School District/Gifted kids

[Let'sGoFlyAKite]

Hey, I was looking for moms and dads who have children that are "Gifted". What does YOUR school district do for these kids? My son's 2nd grade teacher says he is "Definitely a candidate" for the 'gifted' program. She even sat me down and we went through a 'checklist' together and everything in it described my DS to a "T". Here's where the problem is: If he has all this potential, shouldn't the local school district get going on helping him achieve higher goals?? He's been waiting to see the 'gifted' teacher for months now, and apparently, all the schools from elementary up through high school 'share' her!! I know my son's not going to 'stop being gifted' .....but he's bored and awfully talkative in class, because he's not challenged! What are some things I can do at home to help inspire him??! He really is getting into a frustrated place, where nothing he does is challenging him, so all he wants to do is play video games. Heck, he's even sitting at the dining table teaching himself multiplication, when the class he's in hasn't even begun that. Would it be worth it for me to contact the district and ask what's up? Any parents out there who have been through raising a 'gifted' kid, tell me what you did to help them reach out and achieve higher goals, and not be so 'bored'??? THANKS!!!

 

[golfgal]

In elementary school they have a pull out program one day/week as well as several clubs kids can join, Destination Imagination being one of the more popular ones (they are open to everyone though). In middle school the kids stay in the regular classes but the GT director works with the classroom teacher designing different homework assignments for the "gifted" kids-most of whom really aren't "gifted" in the true sense of the definition-they are just advanced.

In the high school they offer 30 different AP classes as well as 20 different College in the School (CIS) classes so kids can learn at whatever pace they need. DS18 graduated with a TRULY gifted child. He tested out of all levels of high school math and beyond by 8th grade. He was doing a specialized math program designed by the math professors at the U of MN and MIT all though high school. He took his classes at the high school so he could still be a "kid" though. He also had a similar arrangement for science. He scored 5s on every AP test he took. Now, try to have a conversation with the kid....

 

[Acklander]

Here they don't seem to do much for the gifted kids beyond a faster moving math class so we suplement accordingly.
DS11 does a lot of self learning stuff at home to keep his mind active, but with the after school stuff we try to follow his interests. Example he loves computer games and stuff so we got him a book on programing and he's busy making simple games and what not. He likes taking stuff apart so that he can see how it works so we pick up old TV's and VCR's and computers and things like that from the thrift shop and let him take them apart in the garage. He enjoys writing so he's hooked up with a good friend who is learning to play guitar and they're trying to write songs together. If you have a bright child all you need to do is give him a little freedom to explore and figure stuff out and he'll take it from there.
Since DS finishes his work so quickly at school his teacher doesn't mind if he brings a book to read so that helps and occasionally she'll put a challenging puzzle on his desk to see if he can figure it out. That helps with the boredom at school.

 

[taitai]

Here we have fairly extensive programs. Once your child tests into the gifted program (in addition to teacher referrals, NWEA test scores, parent evaluation, the kids meet with a gifted and talented teacher to complete a test) there is a fairly regular schedule of classes. In addition, we have Accelerated Math programs for kids who meet those criteria. We also offer all sorts of after school accelerated programs for the students. Recently, we started a program for the top 1% of the gifted students. This is for the kids whose IQs are Genius level and above. To enter this program you need to complete a psych evaluation and take an IQ test. This is a special class in which the kids are all Genius Level. This starts in 3rd grade. The kids are in class together all day long and there is a great deal of individual instruction and special projects. The District found that the regular Gifted program was not meeting the need of those students with uber IQs.

Once again, we feel very fortunate to be in the District we are.

 

[Let'sGoFlyAKite]

Wow! I wish I lived in the school districts where YOU GUYS are all from. They seem to be doing NOTHING here in Missouri!! @Acklander: I really like your ideas, and will put them to work with my boy. He's about to turn 8, and I think he'd LOVE taking old electronics apart....Now to get my hubby to allow DS to use his tool box.....lol

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow! I wish I lived in the school districts where YOU GUYS are all from. They seem to be doing NOTHING here in Missouri!! @Acklander: I really like your ideas, and will put them to work with my boy. He's about to turn 8, and I think he'd LOVE taking old electronics apart....Now to get my hubby to allow DS to use his tool box.....lol

Oh, I am from MO. I can write you a novel. What school district are you in?

