Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Had DS6 tested today and he's PG

The psych was wonderful. She suggested we apply to DYS as soon as we get her written report. I have two questions... have you had a positive experience with DYS?

Also, how many of you homeschool vs. traditional schooling vs. private?

My head is swimming! Thanks in advance!

So glad you and your DS had a good experience - the Hoagies list is great!

We are doing "traditional schooling" at the moment, with mixed success.

DD8 has been tested (extensively) in the last year. I am waiting for a bit with DS5, because I'd prefer he takes the WISC when he turns 6 this year.

I really think parents have a good "hunch" about their kiddos - it's nice to find out that you are not crazy and simply imagining your DC's differences, isn't it?

KTPie - it's great that you heard what you always suspected

I have only heard positive outcomes with DYS both here and on a few other blogs that I follow.

We homeschool/unschool over here (South Africa)with great success for all three boys.

We have had a wonderful experience thus far with our PG DS6's private school. Early entrance into K last year. This year he is pulled out of reading and math class. He is doing EPGY math at his own pace in school with a tutor. I do not know what is to come, but in a situation like this you have to take it day by day. What works today might not work tomorrow.

It is quite a relief to know that my gut was correct, although at the same time it is very overwhelming. It was really telling to me that he came bouncing out of testing on a break and shouted, "This is one of the best days of my whole life!"

My gut it now telling me that the public school isn't going to make him happy, and I don't know how long *I* could challenge him at home while home schooling. I consider myself intelligent. In retrospect I was likely unidentified gifted (in my K-8 I was accelerated three grade levels for reading but when I transferred to public school that stopped). That said, while I always performed well in math and science, I certainly do not feel comfortable in those areas especially all these decades later.

I'm not sure how best to keep him challenged long term. And maybe I need to just think in smaller chunks... how best to meet his needs next year.

Thank you, 1111. I do need to just focus on one day at a time.

I try not to plan more than 2 months ahead (3 at a stretch).

Like you I was panicked about homeschooling, until I saw how many easily available resources are available. It's literally a case of pointing them at it and letting them fly as fast, deep and high as they want to go. It's wonderful in all honesty (And sometimes a tad scary).

We use online maths and maths books that guide me and them. We use science readily available everywhere for now and then already found an online science curriculum for later.
We use our library and interest-led book shopping for literature.

It's quite incredible how much is out there for learning at home in a child-directed way and pace.

Can I ask, do you plan to have them go to school at some point? I'm recalling HS sports and clubs and AP classes/exams.

How does college work?

I hope that they will choose to learn at home until tertiary level education.

We have a very active homeschooling community and an equally active (although smaller) unschooling community here where we live.

My kids do a huge variety of activities and classes and what we cannot find I create or cajole someone within the various groups to create or start. There are clubs for sports and cultural and language activities in every community pretty much world wide I am sure by now. There are youth orchestras, chess clubs, robotics, science, drama, music, soccer, rugby, cricket, swimming, (insert sport of choice here) clubs just right by us. Even baseball and basketball (although they are not big here!).

We don't have AP anything in south africa anyway and since South Africa at a public schooling level now offers what is arguably the lowest ranked education in the world, I am not hesitant to say I don't really want them there. Acceleration is not done here in public schools and rarely in private schools, and very few schools offer enrichment of any sort for any child. Also, even if they show mastery of the work, no school public or private would take a child drastically younger than the regular grade age into said grade. (max is 1 year younger).

Aside from all that, I LOVE the lifestyle of home/unchooling - we recently did a 1 month road trip around the country (just me and the boys) and it was amazing! We get to go to places without crowds and queues and we get to travel a lot more often now that we can go outside of school breaks. No homework or tests unless they ask for them, and less time doing formal "tick the box" work and a lot more time exploring topics of interest (like genetics, Jurassic era, democracy, how to service a bicycle, chemistry, pre algebra and this is just in the past 8 months and almost always with hands on activities and outings.)

For university, if they choose to go, they will most likely do the internationally recognised Cambridge school leaving certification, which has 3 levels. They will skip at least the first if not the second as well and do A levels straight up over 2 years. Universities here do not like kids under 17/18 anyway, so we would have a struggle either way.

We have other family plans and then we will try get them into the local university around age 15 (Aiden) if he still chooses to go. If not, then by that age they will have a range of skills that will enable them to run their own businesses, do trades or apprenticeships or at least be ready to explore their passions.

More in relation to your situation - there are many universities in the USA that now accept home schooled kids without SAT's - they do essays, entrance exams and interviews. Studies show that homeschooled kids outperform traditionally schooled kids academically, socially, emotionally at university level, and that they are a lot more dedicated to the work they are there to do. As a result many universities seek out homeschooled kids now.

A lot of schools in the US also allow homeschooled kids to use their sports, cultural and music facilities and clubs.

here is a blog you may want to check out. This mom homeschools her PG kids, they are both DYS kids. They use the nearby schools for a variety of things and her son has chosen this year to enter the high school at a junior year level for various reasons. He has written his own music and is currently recording his first album (kickstarter funded). he is an amazing young musician. Her daughter is still very young and is a (self) published author. Thats the joy and the beauty of it - they can find and explore their passions earlier in a safe way.

You'll be inspired by this blog I think: http://steampoweredclassroom.com/

I know its not an easy choice; it's hard to believe that our kids need something so much more, so different to what we were okay on. If you chose this route, you will find loads of support - both here and all over the internet.

Feel free to PM me if you need to.