Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Introduction and S-B vs. WISC question

Greetings. I am so glad I found the Davidson Institute - it has been so helpful. As an introduction I have a nearly 8 year old boy and a 4 year old girl. Our son is very bright (we are waiting to have him tested right now - more on that below), but I have no idea where he falls exactly- I am a bit skeptical about Ruf's levels, not skeptical that they exist, but that I can self report in any objective way. I know our son seems way ahead of what I could do, and my husband feels the same way, and we both were in G/T programs as kids and I know my IQ (HG), and while my DH was never tested he was nationally ranked in chess as a child, so he is pretty smart. I wouldn't consider DS profoundly gifted I don't think, in fact, he seems incredibly average in some things and is definitely behind in some areas (i.e. handwriting) even though I am prone to think he is pretty incredible (and he is regardless of IQ of course!). Our daughter (non-biological) is also one sharp little cookie - I'm looking forward to watching her as she learns more and more too.

Anyhow, it is the same old story so many of you are familiar with. My DS is in 2nd grade in public school, and the last two years have been a sad waste academically, but he was generally happy and social and he didn't complain (he is very definitely a pleaser and not the kind of kid to typically have behavioral issues - I sometimes think that if he did act out it would make it easier for him to get challenged and some special attention, isn't that terrible). He teacher last year tried hard to challenge him in math, and we always do lots of brain work around the dinner table, so it was okay. But this year we have him coming home in tears because he is so bored in math (he could do a lot of the math they are doing now in pre-school, and most of it in kindergarten - in fact, my 4 year old can do some of his work). Because of ongoing handwriting issues we just had him have an OT evaluation and he has been diagnosed with dysphonia (handwriting issues, he had delayed dominance in the left hand, and it is still quite mixed), poor balance, and poor muscle tone - some likely related to hyperextension in almost all of his arm and hand joints. He is still generally happy in school, but I can see his interest slipping, which just makes me so sad.

We are doing a variety of things to address this. On his agreement (really pushing), he took the K12 math assessment and will start doing some math at home on his own. Like many bright kids he hates practicing math facts (although knows most of them), so we know let him do that online with some games like Timz Attack, which has really worked beautifully. We will be taking the OT report to the teacher and principal and working out some accomodations in terms of his writing. And now the final piece (for now) is to have his IQ tested, so that I have something to show them when I push for more accomodations in math.

Sorry to be so long winded to get to my main questions and thanks so much for sticking with this for so long. Anyway, he will be tested at the Center for the Gifted in Philadelphia, waiting to hear about a date, and they originally suggested that they use the S-B V since he is strong in math. I thought perhaps WISC IV would be better, since people keep raising issues about S-B V and its accuracy for kids over 7 or so, and also it seems to me the WISC subtests could be a very useful tool for checking out other potential issues. But then someone suggested that WISC isn't as good for kids who have dysphonia, and I can see the possibility for problems. For example, if I tell him 8 digits in a row, he can repeat back to me without much problem, but if I tell him how to write an 8 letter word, he will forget after the first few letters - would that be an issue for him?

Second, what other steps would you be taking if you were in my position to engage him or work with the school. I am in NJ and the school district is semi-hostile toward gifted kids, but I think with enough "evidence" they will do something. The teacher and principal are somewhat open. Homeschooling and private schools are not an option right now.

Third, he was 6 weeks premature and also had an extensive history of ear infections from 10 months to 5 years, all has been resolved after 3 surgeries, etc. His hearing tests (done by an ear, nose, throat specialist) come back fine now. I see that the Gifted Development Center discusses frequesnt ear infections as some issue, but I am wondering just what issues it is supposed to cause or related to.

Thanks so much, Cat

Welcome! I had luck getting subject acceleration when I gave the principal the WJ-III Achievement results. Since the teacher and principal are somewhat open, that may work for you too.

Thanks Inky, Is the WJ-III something done by a psychologist or scheduled via a testing company?

Psychologist. Here's a good summary of the different tests:
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/tests.htm

Welcome Cat -
There isn't any rule that says a gifted, or profoundly gifted child is going to be even across every possible measure. In fact, from a mathmatical view, the larger the gap between 'average' and your child in the strongest area, the more likely your child is to have wide gaps between their strengths and weakest areas, KWIM?

There also isn't any agreed on definition of 'what is gifted? what is profoundly gifted?' None. So use the words however you want to - none of your listeners will have an acurate idea of what you are trying to communicate anyway.

Because so many of us come through the Davidson YSP program, we tend to use PG to = meets criteria for acceptance into YSP program, as the Davidsons themselves do. But that doesn't mean it's 'correct' only that is what folks here tend to do. You have to check at the start of every single conversation to 'define terms' in this population.

If you are HG, and with DH's Chess History, if you see your DS doing things that suprise you at all, then I would bet your son is 'PG' or close enough that makes no difference. No matter what the IQ tests say, keep asking the school to put him in math that he is ready to learn - he has a right to learn how to learn.

Brava to you for that little push into K12 Math at home. What a great way to get to know him as a learner - and for him to try streching his wings a bit. Once he is able to touch type (around age 9 I would guess) you'll see the rest of him shine. It does take time for some of our kids to grow into themselves. Firstborns and onlies seem to take a bit longer - or is it just that we parents have no other small people to compare them too?

Welcome!
Grinity