 

[Acklander]

Wow! I wish I lived in the school districts where YOU GUYS are all from. They seem to be doing NOTHING here in Missouri!! @Acklander: I really like your ideas, and will put them to work with my boy. He's about to turn 8, and I think he'd LOVE taking old electronics apart....Now to get my hubby to allow DS to use his tool box.....lol

Christmas is coming - maybe you can get him some of his own tools - but I've learned from experience, you have to specify what can and can't be taken apart LOL

 

[Let'sGoFlyAKite]

SW Missouri (I hate to be too specific. PM me)

 

[olwyngdh]

Here my DD8 was tested in Kindergarten with a combination of teacher evaluation, parent questionnaire, and standardized tests, as well as an interview by someone from the gifted program. They went to four special activity days that year. 1st and 2nd grade were 1/2 day PEP classes (Primary Enrichment Program). They were re-tested at the end of 2nd grade. This year she has moved up to Extend (to extend learning), which is a full day once a week, with kids from different schools bussed to a central location. Each 9 weeks is a focused program. For example, the first 9 weeks this year they earned their medical degrees by studying the human body. Their final was to diagnose an illness. Her team got a description of a patients symptoms and had to figure out that he was anemic. This 9 weeks they are becoming travel agents and studying geography as well as current events. The homework they get is a choice of around 5 different things that are designed to appeal to different learning styles and interests.

It has been a blessing for my daughter. I wish we had a full time program in this district, but we don't, so I do a lot of supplementing. We go to a lot of museums, and we are local to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, so we spend a lot of time in those places where she can immerse herself. We have also done classes at the Living Museum and the Mariners museum. Girl Scout badges also give her a lot of room to explore and learn.

Good luck Mom!! Gifted kids can be, strike that, are, a real challenge.

 

[momof1princess]

the gifted program in our area is, shall we say, lacking. the kids who have been identified as having potential are formally tested in 2nd grade, and, depending upon the results, their parents are notified and sign paperwork for them to be in the program, which consists of them being bused to a technical school once a week for the entire day. my DD participated in the program for 4 years, and i have NO idea what she did there, aside from what she told me. there were no grades, no progress reports, etc. DD enjoyed it, but here (NE alabama) you age out after 6th grade. DD quit about 3/4 of the way through 6th grade, because being gone from school one day a week was affecting her grades.

 

[mjkacmom]

I can tell from your post that he's your first - BTDT. All of my kids have tested into the GT program starting in 3rd grade, and it's just a pull out program, with fun activities. I also don't think any of mine are truly gifted - just bright (althoug all straight A students). A truly gifted kid is doing algebra in the 2nd grade (and I only know one or two IRL who I could consider truly gifted).

Only my oldest had the problem of being bored and acting out - she had to learn that sometimes school would be boring, suck it up, and behave. Fortunately, the next 2 had better personalities. Once 5th grade hits, the children seem to have more similar academic abilities, and then in middle school and high school, there are vector/honors classes, and at least here, they are much more challenging than the regular (dd14 decided to take regular World History instead of honors, her first non-honors class, and she is amazed at how easy it is - this will be her last non-honors class).

So, find a private school that meets your needs, find an outside program that will challenge him, or be lazy, and just weigh it out, or beat your head against a door and try to change things in your public school (that doesn't have the funding for a true GT program).

 

[MM27]

I can tell from your post that he's your first - BTDT. All of my kids have tested into the GT program starting in 3rd grade, and it's just a pull out program, with fun activities. I also don't think any of mine are truly gifted - just bright (althoug all straight A students). A truly gifted kid is doing algebra in the 2nd grade (and I only know one or two IRL who I could consider truly gifted).

Only my oldest had the problem of being bored and acting out - she had to learn that sometimes school would be boring, suck it up, and behave. Fortunately, the next 2 had better personalities. Once 5th grade hits, the children seem to have more similar academic abilities, and then in middle school and high school, there are vector/honors classes, and at least here, they are much more challenging than the regular (dd14 decided to take regular World History instead of honors, her first non-honors class, and she is amazed at how easy it is - this will be her last non-honors class).

So, find a private school that meets your needs, find an outside program that will challenge him, or be lazy, and just weigh it out, or beat your head against a door and try to change things in your public school (that doesn't have the funding for a true GT program).

^ This

In my 11 years in the classroom, I have only met one truly gifted student. There is a huge difference between kids that are bright/smart and kids that are gifted. There was a checklist I got as a freshman in college in my very first education class that gave examples of the two. I'm sure it's online somewhere.

