Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment should we contact district Gate coordinator

Hello! I just want to say that you are not alone. I could've written this very post. My DS6 was tested last fall and had a well-rounded GAI of 158, so very similar to your daughter. He's not much of a mathy kid, but very creative, highly verbal, and loves to read. He was a couple months ahead of the kindergarten cutoff, so we sent him to kindergarten last year. He's one of the youngest in his class. He's now in 1st grade and starting to hate school because it is so boring for him.

We've been told the same thing, that even gifted schools are generally for 2-3 standard deviations. When a kid is closer to 4SD, then it's just as different as average to gifted is. Homeschooling may, at some point, may be the only option for challenging them.

Our school district, also in CA, does not recognize or identify gifted students until 3rd grade. We do not even have a magnet school though, so that's not an option. We've realized this year that public school, in our current city, is no longer an option. It has been hard for us this year. His teacher also doesn't believe he's as highly gifted as he is even after seeing the report. His achievement test scores were also very high at 99.7%, but this is a score that can be affected more by education than IQ can. He also liked to shout out the answer, but he didn't get in trouble for it. Instead, the teacher asks him to answer things she hasn't taught and it embarrasses him because he doesn't know the answer. Now he doesn't like to answer questions anymore, even if he knows the answer.

There is no support at his school or administration. We are just getting through the year and enriching as much as we can at home. We keep him home once in a while for "mental health days" as our edpsych suggested. Next year is either a private gifted school or homeschool. There is no way I can live with guilt of sending him to school for 6 hours just to socialize. The school is geared toward meeting minimum outcomes and not for cultivating the highest potential. A good teacher will attempt the latter, but it varies every year.

We also had some questions about ODD because he was defiant and has always been an intense kid. The overexcitabilities are all very pronounced. It's tiring being around a fluttering ball of energy! The opposition has gotten better though. We frequently use "Are you being a problem-solver or a problem-maker?" It is too easy to forget that they are only 6 when it feels like you are talking to someone much older. Something I've found that works to ease the "spinning" as we call it, is to throw out math problems in rapid-fire. It gives the mind something to do and it calms my son. Anxiety is often an issue too that can cause behavioral issues.

I'm totally rambling, but there are many of us that feel your pain. We are stuck, unsatisfied with status quo. Our kids are the future and yet there is nowhere to turn to get help. We are expected to either give up, homeschool or use sheer willpower to make a school do what is needed. I am so happy for those who have found a good fit for their kids. I am beginning the battle, and it's tougher than I thought it was going to be. Everyone wants their child to be smart. It is such a blessing to have these issues, but it also comes with unique challenges.

Do look into Davidson Young Scholars. The IQ qualifies, but you will need a portfolio of work. We just applied this month. We used some 3rd grade worksheets for the portfolio since he was just 2 points shy of a qualifying score on his achievement test.

With her scores, I'd agree with the coordinator. That school would likely be a 1 or 2 year stop-gap. I think you'll find most parents of kids with scores in that range end up abandoning public school altogether either home-schooling, or finding a dedicated gifted school, or doing on-line schooling. There are just so few kids with the ability to learn at the speed of your daughter. She's going to be constantly bored/working ahead in any typical school environment.

This unfortunately, is the case with many schools - little or nothing is available until 3rd grade. The problem is, our DC do not suddenly become quick learners in 3rd grade - so what do we do until then? Children like your daughter are gifted NOW and need an education that fits their needs before third grade. I share your frustration!

Others on this list should be a great resource for you - you can read about their various solutions to finding the right education for their young children.

We also have a school that doesn't formally identify until third grade. We waited to have my DD8 tested until this process took place at the school. Now I wonder if I should have done testing earlier. I also wonder in light of her test results how many "true peers" she has in the program, honestly. The experience with my DD is making me consider the possibility of having DS5 tested sooner. The only testing he has had so far was the WJ Ach. to get him into a summer program DD was in - the test results got my attention. The problem is, in some cases, even with test results, the school often will not actually do anything differently (YMMV).

The nice thing is, you already have the results in hand! I agree with PP - an IQ that high needs special accomodations. Your DD is significantly different from the average child, and even from the average gifted child. You will probably have to be flexible and ready to change course if the education is not keeping pace with your DD's needs.

I believe my DC's schools are well-intentioned, but I am not certain how much earlier test results actually would change anything for us. Although DS's school occasionally has him read a book at school, he is still being asked to count to 100 (he can add, subtract, and multiply) and did "letter sounds" with his K class - just like DD did in K (both DC could read chapter books before K). We do summer and after-school enrichment tailored to my DC's interests. Obviously, I am still (quietly) waging an uphill battle at school, but others here have had some success.

I think you will find many ideas and a great deal of support here - welcome!

