Parents of gifted MCPS kids. How do you support them?

[Anonymous]

Our second grader is showing signs of advanced potential (math on 4th/5th grade level; reading on 5th or beyond) We are not chasing the GT programs, as he is socially 'typical'. What do you do at home to support your child's potential? Do you give extra homework? Work with him outside of school? Or just let it go and let him/her be a kid? For example, over this long holiday break, did your child work on any schoolwork?

[Anonymous]

Reconsider "chasing the GT programs." third and fourth grade can be really tough, even for "socially typical" kids. The combination of challenging material and a real peer group can make all the difference.

I wouldn't make extra enrichment akin to more schoolwork unless he drives it that way. Keep his environment enriched -- lots of good things to read, trips to museums, opportunities to read the paper and talk with you about current events, music lessons, ways to work more complicated math learning into everyday tasks, classic movies, etc. -- whatever grabs his interest. And these things are of course fun and enriching for every child, not just those who are GT.

I also recommend outside testing so you know what you're dealing with, in terms of schooling options and outside activities in the years to come.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but PP you talk about getting outside testing done-can you elaborate? What sort of testing, what does it cost, how would MCPS use the information?

[Anonymous]

I have a GT student. I would in know way recommend giving them extra work unless they persue it on their own. I think all kids find their interests and persue them. Sometime she gets interested in her older sibs homework and that is fine to take on some extra tasks. Some days she hardly wants to do hers. MCPS tests all 2nd graders for GT and you will get the scores. I would wait to get those before doing anything on your own..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our second grader is showing signs of advanced potential (math on 4th/5th grade level; reading on 5th or beyond) We are not chasing the GT programs, as he is socially 'typical'. What do you do at home to support your child's potential? Do you give extra homework? Work with him outside of school? Or just let it go and let him/her be a kid? For example, over this long holiday break, did your child work on any schoolwork?

Can you explain what you mean by this? My son is in the HGC and I would say that he is socially typical as well. He is not having any social problems there and indeed, his social life is very active/good.

Do you think that your son's social competence would cause him to have a bad experience in the HCG? If so, why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a GT student. I would in know way recommend giving them extra work unless they persue it on their own. I think all kids find their interests and persue them. Sometime she gets interested in her older sibs homework and that is fine to take on some extra tasks. Some days she hardly wants to do hers. MCPS tests all 2nd graders for GT and you will get the scores. I would wait to get those before doing anything on your own..

PP here, and I agree with this. I would never recommend giving a GT kid extra, at-home schoolwork. Just give him lots of opportunities to pursue his interests.

[Anonymous]

One of the opportunities we pursued for our child was the 4H Adventures in Science Program. It was awesome.

http://montgomery.umd.edu/AdventureInScience/index.cfm

[Anonymous]

RE: testing.

You can have testing done like the WISC IV, which will give you your child's IQ score as well as scores in subtests that show specific strengths and weaknesses related to cognitive ability. This is very useful to have -- although it's not cheap!

The MCPS screening in second grade is pretty general and also something like 25% of kids test as gifted according to their criteria. And that's fine -- but if you have a kid who's in the 99th percentile that's a different story from the 75th, in terms of what he/she will need and be capable of.

DON'T get into a discussion about IQ scores on DCUM -- it's a waste of time and will devolve into a flame war.

[Anonymous]

PP here, and I agree with this. I would never recommend giving a GT kid extra, at-home schoolwork. Just give him lots of opportunities to pursue his interests.

I disagree wholeheartedly with this approach for any child -- GT or non GT--whatever this really means! My child (4th grader assigned to HGC) if given the opportunity would spend his waking hours on the computer playing games, on a "DS device" or playing Wii. I understand my child may be a unique kid in this respect. These are fine activities in moderation. My role as a parent is to guide and mentor. We have earned this role through biological reproduction and a long life of experience. Therefore, intellectual and academic autopilot would be disastrous for my children (ages 9 and 6).

They get guided and mentored enrichment from their parents in all subjects (not necessarily taught in their classes) including physic and science, music, math competitions and sports. I cannot stand any of his textbooks -- in particular Algebra and IM 7 textbooks from school. I have not opened them but I teach my children mathematics with my own resources and experience. The teacher gave all members of his class a TI-84 calculator to do homework and take tests. I have instructed my children not to use this device until college when they have developed a more intuitive understanding of mathematics. Hence, he has taken all assessments and tests without using this device. I do not know whether this falls under your classification of school work!

Both children have ample time to pursue their interests (Wii, computer games, DS) but with restrictions they now have time to do what we deem important for their education. When the kids mature and grow up they can specialize in what suits their fancy!

[Anonymous]

PP, boy I'm sorry for your kids!

I never suggested allowing unlimited computer time or Wii. I don't think that really qualifies as "pursuing their interests." If you look at my original post you will see references to museums, music lessons, etc. There are lots of ways to feed your child's intellectual development that don't involve extra schoolwork or textbooks.