Have you asked the teacher what they are doing in the classroom. They should differentiate instruction for the highest students the same way they do for the lowest students. Perhaps your child is bored because that isn't happening in his classroom. Doesn't hurt to ask what is being done for him in the regular classrooom.

My school has an enrichment program. It's only a one period, two times a week pull out program. The rest of the time, it's up to me as the classroom teacher to give these students what they need.

 

[Mkrop]

I can tell from your post that he's your first - BTDT. All of my kids have tested into the GT program starting in 3rd grade, and it's just a pull out program, with fun activities. I also don't think any of mine are truly gifted - just bright (althoug all straight A students). A truly gifted kid is doing algebra in the 2nd grade (and I only know one or two IRL who I could consider truly gifted).

Only my oldest had the problem of being bored and acting out - she had to learn that sometimes school would be boring, suck it up, and behave. Fortunately, the next 2 had better personalities. Once 5th grade hits, the children seem to have more similar academic abilities, and then in middle school and high school, there are vector/honors classes, and at least here, they are much more challenging than the regular (dd14 decided to take regular World History instead of honors, her first non-honors class, and she is amazed at how easy it is - this will be her last non-honors class).

So, find a private school that meets your needs, find an outside program that will challenge him, or be lazy, and just weigh it out, or beat your head against a door and try to change things in your public school (that doesn't have the funding for a true GT program).

I dont care if the child is bored they need to learn to behave. We say this to DS13 all the time. He is in some advanced classes now but part of growing up and learning is that life is not always going to work out the way you would like. Sometimes you need to be bored. We worked on things that were a challenge at first for my DS like sports, made him realize that he didnt know it all! He is now a pretty decent athlete now. We provide him with lots of books to learn on his own, he always had a book in his desk to read. I told him he needed to learn to be patient and understand that many kids learn at different paces. He may get the Math lesson the first time around but he didnt swing the bat correctly the first time around like his classmate. I think it has taught him to be compassionate of others.

 

[Tinker74]

I swear everyone on the dis has at least one gifted child!

 

[castleview]

^ This

In my 11 years in the classroom, I have only met one truly gifted student. There is a huge difference between kids that are bright/smart and kids that are gifted. There was a checklist I got as a freshman in college in my very first education class that gave examples of the two. I'm sure it's online somewhere.

Have you asked the teacher what they are doing in the classroom. They should differentiate instruction for the highest students the same way they do for the lowest students. Perhaps your child is bored because that isn't happening in his classroom. Doesn't hurt to ask what is being done for him in the regular classrooom.

My school has an enrichment program. It's only a one period, two times a week pull out program. The rest of the time, it's up to me as the classroom teacher to give these students what they need.

This. To justify having a program, many gifted classes accept above average kids.

Anyway, our system only identifies them because that's all they're required to do by law. They insist they can get it done with differentiated instruction which is tough on a teacher, but I've seen it done.

It is concerning how we ignore our gifted kids…for that matter anyone who is not below average it seems.

 

[Acklander]

I swear everyone on the dis has at least one gifted child!

I think we're all pretty much in agreement that by "gifted" we're not talking about Doogie Houser, but instead we're talking about the kids who are fairly bright and catch on to the material on the first go around. Being that the class moves at the pace of the slower learners sometimes the kids get bored so many schools have set up the gifted programs to challenge them. It's the schools who are calling them "gifted" or "gifted and talented" not the parents. Looking at it from that perspective, it's not that uncommon, so I could see where many parents have at least one child that learns at a faster pace.

 

[Magpie]

If you define "gifted" as the top 3 to 5 percent of children as measured on an IQ test, then I can *guarantee* you that any teacher who has taught for 11 years has definitely met more than one kid who is "truly gifted".

However, most people don't define "truly gifted" as the top 5 percent. They define it as the top half of a half of a percent. The outliers. The kids who teach themselves to read at age two and can multiply by three. And there's very few of THOSE kids around.

Most kids in the top 3 to 5 percent don't look particularly gifted. Heck, most kids in the top one percent don't look gifted! They can be mouthy, or obnoxious, or shy, or painfully polite. They might be terrible at math. They might have learning disabilities that make it hard to read or write. They're just regular kids, who happen to have a keener-than-average intellect, who don't need to be taught the same lesson over and over to get it. They're "sharp".

