Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment A whole lot to take in- results from psy

Alright, So after 2 days of testing and observation of DD, I met with the Developmental Psy today for over 2 hours. So let me see where to start....

Okay he broke down where DD 3.10 is developmentally on each level I guess you could say.

Academics-
Math- 2nd grade
Reading- 4th grade

Fine Motor- 7 years

Social/Emotional- 5.5- 6.5 years

Creativity- 7 years

Expressive and Receptive Language- "Higher then I can currently measure. I would say in the high school to adult range"

I am getting a full write up later this week, along with copies of the tests she was given.

Things to work on- her self help skills, she is on target for her age, but because of her emotional and cognitive levels I should be giving her more responsibility and be less quick to help.

Alright so he said he feels comfortable at this point placing her IQ between 145-160 based on his 25 years as senior psychologist for the largest school district in Alaska and his 40 year career in the field, but he will not do an individual IQ test until she is 5, but then I can bring her back in when he comes back to town and he will do the tests for DYS. He did say verbal IQ is the higher of the two, and he would place that closer to 160, where as performance IQ still falls in the very extreamly gifted but would be the lower of her 2.

He said if she continues on this self paced path, she could easily obtain a PhD by 13. Soo...... his thoughts and as he said, he is recommending these options to the school district but they dont have to follow it. And as he said, several times, take what works for us, fits her, etc of what he says and "toss out the rest."


Okay, he said she should "NOt be in preschool at all." and that he told the principal this. Now he said the options for next year for having her actually in school full time are K and 1st, and he does not want to do 1st because that would be like 2 grade skips in one, and then later he was sure we would do another one, and that has her graduating several years early. So while she would be bored in the class, she would be with social peers who while she was 4, would be 5-6. He said academically she needs to be in at least 2nd for everything as of this moment at 3.10, but then higher for reading.

Now what he suggested to me was to "Keep her off the academic ladder" Now his explination of what he means by this is...
At home do not let her do the academic things that are covered in school so she will not be so completely ahead. As he said "If she goes at her pace, she will be doing calculus by the time she is 8." So I should "focus on things that are not covered in school and go in depth in those areas." And "when she asks a question, do not give a detailed answer if it is academic ladder material, but give just a basic answer, no elaboration, and move on" Although, this never works for her as there are always more questions.

Okay, other option he suggests..
Bring her in for the non academic, extra portions of the day.
"Library time with the 2nd graders, gym with the 1st grades, and so forth."

Alright, now.... I have a lot to think about, and Dh and I to talk about, however my gut instinct is that I am not okay with confining what she learns and neither is Dh he said. He said he would rather let her continue on at whatever pace fits her. He said, "If she completes highschool level courses by 8-9, well she doesnt have to go to college then, there are other courses, more in deapth studies, mentorships, etc. And we can cross that when we get there, but I am not comfortable confining her." And I agree I think at the moment and will try for the intergration with older peers during non academic portions of the day.

I have no clue what the school will say. I have to wait to meet with them to see.

So a whole lot to take in!

I should add, that the one of the tests he used ceilinged at 7 years old and he pointed out that she ceilinged on many of the subtests.