For the parents of Gifted kids

Today I got Jonathan's report from the school--they are evaluating him before they can dismiss him from the preschool disabled program as he is going to Kindergarten in Sept. I got a preview of his scores a few weeks ago, and his IQ scores were in the Superior range. So, now I got the academic scores: he topped out the reading test--his scores were that of a 7 year 9 month old--he is 4 years, 8 months at testing. Same with the math--his overall math score should actually be higher, but he did so well on the computation, that he was actually off the scale

So, my question is, what do I do for this kid when he goes to K. Academically, he obviously has no issues, other than handwriting, which is awful. The psychologist even said in his eval that "Jonathan displays behaviors typical of a child with extremely high intellect"--in otherwords, he looses focus when the task isn't difficult enough--and will do stull like climb under tables and chairs. His speech scores were average--which would be fine--IF his other scores were average as well. I am just afraid that he will be like his father and I and struggle with writing--but since they can't test that yet, they want to dismiss him.

Anyway, what can I do to keep him excelling and excited about school, does this make sense? At this point I am hoping that we can request his teacher, and we can get him in the class where the K teacher is also certified as a special ed teacher, and she has an aide, to help keep his attention.

 

Wow, Sharon, what wonderful and exciting news! There's nothing finer than hearing or reading that your child has excelled beyond your expectations like that! Way to go Jonathan!!

I'm afraid I can't really help you with advice, though! I hope you can sort out a kindergarten year that will stimulate and satisfy Jonathan (and you!).

Congratulations! :clapping:

 

We're just finishing Kindergarten, and I'm still trying to figure it all out.

Danny started reading just after his 2nd birthday. He could do addition and some subtraction when he started Kindergarten. In daycare, they had given up trying to get him to play with the rest of the group, and just let him be in the corner with his "library". I feared going into Kindergarten, and my fears were completely valid.

The thing with gifted kids, is that they don't develop uniformly. Like you said, your son's handwriting is awful. (Danny's is, too!) People tend to expect them to be just as emotionally mature and they are advanced in their academic skills. This just isn't the case. Danny gets in trouble a lot, and it seems like the teachers expect him to be the "better person" in any schoolyard scuffles because he's smart.

Danny was tested at the beginning of the school year, and they put him in the 2nd grade advanced pull out group for reading. At our parent teacher conferences, they were telling us that at his present moment testing they would recommend 4th grade. The special ed teacher also takes him out of class a couple hours a week to work on his writing skill, because they don't know what they will do with him next year.

Good luck with your decisions and your journey (rollercoater) as a parent of a gifted child.

 

As a former "gifted" child, I know exactly what you are talking about when you say loose focus. I still have problems sitting still and not doing anything(maybe that's why I am here all the time). Make sure you get a teacher who is willing to work with you or it can be pure H*** on both you and your son. We had a teacher who wouldn't work with my sister(speech problems and 30% deaf) and she still has emotional problems when dealing with teachers because of it. I'm gifted in Science, English and History(my first love) but am defiecent in math. At 5th grade I was reading on a college level which makes somethings a bit odd(such as romance in sci fi novels).

 

Great job, Jonathan!

Well, I can't speak from personal experience. Although my boys have never been tested, I am quite certain they are "just" average, and even they have a terrible time staying focussed.

Sharon, if anyone knows how to handle it - working jointly with the teachers - it's you! Being a Special-Ed certified teacher gives you an advantage others do not have. Speak with his teachers. Let them know your concerns. Map out a plan. Take it one day at a time. He'll be just fine.

 

If it's available, I'd suggest looking into a Montessori program. It's all driven by the child and they progress at their own rate, whether it be fast, slow or inbetween.

 

Thanks for your responses. Heather, that is so nice of you! :blush:

Vicki, there really aren't any Montessori programs local to us--we have a family friend who owns 2, and had looked into it for us. But even if there were we couldn't afford it.

I know it will work out. One good thing is they hired a reading specialist to work with the K and 1st graders who are exceptional readers, so he should get some good stimulation there. I am sure he will be racking up AR points as well!

