Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment New to all this...question about WISC-IV

I think that's hysterical about future math ability being tied to hand speed OTOH, I think I understand where the psych was coming from - I have a ds with documented slow hands (dysgraphia and DCD) - and he is very obviously slow when he's writing down his math homework. His brain, however, is lightning-fast and he is excelling at math.... so phooey on your psych!

I will say this though - it's possible she was seeing something re slow hand movement related to handwriting - the movements and coordination required for handwriting are different than required for playing piano. My ds plays piano also and although he's no piano prodigy, he plays very well and he can play very quickly

polarbear

How many kids like out of control classroom with yelling/harsh punitive adults?

There are good teachers and bad teachers. And some in between. I have seen DD do amazing work with some teachers and see deficits with others who were not as good, for reasons I couldn't document. There are different styles. A child can develop different ways of looking at things from different teachers and can also learn some other things that you may not consider.

You try and pick up the slack. For some reason, DD's researching skills have dropped off. And she is slacking. I got a Reading Dectective workbook and am making her do it and go through it, because of the sloppiness. (came up in the Parent/teacher conference that there was lack of motivation) The kid is getting lazy being at the top with little work but the little work is getting smaller. But her ELA test results were not good because of the slacking. I am hoping it is a wake up call. I didn't expect this kind of slacking already.

It is great that you can move him. DD has not had a bad teacher. Some are truly amazing. Some are not.

But many people on this board has not been so lucky to get the FAPE just because they asked. My experience, when it is lacking is to supplement, because I have pushed and pushed, and garnered support in the NYC gifted system and get outplayed by the almighty lottery system and sibling policy that will put a sibling with a 125 IQ into an accelerated program ahead of my kid in the top range because the school board wants to make it easier on the parent having both of the kids at one school.

She is in a gifted class and gets a good education, but not FAPE. Just like many here. So I supplement with accelerated math with CTY, which is not free....

Does "Proficient with Distinction" mean "Advanced"? Just curious. Our state testing categories here are far below proficient, below proficient, proficient and advanced. The advanced category doesn't have any further distinction, and the tests are very short and not terribly in-depth (and of course don't test above grade level), so EG kids often score Advanced, but so do a lot of other less high-ability kids if they've simply gone to school and paid attention and been taught what was supposed to have been taught.. so we had a really tough time using state testing when advocating, both because an "advanced" score shows our kids are accomplishing the state goals and because it doesn't show them ahead of the overall pack in any big way.

It sounds like you've done well with your advocating Kristina - good work!!!

polarbear

That's what our state testing looks like as well although, unfortunately for the gifted kids IMHO, the schools insist on using "advanced" state test scores as a means of iding giftedness which further leads toward problems with typical kids with parental support and work ethic filling our GT classes such that gifted kids have few peers in those classes.

Just to clarify, FAPE is a term of art from Federal Disability law. Unless your kid has a disability under IDEA or Section 504, your child does not have the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education. Glad your bluster worked on your school.

We have lived in 4 different state. My oldest having gone to school in 4 different states therefore subjected to lovely state testing. My personal opinion is most state testing is fairly weak. I have not experience any state test being above grade level. They are typically testing only a single grade level at time. My current district, like Dottie's district, has a large percentage number of kids scoring in the "advanced" range and 90 % of kids score above proficient to advance range. They are not all gifties I can tell you that much.

As far your son's testing, states often have the requirements for testing a child that is accelerated. I'm not sure you have a choice about what test he takes or not for state testing. I personally would not annoy a school by trying to get out of those test. I don't think they are very hard to begin with.

You mention four letter spelling words and simple addition for Math. I hope you were being sarcastic about that. My DD is in 1st grade has not seen a 4 letter word since the very beginning of the year for spelling and is long past single digit math as well. For 2nd grade, that does not seem in line with common core standards or high standards for a school. If that is really the level of 2nd grade, I would be concerned about the level at any grade in the school. Or maybe my school is moving a lot faster than most. Just food for thought.

Opting out of state testing isn't an option in our state - and I'd be surprised if it is in other states.

polarbear

I guess I don't really understand how keeping your child home during the testing because you're "against them in principle" accomplishes much of anything - if you're passionately against them, I think the way to accomplish something is via advocating, opening discussions with the school district, with state ed officials, organizing other parents etc. I can't imagine that not sending your child would accomplish much of anything other than annoying school staff that you want to have on your side for more important things you'll be advocating for.

But that's just me! Things might be very different where you are. Here, our state tests and how they are used is exactly as Dottie described, except that we don't have a religious exemption option

Best wishes,

polarbear

But it is Congress who mandates them.