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and ideas with me. I feel as if I have no one to talk to about her and I so appreciate hearing your thoughts. Well, I am hopeful after talking to both her current teacher/principal and the principal of the magnet school. Although her current class will not be moving her to first grade, they will be doing some end of 1st year assessments and pulling her out for reading and math (finally!!). But most importantly, the principal of the magnet school we applied for next year couldn't have been more excited to hear about her coming to the school and we discussed options of acceleration there for her. We are going to take one step at a time and see how she does in the 1st grade class (the magnet school is for gate and high achieving from 1 - 5), they will pull her out for her strong subjects, but most importantly, he told me that they will also give her the opportunity to do middle school classes should she reach that capability as she matures and moves up in grades at his school. I do wish she could start next as a 2nd grader as I know she knows all 1st grade material but at this point, we are going to work with the school and start off in a positive relationship. He also pointed out how he feels that the district gate coordinator just doesn't "get it", apparently she is new and he already has not seen eye to eye with her, so he wasn't surprised at her reaction.
At the moment, I think this is our best option. Most importantly, this principal of the magnet school is such a passionate, hands on and caring administrator. I have high hopes that they will do what they can to differentiate to meet her needs and we will be meeting soon to put together learning plan for her.

We actually just moved from the bay area, so it's interesting to hear what your experiences are. We lived in the highest performing school district, but I get the feeling we would have had a harder battle to fight there. I always felt the administration was wary of the parents, probably because so many of the kids there are pushed and pushed.

Thanks again!

Thank you for sharing...they sound so similar! Does your ds have sensory issues, particularly with clothing? Ongoing battle with that in this household.

I am going to set up a date for the achievement testing, but somehow I am nervous about it. I need to do more reading about the tests, but I don't think she will make the criteria for DYS. I know she very strong in her language arts, but math, I'm not sure!

I am in CA too - no gifted testing until 3rd grade. We have a private testing result which helped for placement in a mixed grade class in our PS for K. DS was doing mostly 1st grade work and that was not enough acceleration. We moved him to a private school that provides very challenging academic work for 1st. I have more peace with the situation now - but he might need more acceleration which is not possible at this school. We afterschool intensively at about 4th grade level. But, we cannot keep this up in the long run. So, I am looking for gifted schools and tutors who can afterschool at a faster pace. We have DS in challenging extracurriculars like chess club, piano, mental math etc in addition to sports. And we try to send him to science camp in the summers.
My advise is to keep enriching and accelerating outside of school hours. That is the only thing that worked in our situation because we cannot homeschool.

My son has a fsiq of 158 and has just started y3 (second grade). His homework this week was to memorise his +2 addition facts to 20. He is actually getting worse at basic facts because he can't be bothered.

!!!
Puffin, wow. On both counts.

DD's current school has done some end of year assessments for her this week and we will be meeting the principal and teacher next week to discuss the rest of year. I am glad they moved swiftly and most importantly, I think the report has really opened her teacher's eyes with understanding DD better. On her report card, she even remarked that she is an exceptionally bright child and an excellent student!
Next steps..we met with the gifted/high achieving magnet school principal and she has been accepted in and he looking forward to working with her to make sure she is being challenged in the right areas. No grade skip for now, but it's not off the table yet. I think they want to get her into 1st and see how she does. Thank you all for replying!! Lending support you all of you as well!

Just wanted to update our situation, or rather vent!

When I approached the principal of the magnet school in Feb, he was so supportive and offered to set up a meeting with the teacher and gate coordinator to work on an IEP prior to school breaking for summer. It was difficult having him commit to a date though, and he didn't return emails or calls. He also changed his mind about having the coordinator there and we set up a meeting date for just him and the new teacher. That didn't happen before school let out but we did manage to chat to him again and we agreed on a date a week prior to school starting, but never got an email back confirming the date.

It's only 1.5 weeks away from school starting and as I haven't heard anything from the principal, I sent her assigned teacher an email to confirm the meeting. I just got a lovely reponse back that she had no idea we were even supposed to meet next week, and has not had any discussions with prinicpal regarding DD, but that she assesses each child and will let us know what her reading and math assesement levels are next month but she can still meet with us. So she probably thinks we are pushy parents! arghh!

This experience has taught me that whilst enthusiastic and approachable, the principal has not taken us seriously, despite being given the WISC and WIAT reports. I really did not want to be that pushy parent. I really do not want to have to confront him; should I try to bring the gate coordinator into this? Not sure of next steps aside from contacting our DYS consultant. I am sooo frustrated right now and tired of the lack of response to emails and calls.

I am so disappointed that all the promises made in February have fallen through but am thankful that at the very least, her assigned teacher is fantastic and well respected. However, she has no idea that DD will need to be subject accelerated and be moved within different classes.

Sorry, just venting and totally let down right now.