Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Can someone define "above-level" testing?

Hi all,

DS9 skipped 3rd and did 4th in 2008-2009. He did 6th grade math with his teacher and algebra with me at home.

At the end of the year, he took two standardized math tests: 4th grade and 6th grade. Scores on both were very high ("Total math score" on 4th was 99th percentile and was 98th on 6th).

For full disclosure, I'm going to add that his computation score was high but not super high (concepts/applications score was off the scale). This issue being addressed over in the homework thread that I started.

I don't understand if either of these tests constitute above-level testing. I mean, if he was in 3rd grade like his age would imply, then both tests were above-level.

But...he was in 4th grade, so was the 4th grade test in-level? But...he did 6th grade math in school and algebra with me, so was the 6th grade test in-level or below-level? Calling a 6th grade test "below level" for a 9-year-old seems strange.

Help!

Thanks.

Val

LOL! It does seem odd. But then again, we live in a strange wonderland, don't we?

I would have to guess that for some purposes you would use his age and for others you would use what he has been taught. Are you filling out an Iowa Acceleration Scale to consider further skips? If so I'd want to see a test would be above level of someone who completed pre-algebra or algebra depending on how far you got with the algebra at home.

Does the thought of your child taking the SAT sound even stranger?
Smiles,
Grinity

Based on reading this, I'd consider them both "above level testing" and they both show: "the implications for curriculum are that the child needs more challenging work." It's just more telling using the 6th grade test. Does that help?

http://books.google.com/books?id=JV...mp;q=above%20level%20testing&f=false

I finally read James Delisle's Parenting Gifted Kids while on vacation. In describing characteristics and emotions of gifted adults, he says "as you might imagine, their favorite color is gray."

I was actually just trying to figure out what the tests meant.

Re: further skips. I find myself thinking "No more skips!" as regards him. But obviously I'll kep my mind open. That said, I'm not convinced he'll need another one.

I kind of think that skips may work best/be easiest in the lower grades as a rule of thumb but not an absolute (?). Though given the US homework culture, it might be easier on the kid to skip, say 10th grade. Comments welcome on this idea.

He's in 6th now with extra math acceleration. One benefit of the testing was that when I suggested skipping 7th grade math, it was not viewed as an insane suggestion. Phew.

Perhaps I'll start a thread called "Oh dear, seventh grade math."

DD5's teacher is trying her out in second grade spelling (she's also doing second grade reading). This is nice. If it's too hard, DT (dear teacher) said she can just put her back in 1st grade spelling. Talk about open-minded....

Val

When I get asked about DS being 15, and his peers being 16 and driving when he gets to high school (if he grade skips now) and other social issues that MAY arise then, my response, besides "we'll cross that bridge when we get there", is always about it being a bit easier in high school, not harder. There are more diverse extra curricular activities, classes are mixed (my brother, who was a whole year behind me, and I took Chemistry the same year - I waited to take it my JR year instead of my SO year). I always had kids from all four grades in at least 2 or 3 of my classes each semester. And for us, our son will not be more than a year accelerated, so he won't be THAT much younger.

But I think academically, and to keep kids from being bored and learning bad habits as a result, grade acceleration should be done as early as possible.

I know exactly what you meant. I was more "venting" on the fact that I personally get the "what happens in high school" question when in reality, I think like you, high school will be a mixed group of ages!

Oh darn, for a moment I though that Jim had written a book about Parenting Gifted kids While on Vacation. I'd love to read that one!

Giggles,
Grins

Actually, I much prefer parenting gifted kids while on vacation. It's the return to regular life that's tough.
Thanks for the laugh!

The headmaster at DS's school mentioned this to me. He said that there's a lot of flexibility in middle school, but graduating from HS requires 4 years of English, x years of math, x years of science, etc. etc.

So if DS were to, say, skip 9th grade, he'd still have to do 9th grade English simultaneously with 10th grade English.

Val