in multiplication and division at the moment, and I think her cousin, who's also in second grade but at a well-regarded traditional public school, hasn't seen a whiff of anything like that. I'd much rather take advantage of this time, while she's so interested in it, to get her a nice solid foundation in multiplication and division (perhaps even getting the multiplication table committed to memory, even if, or especially if, it happens somewhat by accident). If she had to wait till 3rd grade, she might be bored with it by then(?).

I suppose if dd were at the traditional school, I would be very torn about what to do re: skipping, only because I'm not sure she's developed quite enough to handle the challenge academically in all areas, for reasons of asynchronicity, among other things. But at the same time I think she'd be unhappy if she were in her current grade at the traditional school. (thank goodness for the public charter montessori - not perfect by any means, but there's a ton more individualization re: curriculum pace. and it's freeee.)

Hmmm... back to giftedticcypher, I think Dottie's on to something, that perhaps another type of educational setting that can better address his individual curriculum needs would be best. Do you have any options or are you stuck with the regular school? Are subject skips a possibility? Then again, I can see that in certain situations, a single grade skip could work nicely for an MG kid. Indeed it may turn out to be the least-worst option.

Another option would be to let it go re: the school, keep him where he's at and do a lot of afterschooling. But that wastes so much time and effort and learning desire.