Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Update on DS #2

Well, we've had a bit of good news it seems. Although written in clinical speak, our GWA came back today and the school psychologist recommended inclusion into the gifted program and a GIEP will be scheduled shortly. I am assuming--and those of you familiar with PA please correct me if I'm wrong--that if we are going to get scheduled for a GIEP that we've definitely been id'ed as gifted. That was one of my concerns, as this is an important marker.

The nice thing... almost ironic thing... is that the school psychologist (who largely quoted from our original report with a few additions) specifically included passages about how DS could be quiet and intense when he's analyzing something. I laughed.

JB

Ah, thanks Dottie, that did jog my memory on the "GMDT". We'll review Chap 16. I think they're going to combine this recommendation with a few other tests and bundle that with the GIEP meeting.

Yeah, DW once again agrees with you! I printed this out and she said "um you titled this wrong. It's confusing!". Officially this is Update #2 on DS.

JB

I'm glad to hear they're moving forward. Yay!

It seems like there's much to be thankful for this holiday, both in your "Update #2 on DS" and the fact that there's a upcoming child #3 to update us about!

We aren't planning on signing on the spot. DW and I are on the same page with that one. I expect a canned GIEP that doesn't identify his current level and mostly offers the pull out program.

In the ideal world--the world in which a GIEP is truly individualized--we'd want DS to be doing the 3rd grade math curriculum and similar level for reading REPLACING the existing curriculum. The approach so far has been "once he's done his assigned work, we can give him more interesting material." They rarely get to the more interesting material.

What we can actually get in reality, I don't know. I'm starting to really wonder what's reasonable to expect from school. This week with my MIL who is a 3rd grade teacher in a public school was interesting. She was essentially telling us to not expect much at all unless we enrolled DS in a private school (not really in the budget).

But I am thankful that we're one step closer. This is good...

JB

I have the same problem/question. I haven't come up with a good answer to it yet, so here we are. I sympathize.


From what I hear, this isn't even true at many private schools. It's definitely a caveat emptor situation there. Some private schools are absolutely marvelous, while others basically say, "Look, this is the product we offer. As is. If you don't want to buy it, there are lots of others who will. Step aside, please." It definitely depends on the school.

I think you're certainly wise to start with the public school first!

I think you're right, Dottie. If you don't know what you want, how do you know if you've found it?

For my part, we're not even asking for "maximizing," just "not minimizing."



Oh, and not completely destroying our household budget would be a plus, too... The one school that would suit DS7 pretty well is out of our price range for now, I fear.

I think this is what we're wrestling with. Of course this is VERY early in the process as we are talking about just first grade. But still...

I know that we want more than just a pull out program, more than just additional work to do, and more than just in class differentiation of the material that was already planned for this class.

I think what I'd like to see is some individualized attention in math and reading. If that means going to the resource room during that normal scheduled time, that's fine. I'd like DS to be with his (near) age mates for most of the day when he's doing gym, music, art, etc. I'm not sure this is a realistic request, but that's what I'd like to see.

What I want him to get out of school is for him to see that it's a place where you can learn. He is learning some things, so it's not a total loss by any means (both good and bad things, but this is part of life). But he learns 10x as much stuff being with us at home and talking math at dinner time. So I see it as a loss on learning the fundamentals of reading and math.

JB

You know, DS7 was hating even recess in 1st grade. That was one of the reasons I knew things were really, really bad for him. He had been all about recess in K, when he was happy and challenged. But in 1st grade, not only was the teacher taking recess away from him far too often, but when he did get to play, he wasn't happy or having much fun.

So maybe if even recess stinks, it's absolutely time to make some sort of changes (if not before)? I think that's probably a good indicator that you cannot wait any longer.

Well, recess is his favorite part of school right now....

JB

Good! I mean, you probably still need to make some changes for your DS. But at least that doesn't mean you're necessarily desperate, as we were. Lack of desperation is a good thing!