 

Sharon, as I've posted before, Sean was reading for two years prior to starting K. (Heck, he read my computer manual when he was 5!!) One of the reasons we decided to keep him out of school until he was 6 (summer birthday) was actually because he was so gifted but yet so immature in knowing how to deal with it in relation to being bored or not challenged enough in school. As he matured a little more physically, he became better able to cope in a situation where he might be somewhat bored. We were also blessed in being able to place him in an all day K/1 classroom setting. But the very best tip I have (and one we used for B&C also as they are both also fairly advanced) is communication with the teacher about what expectations you have for your child. As Heather stated, with your teaching background, you have all the skills needed for dealing with this situation. We just kept an open line of communication with Sean's K teacher (ditto all of this for B&C) in regards to how Sean was coping and what things she was doing to ensure he not be bored and become disruptive. He had a wonderful teacher, who was more than happy to accomodate us. He was able to go to the older classrooms for reading materials and she often assigned him work that was a little more in depth than some of his more average classmates. He was encouraged to work at his level and his potential. We lived in Ohio for his K year and part of his 1st grade year. When we moved here, he was placed with a teacher who was very good about this too (one of the "requests" we made of the principal at the new school) and it all worked out very well. When B&C were in K here, one of the things I did to help them in this respect was I volunteered to help with the Accelerated Reading program in K which had only previously been offered starting only in 1st grade for some and across the board in 2nd grade. It was a hit since they were not the only ones in their classes that were reading and needed more of a challenge. So there are many ways teachers can help in this aspect and that you as a parent can help with also. In the years after K, I also helped with an Accelerated Math program for the more gifted math students as well. My best advice is just to work as closely with his teacher as possible to both help her and him deal with the situation. I hope it all works out to everyone's advantage!!

 

Oh my goodness, you have described Jackson. Way above average in reading and math, horrendous handwriting, and losing focus very easily in class.

He was fine for kindergarten. We didn't have problems until 1st grade, when no one made any effort to challenge him academically. It was so frustrating to see that potential wasted, which is when we moved him to the gifted school. If your school doesn't have a gifted program, I would definitely talk to the teacher to see what can be done to keep him engaged enough to remain focused, and remain adamant about what you want for him. I think I didn't speak up for Jackson enough when he was in 1st grade.

 

Thanks Amy and Kim!

Kim, I have never heard of Accelerated Math, I will have to look into that. I definately plan on getting him involved with the AR program.

Amy, we do have a gifted program, although from what I have heard, the teacher isn't very good. But then again, that came from someone who doesn't think most of the teachers in the school are good

I plan to keep on top of him. I may have a better idea after next week when we have his last eligibility meeting, and the K teacher is there. I hope we can put in a request--I think we can.

 

Sharon, I know I'm way late on this...just saw this post.

You have gotten wonderful advice.

I just wanted to say that Nicholas' teachers sometimes "forget" and expect more of him than he can do. Each time we have an IEP I get frustrated.
Nicholas was in special ed for a year before we put him in kindergarten. At the end of that special ed year we all decided that if he goes to kindergarten, they would take him out a few hours here and there to go to 3rd grade mainly for academics. I'm happy that they do because the other teachers are "better" for him.

The last IEP we had in January, his teacher was telling me how Nicholas disrupts the class, he gets upset if anyone finishes work before him, that he is scared of the tornadoe amd fire drill and just can't work to well with to many students. She kind of thru her arms in the air like "what am I supposed to do with your child". She didn't say that but that's how I felt.
I KNOW she is not thrilled about dealing with my son because she doesn't know how to. I'm really looking forward to the next year and teacher change.
I guess my point is that Nicholas could have had an easier time in kindergarten if the person that taught him was more "fit". I just wish I had seen this sooner. I don't know how else to say it. And as many teachers as we know in that school, everyone loves nicholas and everyone can handle him just fine, they understand and are patient.

I wish you best Luck and hopefully everything will work out just fine!

 

We had Jonathan's meeting yesterday. As of the end of this school year he is officially out of special ed.

I just sent a letter to the superintendant/principal requesting his teacher for next year. His case manager is supposed to do the same thing. I actually don't see major problems with any of the Kindergarten teachers, but the one I requested has an aide in her class, which I think will be helpful to keeping him on task.

Thanks for your reply, Monika.