Probably not. G&T did almost nothing for me other than pulling me out of the "normal" classroom so I was hypothetically less bored. As a former teacher I don't have a great opinion of Gifted programs.
This x100000000 I was also pulled out and put in GATE, all it did was put me further ahead in reading/math areas so then I got in more trouble for talking since I already knew the material.
Anecdotes while I sit in an allergist waiting room: I specifically remember testing at a "12+" grade level for reading in fourth grade. My best friend in our (GATE) class did, as well. We read Baby-Sitters Club and Fear Street books. LOL.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Apr 28, 2015 18:05:55 GMT -5
I read Cosmopolitan for the first time on the bus during a GATE field trip, circa 1991. It was wall to wall sex articles and Cindy Crawford was on the cover.
From the gifted application test. 'How far does a dog run into the wood?' Answer 'halfway. Because then he is running out' A smart kid would ask for distances etx. A gifted kid would have the answer.
From the gifted application test. 'How far does a dog run into the wood?' Answer 'halfway. Because then he is running out' A smart kid would ask for distances etx. A gifted kid would have the answer.
Really? This sounds more like a riddle than an IQ test.
From the gifted application test. 'How far does a dog run into the wood?' Answer 'halfway. Because then he is running out' A smart kid would ask for distances etx. A gifted kid would have the answer.
Really? This sounds more like a riddle than an IQ test.
That's the point. Gifted is about how you think and a riddle like this is part of a good gifted test to rule out good rote memory vs. actual gifted. I didn't make it into Gifted, my middle brother did. He thinks in a completely different way then I do and it's very clear by what he does and how he approaches things.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
She's tested reading at a 5-6th grade reading level. But I know she was having to practice a little more at math. (She's more at grade level for that.) She's in 3rd grade.
As is my kindergartener. She's a good reader. I still don't think she's gifted.
I've taught for 15 years. Truly gifted kids are rare, and I wish schools would change the label.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
A lot of our parents who are recent immigrants ask about class rankings, it must be common in other parts of the world (actually, I know it is in St Lucia). I always kind of laugh in my head when asked because I want to ask 'in terms of what? Reading? Math? Dance? Learning Skills? Assigning one numerical value to a child seems so inaccurate.
I can tell you that our gifted screening is a three step process (grade 4) so when we say they are/aren't, there is lots of quantitative data to back that up. But the reality is that there is a cut off, 98%. And yes, a kid who comes in at the 97th % doesn't get the designation of intellectual giftedness, but there has to be a threshold and not everyone can meet it.
From the gifted application test. 'How far does a dog run into the wood?' Answer 'halfway. Because then he is running out' A smart kid would ask for distances etx. A gifted kid would have the answer.
Really? This sounds more like a riddle than an IQ test.
I made it into the gifted program. Doubt I would have answered this correctly for like 30 mins. I would have just stared blankly for a long time. Maybe I slipped through the cracks!
Ok, so for our gifted testing we use three tests...we start with the Otis Lennon, if the kids meet the criteria threshold they move on to the Naglieri, then if they meet the threshhold again, they move on to the WISC.
If you are doubting your ability to answer the question Hannymaren posted it might be because giftedness comes in different shapes an sizes... From this website: www.brainy-child.com/experts/PR-WISC-IV.shtml
Studies on the WISC-IV have suggested that two of the four indices, the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), provide the best measures of giftedness.
In my experience as an educator children who score very high on the VCI are typically students that we AREN'T surprised are gifted...this is likely because the can easily communicate their high level of thinking in very clear and concise ways, they typically speak well beyond their years (and usually are strong writers as well)...whereas the kids we are usually surprised are gifted tend to score very high in PRI...I think that a lot of what happens in typical classrooms does not lend itself to students with these strength areas highlighting their strengths and therefore they don't stick out as 'gifted'.
Really? This sounds more like a riddle than an IQ test.
I made it into the gifted program. Doubt I would have answered this correctly for like 30 mins. I would have just stared blankly for a long time. Maybe I slipped through the cracks!
Yeah this is more gimmicky than I remember IQ tests being. I thought they were more like problem solving and spatial reasoning. I was in gifted programs for seven years.
Post by barefootcontessa on Apr 28, 2015 20:12:30 GMT -5
I see no reason not to ask for clarity on the process and criteria. My sons both tested into GT after first grade and both were just above grade level reading and math. I think our district has a pretty inclusive criteria though.
