Ever take your child OUT of a Gifted/Talented Program?

[Magickndm]

My daughter, now 15, was tested for the gifted program when she was in kindergarten. I know many parents ask for their child to be tested, we did not, it was recommended by her teacher. From 1st grade through 5th she had gifted class once a week, and it was definitley an enrichment class. I will always be greatful she had this opportunity as it has seemed to really have broadened her interests. She has learned sign language, appreciates Piccaso and Motzart (yes, really!), and went on 2 huge 4 day field trips to a science center where she learned about marine biology and even dissected a shark.
In middle school the gifted children had their own seperate cirriculum and teachers. They were broken up into 2 teams and basically "travelled" from 6th through 8th grade together. This is where the classes got tougher and became more of an accelerated program rather than just enrichment.
She has just started high school this year, and there is no seperate gifted program, just honors classes, which she is in.
I really am thrilled she had the opportunities she had by going through the gifted program and urge you to try and stick it out for a while of you can. Think of this as an honor to your child, an opportunity many children don't get.
One last thing, not sure how it is where you live, but here in my county, if you pull your child out, you really can't go back.


edited to say: I see you made your decision while I was typing this, some programs are better than others I assume. Hope things work out with whatever you choose.

 

[PlutoPony]

Most importatn, she needs to know that there's nothing wrong with being smart, and the enrichment program allows her a place to fit in.

. My son is starting to hit the stage where it's not "cool" to be smart, and the kids in the g/t program are very supportive of each other - teachers have remarked on this in their regular classroom (they're split among all 7 of the regular 5th grade classrooms). I think this may one of the better reasons to continue in this program in middle school frankly..... DS isn't off the charts by any means, but being part of a group where it's good to do well in school is no small thing...

 

[JimB.]

Never taken them OUT, but we have refused to put them IN.

Some of the logistics involved to get our kids in these things was just too much to overcome.

Our DD was selected for our county's IB program. She would have to go to a HS 1/2 hour drive away. We would have to get her there. Uh-uh.

She also got selected for another school's ACE program (kinda' like a "domestic" IB). Same issues.

Plus the work load for these is simply staggering. Our DD & DS have a right to enjoy their teen years (but not TOO much............. ). So they are both in Honors classes, my DS is 2 years ahead in math & my DD is taking college classes for credit as a junior.

In the long run, I don't think a lack of "gifted" program participation is going to hinder them.........................

 

[princesspumpkin]

Ours is also more enrichment than academics. The reasoning (as I understand it) is that gifted students are "different" in the way they think and view things. In addition to grasping basic concepts quickly, they take these concepts and run with them into all sorts of directions.... so a program for kids like this focuses on critical thinking and things like that to make the most of how these kids learn. Siimply giving gifted students accelerated instruction doesn't really address their NEEDS - other than keeping them from being bored in class (which is a problem for many gifted AND not as gifted students ). I will say that after a couple of years in a g/t program (1 day/week pullout) we can definitely see DS 10 thinking "outside the box" a lot - it's noticeable and I think it will absolutely benefit him in life, probably more than accelerated classes since this is about a thought PROCESS, not just knowledge. Just MHO....

PlutoPony, I agree with you. But, with DD, I feel that she needs every "regular" class that she can get. Although she was tested to be gifted/talented, she really needs the basics. Missing math class twice a week (especially now with fractions and geometry) is beginning to be a bit of a challenge. My DD isn't the type of gifted child that knows everything without studying. She gets excellent grades, but works hard for them. I suppose her IQ is high (because she needed a specific IQ in order to test into G/T), but she still needs to "learn" things in order to master them. I totally agree with the "outside of the box" learning, but my DD needs "inside of the box" a lot more, right now. I just thought that the G/T classes were doing the same things that the regular classes were doing, but at a more accelerated time frame. For my DD, missing regular math for G/T classes is more of a minus than a plus. Now I know plenty of children that probably wouldn't have to take math classes for months and still be able to get an A on a test. But, that's not my DD. I do wonder if she is really G/T material, but like I said, the "experts" tested and evaluated her and said that she was. I will be speaking with the G/T teacher to get her spin on things. Also, I was in G/T as a child and I was one of those children that could basically miss any classes and still be right on track. So, I see both sides.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

they are all re-tested for the G/T program and that if I pulled DD from is now, it would not hinder her chances (on paper) from getting into the program. Also, the G/T program in the middle school is different in that although it is still a pull-out class, it pulls out of a class that is studying the same thing (she said it would be social studies and that the G/T class would do more in depth social studies stuff as well as other things). So DD wouldn't be missing different things to be a part of this class. Alas, I believe that I have made my decision.

