How did you know your child was gifted?

[Anonymous]

Just curious. Was your DC exhibiting certain strengths in certain areas at a young age? Did you only find out through grade 2 testing?

[Anonymous]

We had a sense by the start of 1st grade, but it was through the WISC-IV testing that was done when he was age 6.5 (and evaluated for ADHD) that it became clear to us.

[Anonymous]

The (public) school told us. I mean, we knew he was smart, but we didn't know whether he was academically advanced or just gifted.

[Anonymous]

Good question OP. I am wondering myself with my son who is going into K. He learned to read pretty much on his own at age 3.5 yrs and is a pretty good reader who impressed the reading specialist at his new school. He seems bright and talks all the time and asks a million questions. He is pretty strong willed and will argue with a table. My friends and neighbors think he is gifted but I kind of think he is advanced and eventually the other kids will catch up. I'm hoping the school will help me figure it out but I know he will be pretty bored in K next year.

[Anonymous]

I based my decision not on the facts that my daughter knew, but on her ability to remember things, as well as her cognitive process.

[Anonymous]

kind of OT, but does anyone know/use Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement? I've heard WPPSI and WISC mentioned often but not this.

my son scored in the superior range for both WPPSI and Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement. and the school said he's gifted - even thought only very superior range is defined as gifted. i don't really want to associate him with that label when he's not.

[Anonymous]

We never really thought of our daughter as gifted. Obviously we thought she was smart, and have been told by her teachers that her reading and vocabulary were amazing since preschool, but never really thought much of it.

To be honest, even though she scored well on the tests and got in into the AAP program, we still have a hard time thinking of her as gifted. I mean, she just just our little girl, ya know? It never even occurred to us to consider the GT program until we got that letter about the 2nd grade pool. Sometimes I still question if putting her in the program is a good idea, but I am sure that it is.

So I guess the answer to the question is that we know that she is gifted because the school says so?

[Anonymous]

Be careful about callng your child gifted when they are not.

[Anonymous]

We knew when she was a year old and tantruming at an 18 month level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Be careful about callng your child gifted when they are not.

And conversely, be careful that you don't tell your child he or she isn't gifted when the school or other information says otherwise. If you don't feel comfortable calling your child "gifted" it is better to say that you simply aren't comfortable with the label or that you aren't qualified to make the call.

[Anonymous]

I really do not know what gifted means...but, imho, my DD is gifted.

[Anonymous]

BTW, Fairfax County now calls the program the Advanced Academic Program (AAP) vice Gifted and Talented (GT).

[Anonymous]

I like AAP better. We have not discussed with DD whether she is "gifted." We have talked about how different people have different strengths and weaknesses and everyone is good at something. He particular strengths are in X area, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have to work hard in that area, etc.

DD doesn't even know we're applying for the program (we're in the appeal process). I'm glad we never told her because she would have felt rejected and like a failure when she didn't make it in on the first round (and worse if she doesn't make it in on this round). Her self-confidence is very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like AAP better. We have not discussed with DD whether she is "gifted." We have talked about how different people have different strengths and weaknesses and everyone is good at something. He particular strengths are in X area, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have to work hard in that area, etc.

DD doesn't even know we're applying for the program (we're in the appeal process). I'm glad we never told her because she would have felt rejected and like a failure when she didn't make it in on the first round (and worse if she doesn't make it in on this round). Her self-confidence is very low.

Interesting take on this. I am this PP. Tonight at dinner, DD was talking about how some kids were going to the GT center (she just used the name of the school -- didn't call it the GT center). She said she was glad she wasn't going there. Now I'm actually going to have to think long and hard about it if she gets in.

[Anonymous]

We didn't tell our daughter anything about the 2nd grade screening pool and only mentioned it to her when she got in. She said that she had heard other kids in the class talking about it, but didn't understand what it was.

To be honest, she still doesn't get it. As she says, all the kids in her class are smart at something. She is looking forward to going (because some of her friends are going) but I don't think she has a clue what gifted means or why she got into the program.