Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion how to identify giftedness

I�ve suspected that my son is somewhat gifted. There�re many aspects of him match the description of a gifted child from articles I�ve read. I also received his report card showing that he was tested at the first semester of 1st grade that he was able to read 5th grade materials. Does a fresh 1st grader being able to read 5th grader�s materials mean more than usual? I observe that he is bored in the classroom. He told me all the stuff the teacher taught him in the classroom was easy. I asked him how easy it is and he said it�s like an object on the table that you only need to pick it up. I do not want to falsely expect my child is gifted but I do want to give him an opportunity of an environment that he can thrive. Should I make him do a test and what that would be? He is a 6 � years old in the first grade at a public school.

It isn't 'normal' for a 1st grader to read at 5th grade level and the fact that he shows signs of boredom and his comment about it all lead me to the gifted side. The best thing I could offer is look up Deborah Ruf's book "Losing Our Minds". It is a great starting point for if your son is gifted and what signs to look for or look back on from infancy to get an idea of what level he would be at. Does he find math easy? Is he advanced in math?

Also talk to your school about testing him. Does your school have a gifted program in the early years? Some do not start until 3rd grade while others start in Kindergarten. You can ask the school to test him or you can pay privately to test. But testing will give you an idea of how gifted and if you might need to accelerate him through subject or whole grades. There are many avenues you could take but understanding where he fits on the gifted scale does help.

If you click on the link on the left of this page "Davidson Database" there are tons of articles regarding early indications of giftedness. Read a few, see if they apply, then talk to your school about testing.

Dear Katelyn�s mom and BWBShari,

Thank you very much for your responses. I talked to my son�s teacher yesterday without
mentioning the possibility of him being giftedness for the reason that I�d like to be
careful enough not to push my son into a situation that may make him stressed
(thinking about perhaps the change of his social environment). He is a gentle and very
sensitive kid.

This meeting was actually his teacher�s request, which is very nice of her in thinking
good for my son. She is going to give her special assignment every week. The
assignment should both help him in analytical reading comprehension and writing. She
loves to read his journal and wants to help him develop himself more on that. I�m
extremely grateful for having this teacher.

His school does not have gifted program until the third grade. My son�s math should be
advanced but I wonder how much he shows it to her teacher. (He is a philosopher himself
on this.) I know he is very good at spatial relationship and geometry. He constantly asks
me for materials he wants to learn more about. I think that until he is ready to show
himself about his abilities, I won�t push it and instead I�ll try as much as possible to
supply him with what he needs for his intellectual thirst.

I could not find the book Losing Our Minds in all the local bookstores I know. The local
libraries don�t have it, either, however, I read some parts of it on Goolge Book. I�m ordering
it. I read the materials in the Davidson Database link, too. Thank you very much. I plan on having
my son tested to see where he is and what we need to do to help him. Several days ago, his
classroom rep. came to me and said that by his observations in the classroom we should have
him tested. I think it�s time to do it. Mind is a terrible thing to waste. I should do more to find out
and help my son. Thank you very much.