I don't blame you if that is how things are at your school. At the old school we were at in Missouri, was a "clique" and the "test" was rigged. There were only a certain number of spots in the middle school for the G/T.
They also did not pull you from classes. You got to be in advanced Math & Science and skip reading for "enrichment" classes.
Upon entering High School you could not take any honors classes and could NOT take Biology.

I am so happy I have moved to Texas. However the issues here with the "honors" is that if you do not take ALL honors starting Freshman year, you WILL NOT be able to graduate in the top 10%.
Texas has this law right now that graduates in the top 10% MUST BE automatically admitted into the college of their choice.

Just do your homework and base it on what is best for your child.

 

[noseybuddy]

This is DD-9's second year in the G/T program. Before she started it, I thought that it would be a class that had more advanced math/language/reading work going on. Once she was in it, I realized that it really was more of an enrichment class. There were a lot of critical thinking activities and special projects. This year, the class, which is twice a week, replaces her math class (4th grade). Although she does well in math, I don't feel that this G/T class is worth missing two days of math for. When she starts middle school, I suppose she may be able to take the "honors" classes (if she was eligible). But in elementary school, this G/T is what they do. I don't feel that this will hinder her education (by pulling her out), but I'm also wondering how her teacher would feel about this. Has anyone ever done this before? P.S. - DD couldn't care less. Although she does what she needs to do, she didn't have any desire to join this class in the first place.

ITA, did the same thing with both my DD and DS. Didn't want them to miss important classes to do projects. They didn't want to be in GT anyway, but I still would have pulled them out. Now that they are in High School they take Honors classes.

 

[dismom9761]

I actually pulled my son out of gifted this past Friday.It was entirely his choice but I supported it.He has been in it for 2 yrs but has not wanted to go this year.He is able to reenter at any time if he chooses to do so but I doubt that will happen.

 

[PlutoPony]

PrincessPumpkin I agree that some kids just don't do well missing class and I'd probably make the same choice in your shoes.... DS has always been the kid who finished his work first (and it's usually right thank goodness) so missing a day doesn't seem to be an issue right now - that could change in the future however. Here the regular classroom teachers aren't supposed to cover any new material when the g/t kids aren't in class, ~ 4 hrs/week, but I do think that's a bit unfair to the rest of the kids frankly. In actuality, there is some new ground covered, but it's mostly in areas that are easier to make up like language arts and social studies. I hear that in MS the pull-out can be more of an issue, depending on which classes you actually miss, so I may have a different opinion in another year .
Good luck!

 

[princesspumpkin]

So, I'm really inclined to pull her out now. Yesterday, the G/T students went on a field trip for the entire day. When DD came home, she had to do all of the classwork from her regular class that she had missed, plus homework. Needles to say, she was doing work for over five hours. Sure, the field trip was informative, but I don't think she thought much about it during her third or fourth hour of homework.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Yikes! Five hours of make-up work is definitely too much! When my DD10 goes once a week, she's required to make up the work, but the missed day is Friday, she has all weekend, and she MIGHT have an hour of work, including the assigned homework. Now, they do have longer term projects, because of my DD's schedule, I try to help her pick when she'll have blocks of time to work on those.

I really hate to see a kid give up the gifted program--you might want to talk ot the (regular) teacher about curriculum compacting. What this is, is, instead of, say, the class did 25 problems. Well, just give your DD the 5 hardest, to be sure she understands the concepts. The gifted teacher my DD sees recommends this--it's completely pointless to have a gifted kid waste time doing "busywork", and drains the fun out of the special activity.

If you can't get her some relief, I'm with you about removing her. She's being punished for being in the gifted program--that's a terrible message to send!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So, I'm really inclined to pull her out now. Yesterday, the G/T students went on a field trip for the entire day. When DD came home, she had to do all of the classwork from her regular class that she had missed, plus homework. Needles to say, she was doing work for over five hours. Sure, the field trip was informative, but I don't think she thought much about it during her third or fourth hour of homework.

Wow, that is awful! If my dd is accepted to the GF program I hope it isn't like that.
Does your dd want out?

