I.Q.-Does it matter?

[shirleyb]

I've never been told my IQ or any of my childrens'. Is this something you normally find out from the school?

 

[chris1gill]

Exactly. That's why high IQ's are not an indicator of future success in school. IMO, these scores are an indicator of special needs. Plenty of kids will crap out in school because they are not engaged by traditional teaching methods.

As a side note, testing is done in our school district by guidence counselors.

To the op, while your nephew may not have a genius level IQ, I'd bet that the problem was with the tester. If your sister is truly concerned, she should seek private testing. Or she could just blow off the whole issue because he sounds like a bright little boy.

EXACTLY! We have a school now that engages him that the public school could not provide... the IQ exam gave us a view into his general learning style, and is just being used as a tool in his overall education.... As jrmasm says plenty of these kids flunk out of school because they are not engaged, it's a serious problem among this general population IMHO....

We had private testing as they had no bias towards whatever our child scored....

 

[FutureSailor]

Your sister is not overacting IMO. There is no way his IQ is that low if he has accomplished what he has so far.

I do remember hearing they have changed the test. My quess is the person who gave him the test did not do it correctly.

I agree that it is quite possible that the person administering the test did not do everything properly (lots of things can go wrong with administering a test--it really does require both experience and careful attention). But 94 is not "that low"--it is pretty much average. And as many people have pointed out, success depends on many things other than intelligence. Apparantly this little boy likes school activites (reading, math) and is probably motivated to do them.

 

[wasabi girl]

I would definitely NOT worry about any IQ test. I think there is considerable disagreement among "experts" as to what intelligence actually is. I seem to remember (though not completely sure on this) that IQ tests were originally developed with the "eugenics" movement. I'm sure we all know people who are "gifted" and accomplish nothing much with their lives, and others who are "average" who achieve great success and happiness. I do think though that if the family expects nothing much from the child, he will live up to (or down to ) their expectations.

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

And as many people have pointed out, success depends on many things other than intelligence. Apparantly this little boy likes school activites (reading, math) and is probably motivated to do them.

BINGO! DN7 loves school. He loves his teachers. His teachers love him. They make it fun and, as DSis says, "Make it more enjoyable than home ". I have never seen a child that loves school more than this little boy. Since he was in pre-school (3 years old), he has craved school and the positive things that happen there. He is a calm child. Ne'er a tantrum or a pout. You can reason with him. He is just sweet. I enjoy taking him places and spending my time with him.

Also, he has an amazing memory. That is why I think he is so good at math/multiplication. He can do Jump Start 3rd Grade PC games with no problem.

I know that a good memory doesn't make a gifted child, but I think DSis is dismayed at how low his actual IQ is

Here is an interesting website:

http://www.geocities.com/rnseitz/Definition_of_IQ.html

According to the author, DN7's occupational options will be along the lines of "clerk, teller, Walmart" worker. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I just think DSis (a Tufts grad ) had other things in mind.

 

[Becky2005]

I think I would have a re-test done. My son has a reading disability, so he had to have all the tests done to see what was going on. In 1st grade with his IQ testing he scored in the "highly above average" category to which the psychologist told me only 3% of the population score there.

Turn around 3 years later, have to re-do all the tests for re-evaluation and now he is in the "average" range -- he basically dropped down 2 ranges, seems off to me.

So, it's quite possible that the scores could go up just as easily as my son's came down. I didn't see a huge difference in my son's personality/schoolwork just because they told me 2 different categories for his IQ testing.

The psychologist at the meeting said she wouldn't be able to tell us why there was such a discrepency. There could be many reasons but that's what they came up with so how knows. I just know in general my son is smart, so I'm not going to worry about it. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you the number (it's on the paper somewhere) but they just start throwing out tons of % to you during these meetings. Bottom line for us to me is does DS still get services? Yes, cool.

At one point I thought he might get referred for Enrichment Math because math is definitely his strong point & he was ahead of the game in 2nd grade (he was doing multiplication & basically starting on division while the rest of the class was still on subtraction) but alas, he wasn't and really at this point I don't see it since there are too many word problems. Our school only offers enrichment (i.e. gifted) for reading/math.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Both of my children are gifted. Both are a struggle when it come to homework. My son's favorite line is "Why do I have to do this stupid homework when I can ace the test without ever doing it!" My response is "Because in life, there are requirements to achieve, for you, and everybody" So far, this has not phased him much. LOL.

I was also gifted as a child. I didn't learn to work hard as a child and this has caused me strife in life. I am afraid that my children are going down the same road. Being gifted doesn't help much if you don't have the work ethic that goes with it. I have learned the value of hard work and just finished a Ph.D. in business last year. The work might have come more easily to me than some, but, I did have to work!!

