My one other contribution to this fascinating conversation, before I have to abandon the computer and get some "real" work done, is this:
For me, the official identification of the achievement and IQ test results is a huge relief. I can move ahead with the plan to apply for specialized services.
Beyond that, my focus is (and has always been) on character. I think that within the GT community, there can be a danger of placing too much emphasis on intelligence, because we are all focused on finding accommodations for our unusual children. My child is profoundly gifted, but that isn't the sum of who he is...and I will do whatever it takes to keep him from being identified as nothing more than a really smart kid. There is so much more to who he is as a person; the test results are just one component of his character. In isolation, that information isn't very meaningful.
What does he want to do with his incredible mind? How about his emotional intelligence? Can I help him develop a broader sense of empathy? Creativity? Kindness? None of these things can be empirically tested, yet to me they are crucial pieces of his development as a person--just as crucial as his intellectual development.
Ruf's scale, test results, and all other ways of trying to quantify intelligence can be helpful. But I'm always reminding myself not to overemphasize that information, or view it apart from the holistic picture of my child.
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