As a first grader, my son was recommended for IQ testing based on above level academics, a KBIT screening score of 135 and strong gifted characteristic checklist responses by his 1st grade teacher. He took the RIAS during the summer, administered at a local HS by the HS GC. His strength is with Math and spatial reasoning. However he bombed out on the non-verbal section, NIX 92, scoring only in the 34th percentile. This was a real shock. The tester said he quickly zeroed out in the "what's missing" portion. She described him as hunched over looking closely at the pictures pointing out minute imperfections. I think this may have been either vision related, or because he is such a good puzzler, he missed the obvious because it was TOO obvious. . .he was looking for the "trick".

In the fall we learned that his vision correction had been very undercorrected. He wears glasses and need a much more than normal increase in correction. Could his poor vision have been a factor with the non-verbal? Is this just a bad test result because he didn't listen to the instructions well enough? He is placed in a gifted math class, his teacher says his achievement is excellent. He continues to outperform his grade level in all subjects, except writing. His writing is on level, but he is underperforming because of fine motor issues. His handwriting is atrocious and he can't keep up with his thoughts. This affects his interest in writing, and therefore, achievement.

I can say that it's pretty normal for gifted little ones to have very little interest in 'making stories' if they have to handwrite them. I would work at home on teaching touch-typing, and I'd get the camcorder out and make tapes of your son telling stories, so that your son can start to learn about 'writing' without being bottle necked by the physical act of writing.

Is the test accurate. I have no idea. It would be interesting to ask the tester what the non-verbal section of the test would have scores without the 'what's missing' portion. Over time, you'll have a much better picture of what's going on. Your son wouldn't be the first kid to loose points because he 'went deep' on an IQ test. They aren't perfect tests.

You might also want to hothouse the printing - if so, I love the 'Handwritting without tears' products, and wish they had 'Spelling without tears' to match!

Love and More Love,
Grinity

Thanks Grinity. We have done HWT. It helped a little, but his interest in continuing to practice it has stopped. Maybe starting the cursive would be worthwhile now. But Thank God for computers! I am going to get him started on a typing program to help get him set up for 3rd grade.

Luckily, his school is able to place him in the gifted instruction for Math, despite not currently being officially labelled. He is in a great school with a lot of high achievers/gifted which they group together for instruction. I wouldn't really care about the gifted label, except he could probably use a dedicated Education Plan with accommodations for his handwriting and some other typical gifted behaviors. He can retake the RIAS test this summer, or I can pay for a different test. I may pursue that option.