Well, I won't say that she didn't have "any" problems. She was tested in prek at a 4th grade reading level. Kindergarten was torture for her while other kids were learning letters, sight words and phonics. The teacher finally gave up because she would get frustrated, esp. with phonics. They would want the kids to write the words how they sounded. She would do that but would get upset because she knew it wasn't spelled right. Finally, they gave up and gave her a "word" box. Any words she didn't know they would write on an index card for her.
She is now in 5th grade and an excellent speller. The teacher just said that sometimes gifted kids are "whole" learners.
That's so funny because that's exactly like DH. She seems so like him in many ways (at least according to MIL) that I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He's said more than once that in his native language he never misspells anything. In English he's also infinitely better than me at spelling!
There is a lot going on in these kids' minds and they are struggling with making sense of it. In their own way, they are prioritizing what they spend time on. Speech may take a second place to actual understanding. I think Mr W mulls stuff over rather than verbalize immediately.
Very good point, and I think you've probably hit the nail on the head. It's just hard to remember that at times. I think I should be watching more closely to what I say in front of DD. It's so hard to forget because she just doesn't talk a lot.