 

[Alyssa88]

IQ is not that important. I had a friend who had a very high IQ in my gifted and honors class, much higher than mine. Yet I still got better grades because I worked hard. She never graduated from high school, and I am in my sophomore year of college. As children one probably would have expected her to probably go further academically, because it would have been so eaasy for her.

Also, IQ does fluctuate. There is a myth that it is set for life, but children with high IQs often average towards the mean and become normal adults. I used to have a high IQ as a child, not like extraordinary but pretty high. I havent taken a test since, but I don't think it would be as high.

There also could have been other variables affetcing his performance, teperature of the room, stress, etc. I would put that much of an empthasis on IQ.

If I had a child I would much prefer they be a hard worker who did well than someone who got their grades easily. You nephew will be just fine.

 

[mommasita]

I've never been told my IQ or any of my childrens'. Is this something you normally find out from the school?

Me either..My DD8 (on thurs) is changing schools next year, because she is really not learning anything where she is, so she will be entering an international program, and skipping a grade (not happy at that, just found it out)..

We were asked repeatedly when she was 5 to have her tested at McGill University..We complied, and waited..She was very high on the test, and was recommmended to us, she skip K..I was like, NO WAY is that going to happen...Now, I realize, she is way ahead in school, but socially she is still young, and I am so happy for that..I was never game for her to skip ahead, and I am still not 100% convinced..I will take the summer to ponder that one..

IQ's don't impress me much, and I refused this test for her..I know she is smart, and don't need this to tell me...I would not be upset at any results..I now my DD.

 

[sugarpie]

I apparently had a very high IQ score when I was in 2nd grade and the school wanted to skip me a few grades, and luckily my parents declined.

I did OK in school, nothing to brag about really. I did enough to get by and get into college.

I really think IQ tests are over-rated. Success is about motivation, IMO.

 

[Aisling]

I think the whole concept of IQ tests is outdated, and I believe those tests (like Stanford-Binet) should be discontinued as measures of intelligence.

In the past two decades, science has discovered so much when it comes to the brain, intelligence and learning, that the typical IQ test is rather a joke. IQ tests are NOT accurate measures of how well someone will do in school.

Intelligence is a broad concept, having to do with curiousity, independent thought, being able to grasp multiple sides of concepts, and things of that nature. Intelligence actually has little to do with how early someone learns to read or do math. Those skills are just two of many skills that people have, and grasp at different ages. There are children who can grasp musical concept or art concept at an early age, and reading and math are comparable to that...not a basis of determining intelligence. It's just an indicator of what part of their brain has become more active as they grow, and some people excell in some areas and some in others. This is not true intelligence.

If your child is doing well in school, great. If they're not, try to determine why and correct it by finding appropriate classes for their style of learning. The same goes if the chile is excelling in school...find classes to challenge them.

The very fact that there are so statistically many more high IQ/gifted children shows the flaw in the old-fashioned IQ measurements. Society has made children more knowledge savvy, but that isn't an indication of intelligence.

Progressive psychologists are now campaigning to do away with Stanford-Binet type tests, and are developing more accurate and up-to-date ways of measurement. And these, they argue, should only be used for diagnosing possible true highly intelligent people, and truly low intelligent people. These tests shouldn't be used just for the heck of it.

 

[Goofyluver]

An IQ of 94 is not something to worry about...100 is the average IQ, so 94 falls well within the average range. Most people fall within this range.

IQ not only varies, it changes as we grow and learn. The probablity of scoring the same on an IQ test is very low. You may score differently depending on your fatigue level, your knowledge of the skills being addressed, etc. IQ tests cannot necessarily give an accurage depiction of a person's intelligence because of all the variables involved.

My DS has actually been tested twice, and his IQ was very different between the two tests. I as well have been IQ tested, and I'm not sure how accurate I think my test was!

I work in special education (as an SLP) and can tell you from personal and professional experience that IQ is not a stead-fast indicator of academic achievement or personal intelligence. If it were, then the children who are in the borderline range or below would often not be able to do all of the things I am blessed to see them accomplish. We often have children with very high (gifted) IQs who are also learning disabled. If IQ were an indicator of academic performance, then this would also not happen.

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't hold any stock in IQ numbers. My ds has a very high IQ according to his tests yet he has a learning disability. So to me learning is all that a person chooses to make of it.

 

[powellrj]

I have 3 kids and I only know my oldest DSs IQ, but I would guess that of all of them, his is the highest. He is also the one who did the worst in school. Hated it and was bored all the time.

The other 2 are great students always making the honor roll and just love school, but just in general if I were to make a guess, I would say their IQs are much lower than his. His is 140 which I was told was really good, but like I said, he was a terrible student. It was only after 4 years in the army did he finally decide it was time to go back to college and "I hope" finish this time.

