Hi Grinity,
I can always count on you to ask interesting questions. You bring so much liveliness to this board. Let me try to answer your questions:
2) What is the observer's credentials with kids who learn to read at age 2?
Honestly, she works primarily with kids with learning disorders and other issues, so I think she is unfamiliar with the sort of child we have here, but for the most part, she was really delighted with her and didn't see any blatant red flags. I know we all have heard again and again that giftedness can look like ADHD and can go hand in hand with sensory issues, so just wanted another opinion and she was afflilated with the school system and free so we thought we'd get her opinion. My DD does get OT for proprioreceptive and vestibular issues, but they are "graduating" her after a short stint in OT. I have wondered if there are any lingering sensory issues since she has to grab and touch and talk and move and crash all day, but that lady at least didn't see anything that needed to be investigated any further but then again she only saw her for one hour and sat down and had her read words, tell her days of the week, do simple math, draw pictures, and do puzzles etc. which would have made her behave much better because she had attention and maybe some sort of challenge (she was suppose to just observe but couldn't help herself and started quizzing her). My DD told me this the teacher never fessed up to it.
3) I'm confused - is she happy?
I'm confused about this too! In general, she is a very exuberant kid, but when she is not happy, look out. She goes off the deep end. She often has a little explosion at pick up time and says she doesn't want to go to school and is looking forward to it ending, yet when I spy on her or others observe her, she appears on the surface to be happy (smiling, making friends). When they test her at the end of the year and made her say her alphabet and numbers etc. she was really annoyed because these were "baby questions" and said she wanted to leave, but has fun when she sings or dances or does crafts.
4) Is it a problem? The things to watch for are
a) is she showing signs of perfectionism? Is she willing to take risks that might call her smartness into question?
She does show signs of perfectionism. She draws so well that it is the main thing her teacher comments on, but today when she was drawing a deer, she crumpled it up and threw it in disgust because it didn't look like she wanted it to, yet it is so amazing for her age. I am quite good at looking at something and drawing it and she had me draw her pictures when she was younger and she is frustrted that she can't draw as well as I can. I see this perfectionism in other ways too. I have the same problem but have learned to allow mistakes with age. I don't re-read my posts and let them contain all sort of errors whereas in the past, I would need it to be "perfect." I have to watch myself and not do anything to increase that tendancy in either one of us.
b) is she learning that she isn't one of the group?
I don't think she feels like one of the group. I also don't think she ever feels a real peer situation. We met a bright boy her age at the park yesterday and she kept talking to the mother and I told her she could talk to him directly. She just doesn't expect little ones to be able to really communicate on the same level and I imagine that could be strange for her. She loves to be the leader and perform for people so maybe she will never feel part of the group. I am not sure if I ever felt part of the group even though I was popular. Apparently, she is popular with the other kids which surprises me since she can be bossy and volatile.
c) is she left with so much energy that isn't being satisfied at school that she is hard to manage at home?
Other moms say their kids are worn out after preschool, but she is bouncing off the walls and we have to find things to do.
d) is the room 'play based' or 'academic readiness - based' - one would expect her to do much better in a play based room.
Mostly playbased,but they do a few "academic" things during circle time that are way way below where she is.
5) [b]Is there a play based room for older children availible so that one could try a trial to see how she does with older children? [/b]
Yes, and the director may be open to having her visit that room but they worry about her being so small and all immature goofiness.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and to ask questions.
