Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment 1st grader needs testing?

(Sorry...by the time I submitted the two previous posts were in).
I think the only way you'll find out is to go to the principal and straight out ask. Don't beat around the bush, explain to them exactly what you are seeing and hearing at home.

What prompted them to test your son? You have already mentioned testing as a result of problems in the classroom, was this the reason? If so I would take them to task if they don't test simply because your DD has a different personality and is compliant in the classroom.
This strikes a cord with me because my son's behaviour in the classroom always was and remains that of your daughters and he would only ever say anything detrimental about school when he was at home.

Unfortunately I can't speak regarding what schools do and don't do due to my location. In our case my son was accelerated without testing and I requested testing be done so he could access community and university programs.

I hpoe this helps
matmum

Maybe make a presumptive approach and ask "When?" instead of "May?"

After all (as you will tell them) you do not want the same behavioral issues to arise with her as with your son.

Is this situation, what would typically motivate a school for testing a 1st grader?

sibling: IQ, WJIII both 140, 99.6%

Parental concerns for future behavior problems

child stuffs feelings all day, upset after school

child's reaction to school: math too slow, reading babyish, writing answers ahead under blanks to figure out ahead of class
feels like preschool but no playtime

Not raising hand to give other kids a chance to answer

My goal is to figure out a way to ask that doesn't make them mad.
They don't want me to tell them what to do.

I really not sure what I want out of the testing other than knowing where she is and possibly DYS. I do think she is not where her brother is but I could be wrong. I think the process of identification can take a while and it might be better to be ahead of the game. This could also help with talent searches but the school would not test for that reason.

Seriously... start the conversation with, "When?"

They know you, your son & your history, so I don't think you need to start from scratch with child #2.

If they tell you no, ask "Why not?" and go from there.

thank you for your comment but.. They have been very sensitive like when I offered DS's portfolio of work, they said I think our teachers know our students very well. The principal said she has gifted experience. When she asked about DD, at DS's meeting, I felt like she knew of the typical sibling scores.

I don't want to play games beating around the bush or anything but... I think if I was able to be in a situation to present info. and then they would conclude they should do testing that would be better. I wonder if I request it do they have to do it? We are at a private parchoial school. Is just wanting to know where she is enough to motivate a school?

Ok thinking about this a little more.... Maybe I could say When do test a child in this situation get testing?

Given their reaction to previous attempts at presenting information, I can't envision them taking any "hints."

Your putting considerable effort into second-guessing people who haven't acted terribly rational thus far, which is why I circle around to my suggestion for the more direct approach.

"I'm seeing X, Y & Z with my daughter, just like with my son... when can we move forward with a similar plan for her?"

Hi,
If I were you, I'd start with a conversation -- perhaps a scheduled meeting, even -- with her teacher. Tell her that you know she's doing a great job with your daughter, but that you wanted to let her know of your concerns based on what your daughter is expressing at home. This is information she has no way of knowing and *should* be thankful to hear. Also let her teacher know that, while she isn't bored at school necessarily, that she does already know most of what's being taught. Say something about how you know how difficult it is for teachers to teach to the whole range of abilities in the classroom. You could even play the humble parent card wherein you say something like, "I know all parents think their kids are smart, and I'm not saying mine is a prodigy, but in light of her brother's scores/our family history/what we've seen of her abilities, I think that it would be a good idea to assess our DD so that we can get an idea of what she needs." Tell the teacher that you're considering whether the situation can be left alone, whether you should try to work out some individual instruction, or whether you should consider an acceleration of some type. But tell her that you feel like you need some cold, hard data to help you make that decision. See what the teacher says, see if the teacher is willing to talk to the principal if you two agree about what is needed, and if that doesn't work then see if you can talk with the principal directly.

Since they have been sensitive about you approaching them with your son and have claimed that their teachers know what their students need, going through the teacher -- who knows her the best of anyone at school -- might be the most tactful way to start.

BTW: When my DD was being evaluated by the school and scored really high, they casually mentioned that her younger brother was probably pretty smart too (he hadn't started school yet), so I thought that it would be obvious that he might get a closer look without my having to say anything. But, the school has a lot going on and it just slipped under their radar. To their credit, though, when we approached them about my DS skipping K, they didn't hesitate to test because of our track record with them of being reasonable, concerned parents who turned out to be right about our DD's abilities.

HTH!

Thanks Dandy, I'm really trying to be careful to work on the school relationship. I'm going to try your approach.