 

[Nascia]

Standardized IQ tests were initially developed for the military during WWI (Army Alpha and Beta tests). They were intended to help classify and place the surge of incoming recruits. Many of the standardized tests used today are a spin off of those tests. They can't predict grades or how well a person will do in life, there are too many factors involved. They can provide insight to strengths and possible issues. I really wouldn't put too much stock in his scores, especially at the age of 7.

That said, I wish our school had a gifted program though, everything I was taught came easy to me and I never learned how to study. I was not challenged and eventually quit during my junior year. I did go on to college and scored very high when tested as an undergrad. I'm now working on my Master's but regret missing a lot of typical milestones (graduation, prom, sports). My two school aged sons are progressing in the way, but I am making sure they learn appropriate study skills and that hard work is important.

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[ImarriedGrumpy]

You and your sister might also look into Howard Gardner's work with the theory of "Multiple Intelligences". His idea is that there are several areas where someone might be smart or not smart, and traditional IQ tests only measure a couple of those areas. He originally had 7 Intelligences, but now lists 8. If I remember correctly, they are: Linguistic, Logical-mathmatical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Musical, Spatial, and Naturalist. Schools usually only value and test Linguistic and Logical-Mathmatical intelligence, and the others are overlooked. I've worked with both preschoolers and college students (and very little in between - how's that for a range!), and I've found this theory to be really helpful in identifying students' strengths and skills - far more helpful, in fact, than a simple IQ number which only tells me that they may or may not test well and they may or may not have two of the 8 intelligences.

I think your nephew sounds like a very bright, motivated, and capable kid, and I'd expect him to do well in both school and life!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

For some, the benefit of having a child (or being) of high IQ is really an ego thing, which is understandable. After all we all want to have bright children! I believe it shows the POTENTIAL of the child in regards to learning. However, there are so many more factors: motivation, determination, discipline and so forth. School achievement and life achievement are so much more than that number.

When I was a child I was tested because quite honestly I think they were a little worried I wasn't all that bright as I was always in my own little world. Part of that was because I was so much younger than my classmates. At that time my parents were forced to send me to school as I'd just made the age deadline when in fact they would have preferred to wait a year. I was only 16 as a high school senior. In first grade I was busy off in la-la land. (and having a great time doing it!)

When they did the IQ test they found the opposite, that I had an exceptionally high IQ. As far as school, true, in most subjects it was not hard work for me, except in math. I did well in subjects I liked, and not as well in those I didn't like as I was bored. I did eventually go to college but not until I was in my late 20's/early 30's.

So, I'm going to agree, it'd be far better to have a child who likes and does well without worrying about that score.

It can help if one is looking into private schools. My son tested in the genius level and it helped get him into a very good school. I only did that because he was bored in public school. I never regretted sending him, nor did he. He has done well afterwards in the workforce, but other than that school placement...what does that number do for him? Not a lot unless he wants to brag.

I'd tell your sister to be happy with a child who does well. The test could be off, so if she's all that concerned, have it re-done privately.

 

[azgal81]

IQ tests are very not important at all especially at such a young age. Your sister needs to relax a little!

 

[Nicolepa]

Are we sure that the boy was given an IQ test? The reason I ask is here they are given two tests, the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills), and the CogAT (Cognative Abilities Test). Here you have to score 95% on the ITBS one grade above to even be considered for the program. So if you got a 94 you are still VERY bright, but do not qualify for the program.

Just wondering. If it was indeed an IQ test I would dismiss it. While early reading does not have anything to do with a high IQ, being good at the other things mentioned are a pretty good indicator that he's not below average.

 

[missypie]

A couple of things: High IQ does not equal success in school. If Einstein was in public high school, he'd bomb math if he didn't ever turn in his homework.

If the parents do some checking and find out that his IQ really is 94, they should keep quiet and just store that info in the back of their minds for a few years in the future. It may be that he hits a road block after a few years of high school math, e.g. he may never do Calculus (not that most of us can). He may be in an advanced English class where he just can't grasp the symbolism in some poem. I'm not saying to discuss his IQ with HIM, but just not to jump on him if there are a few concepts in advanced high school classes he just can't get. It may become an issue in course selection in 11th or 12th grade.

When we suspected that DS had some neurolgical issues, we took him to a child study center for all-day testing. The results were fascinating, and really made one realize how many components of intelligence there really are. At the time, he was in the second semester of 4th grade. He scored at above 12th grade level in reading and reading comprehension, and scored at 3rd grade in some other skills. So, was he below average or above average? Both, depending on what he was being tested on.