 

[princesspumpkin]

Wow, that is awful! If my dd is accepted to the GF program I hope it isn't like that.
Does your dd want out?

She has not said that she wants out. She didn't want "in" to begin with (but she didn't even know what was involved with the G/T back then. She only knew that children were taken out of class to go somewhere else - and she loves school. So I thought that she didn't want to "miss" school) She says that G/T is a little hard (when I ask her), but she doesn't readily complain about it. But when I see the extra classwork that she has to do from the math class that she missed because she was at G/T class, I complain

 

[tar heel]

Our elementary is a pull-out enrichment program. DS sometimes complained about the extra work, but he would have never wanted to be taken out b/c being a gifted kid is too much part of his identity. I did, however, remove him from one of the other enrichment things. In our school system, a gifted child has a plan that includes what the classroom teacher will offer as well as the enrichment program. DS always had accelerated spelling lists, special math group, etc., and also the two enrichment activities run by parent volunteers: Junior Great Books and math superstars. He didn't do Junior Great Books in fifth grade even though it was on his recommendation.

Our middle school program is much better. He has AG English/Language Arts and AG Math that replaces the regular English and Math classes.

 

[PlutoPony]

Interesting how different schools and teachers handle this.... At back to school night the g/t teachers made a point of saying that students shouldn't be getting a mountain of make-up work for the day they're pulled out of regular class. As someone else mentioned, if they did 50 math programs in class, the g/t kids should only need to do a sample of those just to make sure they understand the concepts - stuff like that. We were advised to let the g/t teachers know if they were bogged down and they'd talk to the classroom teacher about it. Most teachers are good about this, but I know they did talk to one of the new 5th grade teachers this fall as she was essentially making her g/t students do everything they'd missed in class..... Could you talk to the g/t teacher about this and see what their response is? I truly doubt that they want kids to drop out of the program because of the workload.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Daxx]

I refused to put DS9 in our G&T program altogether!!! DS9's teacher told me that DS qualified for the G&T program at our school and would I like him to go. I said no. Quite simply, it's not a "golden ticket" to AP classes in high school. You have to prove yourself w/your grades in the area high schools ... not w/being in a G&T program.

Second, any private high school, or otherwise, and any college he persues, will not look at his grade school academics and say "Oh, starting 3rd grade, he was in G&T". The highschools want the middle school grades and colleges want the grades from high school and SATs.

The G&T program here is more like "Let's put on a play! Let's go outside and look at nature". One mother w/her child in the G&T program is yanking her out b/c of the things they're not doing in G&T (ie: sparse academics - she's been rehearsing for 3 weeks for the 2nd play this year in G&T program). She says it's simply not challenging and just a bunch of extra homework that appears to be at-level. I figure that I can come up w/extra homework if I feel DS needs the enrichment.

They miss a FULL DAY of school to go to G&T. I know that A LOT goes on in the classroom throughout the course of a day and do not want my DS to miss out on that. This includes little things that a teacher might say and might be on a test == things that aren't in the books.

Finally, G&T sends its own homework that has to be completed along w/the work they miss in a day of school. Well, 3rd grade is known as "Hell Year" b/c of the homework they receive (and it is a lot -- they have loads over this weekend alone to do). And, I've seen the homework that G&T sends -- nothing that DS isn't already learning ... just more of it. So, if G&T is all the same that he's currently learning and he has to do that on top of what he's doing already then he's got to rehearse for a play, why should I bother?!?! If I feel he needs enrichment, I'll take care of it.

 

[Donny Baker]

when I was in 3rd grade, my teacher submitted me for testing at a local college. they deemed me 'gifted', and recommended I enter the 'gifted' elementary school at the start of 4th grade. I stayed there until high school, where upon registering for classes they wanted me to start at a sophomore level. that was the final straw for me. I hated the whole experience and being pushed at such a young age. 7 years of French, and I can't remember anything. some kids develop earlier than others, IMO. the majority all catch up eventually. my daughter is in 7th grade, and they're telling us she reads and composes at a college sophomore level. they want to 'challenge' her. I don't buy it. I'm not going to saddle her with the extra homework. I've always stressed to her not to try to grow up too fast, enjoy being a kid. she enjoys reading and writing on her own, that's why she does well with it. the only thing we've ever asked of her in school is A's and B's. she's never let us down.