[Anonymous]

PP, boy I'm sorry for your kids!

I never suggested allowing unlimited computer time or Wii. I don't think that really qualifies as "pursuing their interests." If you look at my original post you will see references to museums, music lessons, etc. There are lots of ways to feed your child's intellectual development that don't involve extra schoolwork or textbooks.

Admittedly, my kids are not as enlightened as yours. Neither the 9 nor 6 year-old has ever requested to go to a museum or take music lessons. These activities were driven by their parents. They do love the computer, the DS and the Wii and would be content just doing that. Unlike you, they do not see problem solving, physics and other experiments of nature as "school work". In fact, they would prefer to stay at home with us because it is more fun than going to school. Alas, both parents work so we need the public school baby sitter service. It also provides some avenue for a different socialization context.

We do not feel sorry for our kids. We are rather proud of them as I'm sure you are of yours.

[Anonymous]

Our second grader is showing signs of advanced potential (math on 4th/5th grade level; reading on 5th or beyond) We are not chasing the GT programs, as he is socially 'typical'. What do you do at home to support your child's potential? Do you give extra homework? Work with him outside of school? Or just let it go and let him/her be a kid? For example, over this long holiday break, did your child work on any schoolwork?

I understand your County assigns the "gifted" label to 40 percent of 2nd graders. Anyone who believes that 40 percent of 2nd graders in Montgomery County are "truely gifted" is clearly on Ritalin. The Montgomery County bar is so low to the mid-point of any Bell-shaped curve for 2nd graders you need not worry about your child not meeting this low bar or standard. Giftedness in Montgomery County is a easy as flipping a coin ( almost 50:50 percent chance). Don't get carried away with the label. The majority of these kids are definetely not gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP here, and I agree with this. I would never recommend giving a GT kid extra, at-home schoolwork. Just give him lots of opportunities to pursue his interests.

I disagree wholeheartedly with this approach for any child -- GT or non GT--whatever this really means! My child (4th grader assigned to HGC) if given the opportunity would spend his waking hours on the computer playing games, on a "DS device" or playing Wii. I understand my child may be a unique kid in this respect. These are fine activities in moderation. My role as a parent is to guide and mentor. We have earned this role through biological reproduction and a long life of experience. Therefore, intellectual and academic autopilot would be disastrous for my children (ages 9 and 6).

They get guided and mentored enrichment from their parents in all subjects (not necessarily taught in their classes) including physic and science, music, math competitions and sports. I cannot stand any of his textbooks -- in particular Algebra and IM 7 textbooks from school. I have not opened them but I teach my children mathematics with my own resources and experience. The teacher gave all members of his class a TI-84 calculator to do homework and take tests. I have instructed my children not to use this device until college when they have developed a more intuitive understanding of mathematics. Hence, he has taken all assessments and tests without using this device. I do not know whether this falls under your classification of school work!

Both children have ample time to pursue their interests (Wii, computer games, DS) but with restrictions they now have time to do what we deem important for their education. When the kids mature and grow up they can specialize in what suits their fancy!

I also have a HGC 4th grader (he is our third child to go through the Center program), and we give him ample opportunity to pursue his interests, meaning, we take him to museums, expose him to sports, arts, and cultural enrichment opportunities, and generally follow his reasonable lead within the parameters of what we deem appropriate.

You sound like a crazy competitive parent and I hope we never cross paths. LOL

[Anonymous]

I agree, average or above average does

not

equal gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP here, and I agree with this. I would never recommend giving a GT kid extra, at-home schoolwork. Just give him lots of opportunities to pursue his interests.

I disagree wholeheartedly with this approach for any child -- GT or non GT--whatever this really means! My child (4th grader assigned to HGC) if given the opportunity would spend his waking hours on the computer playing games, on a "DS device" or playing Wii. I understand my child may be a unique kid in this respect. These are fine activities in moderation. My role as a parent is to guide and mentor. We have earned this role through biological reproduction and a long life of experience. Therefore, intellectual and academic autopilot would be disastrous for my children (ages 9 and 6).

They get guided and mentored enrichment from their parents in all subjects (not necessarily taught in their classes) including physic and science, music, math competitions and sports. I cannot stand any of his textbooks -- in particular Algebra and IM 7 textbooks from school. I have not opened them but I teach my children mathematics with my own resources and experience. The teacher gave all members of his class a TI-84 calculator to do homework and take tests. I have instructed my children not to use this device until college when they have developed a more intuitive understanding of mathematics. Hence, he has taken all assessments and tests without using this device. I do not know whether this falls under your classification of school work!

Both children have ample time to pursue their interests (Wii, computer games, DS) but with restrictions they now have time to do what we deem important for their education. When the kids mature and grow up they can specialize in what suits their fancy!

Two questions:

1. When do your children have "down time"?
2. Why don't you homeschool?

Also, which Center is this? My close friend who teaches in the HGC told me that none of them give the kids these calculators to use. None. So, please enlighten her as she is very curious to know where on earth this is happening.