Hi- I am also new here...I have three gifted children (DS12, DD12, & DD6) All are subject accelerated, which is what our school offers. When my older kids were identified a few years ago,it was part of a new program the district offered & they were among the first to test into it, but they were older, the summer before 5th gr. They were always aware of their intelligence, but esp with my DD, who "flew under the radar" never really obvious to others. My DS has a strong ability in math, which was more "public".
DD6, however, is another story & sounds a lot like your child. I just received her scores & are in the PG range(she is going into 1st gr this fall..discussing now which subject(s)to accelerate her into). She truly loves to read & reads on a 5th/6th grade level. She will carry books with her to keep her occupied while at older kids' events & then people notice what she's reading. This has made for some very uncomfortable moments, both with other kids & parents.
I have explained being gifted to her in terms of her specific abilities ("You have a skill in reading, figuring out words, vocabulary..." etc) pointing out that others may have artistic or athletic gifts. She is old enough to understand that she had to take a test, get a certain score on the test in order to move up a grade. I have also told her that to imagine what it would be like if she was in 1st gr literacy next yr (where her friends are). She would be learning how to read & decode words, how that is not where she needs to be to learn something that is right for her. I try to put the emphasis on her needs, rather than on the abilities of her 1st gr friends.
Welcome to the world of gifted education...over the years, my experience has been pretty positive w/ school administration, staff, & students. The other parents, however, a differnt story