I made it into the gifted program. Doubt I would have answered this correctly for like 30 mins. I would have just stared blankly for a long time. Maybe I slipped through the cracks!
Yeah this is more gimmicky than I remember IQ tests being. I thought they were more like problem solving and spatial reasoning. I was in gifted programs for seven years.
I also remember having to repeat number strings backwards quickly. So weird.
Yeah this is more gimmicky than I remember IQ tests being. I thought they were more like problem solving and spatial reasoning. I was in gifted programs for seven years.
I also remember having to repeat number strings backwards quickly. So weird.
I suck at riddles.
Yep...two different tests...one where you are given a string of numbers orally and you need to repeat it back, another where you see it and have to repeat back what you remember. Verbal vs. Visual strengths.
Also, I remember not getting into the gifted and talented program in 3rd grade. I did get in by 7th grade though, so don't worry if she doesn't qualify now. She might just need the structure for a few more years before that type of class would be suitable.
I guess I'd only be pissed if the Gate kids were offered opportunities and, basically, a better education than the kids in the regular classroom. Because, honestly, a kid who succeeds by working hard using the intelligence they have and the skills they have learned to build on that intelligence is going to do great, "gifted" or not.
A good gifted program offers a different curriculum completely to match the different processing styles of the G&T.
That is different from differentiating in a classroom for a smart hard worker. All classrooms should do that. The goal of any program is to be best for the learner. It doesn't make one program a better education than the others.
Now that's all in theory. Obviously schools can screw up anything lol.
From the gifted application test. 'How far does a dog run into the wood?' Answer 'halfway. Because then he is running out' A smart kid would ask for distances etx. A gifted kid would have the answer.
Oh God, word problems. The bane of my existence. I couldn't answer this right to save my life. Still got into the gifted program starting in grade 4! My bff was sooooooo jealous. Me and the other 5 kids in the program started a canteen business selling such things as overpriced mechanical pencils.
A good gifted program offers a different curriculum completely to match the different processing styles of the G&T.
That is different from differentiating in a classroom for a smart hard worker. All classrooms should do that. The goal of any program is to be best for the learner. It doesn't make one program a better education than the others.
Now that's all in theory. Obviously schools can screw up anything lol.
I'm unfamiliar with G&T programs' curriculum vis-a-vis the regular classroom, so I'm not sure what the differences are. However, I wasn't trying to say that her kid should be in the G&T if she doesn't qualify, just that the skills her kid seems to be showing by being at the top of the class and working hard are going to serve her just fine, gifted program or not. In fact, those are the skills most highly correlated with success.
Oh I agree which is why gifted programs tend to be about helping them cope too.
In the uk we didn't have a gifted program but we have grammar schools that require an entry test that you take at age 11. I guess those are for gifted children and they typically feed to Oxford/Cambridge in addition to the private prep schools. Grammar schools are almost always single sex.
I failed the grammar school test twice. Omg so hard. Tons of anagrams and verbal reasoning. Does that mean I'm in the 1% of gbcn who is not gifted? SJ
Honestly unless your child is bored in class, I'm not seeing the huge advantage in the gifted program. Especially so young. I would probably ask for clarification then just leave it.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by ladybug2002 on Apr 29, 2015 9:01:52 GMT -5
My daughter was tested for GATE this year and they sent home a packet that included this breakdown of gifted vs high achiever. We haven't received any results yet but I don't think there is anything wrong with asking for clarification on the criteria.
In our district the GATE kids get special field trips and experiences that the regular classes aren't offered so I understand being disappointed that your child may miss out on that. Teachers here can also continue to refer kids for GATE testing after the first year, so I would see if that's an option for you as well.
Anecdotally, from my perspective as a teacher, it is very, very hard on students that are in the GT program but are not actually gifted. It is very hard to see students are very bright kids feel dumb because they are lost and struggling in the gifted program. These are smart kids, they are very aware that they do not fit in. My district changed it's identification method while I was teaching there so thankfully this did change.
ETA: Our GT kids sometimes got to do really great things and sometimes it was just mediocre, just depending on the money situation each year. I completely understand being disappointed that your child will miss out on some really interesting, fun educational activities but the negative consequences of a non-gifted child being placed in the gifted program far outweighs any benefit of an extra field trip or two.