Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment High MAP scores, low grades

Hi, my son this year is in 8th grade. On his most recent MAP scores he has achieved an RIT score of 255 in reading (99th percentile) and an RIT score of 260 in math. And yet his grades arent as satisfactory as one might expect. He averages a high B to around a 93%. I know he can do better, even perfect scores, ive seen him do it. Does anyone have any ideas why this might be, perhaps how to motivate him more, and how to get him into a more advanced education program that he is in. We live in seattle if you're wondering.

Hi, Seattleissmart,

Without knowing more information, it's difficult to know what exactly is going on, however, I've read in more than one article that gifted kids don't always get As. Your ds's grades are still good--above average, but I understand why you're questioning things considering his MAP scores. Has he always been getting Bs? Is he bored? Is there something else going on? Is there a gifted program and is he in it?

I read here recently an article that explains the differences between high-achieving kids and gifted kids. It may be of some help.

Here it is: http://www.giftededucation.org.nz/documents/high-achievers-pdf.pdf

Getting high grades is just as much about things that aren't really related to understanding the material being taught--organization, motivation to go above and beyond, participation, etc--as it is about content/skill knowledge. Perhaps your son is having trouble (relatively speaking) with theses aspects of his courses.

He has gotten A's from 6th grade to 7th grade. I talked to him last night about the dip in his grades, especially science, and he told me that lately he had been easily distracted and bored. I also got an email reply from one of his teachers and she said that it definantly was not because he some how became less intelligent, she said he just wasn't turning things in on time, or at all. Any ideas for how to mmotivate him?