Frankly the whole "I've only ever met one kid who was truly gifted" statement makes me grumpy. Too often it's a way of saying that these are the only kids who need help. But lots of other kids who aren't freakishly smart also need gifted programs. They need to be around other smart kids, learning more in depth and at a faster pace. They need less drill and more content.

My school district offers congregated gifted programming for children who score in the top 5 percent. Why? Because a study done for our district several years ago discovered that these children were disproportionately more likely to drop out of school. Congregated gifted programming is designed to keep the children on level (no subject acceleration allowed - they don't want to see 16yos in college), and engaged. The mantra is "broader and deeper, not faster". It comes under the Special Education umbrella.

Academically, it's a bit of a waste of time (three weeks on Circus Arts, anyone?). But socially, it's a haven for kids who otherwise tend to feel very much alone. A lot of kids coming into the program say this is the first place they haven't been bullied for being "weird". They no longer feel different from their peers. And they finally feel like they're allowed to like geeky things.

 

[kbeverina]

Hey, I was looking for moms and dads who have children that are "Gifted". What does YOUR school district do for these kids? My son's 2nd grade teacher says he is "Definitely a candidate" for the 'gifted' program. She even sat me down and we went through a 'checklist' together and everything in it described my DS to a "T". Here's where the problem is: If he has all this potential, shouldn't the local school district get going on helping him achieve higher goals?? He's been waiting to see the 'gifted' teacher for months now, and apparently, all the schools from elementary up through high school 'share' her!! I know my son's not going to 'stop being gifted' .....but he's bored and awfully talkative in class, because he's not challenged! What are some things I can do at home to help inspire him??! He really is getting into a frustrated place, where nothing he does is challenging him, so all he wants to do is play video games. Heck, he's even sitting at the dining table teaching himself multiplication, when the class he's in hasn't even begun that. Would it be worth it for me to contact the district and ask what's up? Any parents out there who have been through raising a 'gifted' kid, tell me what you did to help them reach out and achieve higher goals, and not be so 'bored'??? THANKS!!!

This really is the case for truly gifted children. For now, you can teach him behavioral strategies and give him opportunities to learn on his own.

In our area, we have Gifted and Talented schools, even in elementary school. The kids go there every day. My kids are the original grunge slackers. They would hate it there. For the truly gifted kids, it's heaven.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

For our GT program, the put them in a different class. The main teching differences seem to be that they get better teachers and they do more work.

The main benefit, from my experience, is that they go to school with a better peer group. The GT kids tend to behave better on average and are more academically focused. There are definitely some behaviorally challenged GT kids and a great many well behaved non-GT kids. I just noticed that my son's tales of classroom disrupting behavior declined substantially after he got into the GT program. I've also found that he and his GT friends talk a lot more about the books they are reading rather than the TV shows and sports events they are watching.

 

[Magpie]

For our GT program, the put them in a different class. The main teching differences seem to be that they get better teachers and they do more work.

The main benefit, from my experience, is that they go to school with a better peer group. The GT kids tend to behave better on average and are more academically focused. There are definitely some behaviorally challenged GT kids and a great many well behaved non-GT kids. I just noticed that my son's tales of classroom disrupting behavior declined substantially after he got into the GT program. I've also found that he and his GT friends talk a lot more about the books they are reading rather than the TV shows and sports events they are watching.

Here's what I've noticed about congregated GT classes:

*First grade: I could always spot my daughter in her regular ed class, because in a crowd of kids there'd be an open space around one little girl who would be bouncing and windmilling her arms and talking a mile a minute. She stood out. In the gifted class, I couldn't see her at all. ALL the children were bouncing and windmilling and chattering. The first grade teacher remarked to me (loudly, over the din) that classroom management was exceptionally challenging, but you had to love their enthusiasm.

*A 5th grade teacher, teaching her first-ever GT class, said to me that the GT kids get excited about everything. She said, "I would tell last year's general ed 5th grade, 'hey guys, we're going skating!' and they would groan and roll their eyes. But I just said the same thing to the Gifted kids and they cheered!"

*The same teacher also commented in amazement over how engaged the children were in her lessons. She would introduce a new concept, and hands would shoot up in the air and kids would start asking questions and sharing what they knew about it. She said, "It's such a refreshing break from dead silence!"

My children's friends aren't all good students, but they're all energetic and earnest and enthusiastic about learning. It's a pleasure to watch them all together. And it's SO different from my experience of school, when I was their age. I'm happy for them.