Private School for Gifted Elementary School Child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing - there is no school that will do what you are looking for (reinforce your daughter's rote memorization and tell her she is gifted because of it) because that is bad pedagogy.

GDS has lots of smart kids. I'd start there. But you are still going to be in class with kids with learning disabilities and behavior challenges, both because that's how the world is and because those issues aren't always apparent when the kids begin at the school.

But, really, OP. Your child is bright but nothing you describe makes me thing she needs a special school, and particularly not at such a tender age.

If you have $40K a year to throw at the "problem," then be my guest. But your child will do just fine in public, or in any private that you choose.

I have a preschooler at GDS, and the things that OP mentions that her child can do are not the norm at the school, from my point of view. While some may think it is obnoxious for a poster to detail the tasks and skills her kid can do, it is equally or more annoying to read one more DCUM "your kid is nothing special" post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for the OP, have you had your child tested? That might give you more information than just signs of early reading.

If it was op that said her preschooler “can read, write, spell, add, subtract, multiply, divide and she is not yet in K. She can read clocks, knows days, weeks, months and years. She loves maps and even knows the 50 US states with capitols, the different continents and oceans.” Then this is more than just early reading. Those are very advanced math skills along with the advanced reading and language skills. Yes, testing would be good, yet the child will have to be tested before entrance into a private anyway, but it would be hard to hot house a child that far ahead unless they already had the ability. And parents are usually spot on if they think their child may need something extra to meet and challenges their child at an appropriate level.

[Anonymous]

These do not sound like ordinary skills for a pre-K kid.

[Anonymous]

I second Feynman. My child is very similar to yours and Public schools are not able and are
not willing to deal with these kids in Elementary school. We went win Feynman, it
was the best decision we could've made.

[Anonymous]

Home school the child, please. This whole thread is assholery even by dcum standards.

[Anonymous]

My DD did all that op describes before turning five. And more? She was reading chapter books. At 2.5 she could recute all the US presidents and states. I think she was 5 when she memorized the periodic table.

She forgot it all a couple years later. Some toddlers have the patience and attention to memorize things. It's a personality thing more than general intelligence.

Also, she was totally fine in kindergarten. I was pretty happy she fit right in and was happy to go. She didn't get anything special either, but we did love her school.

[Anonymous]

You should at least try public. You can switch down the road if you're not happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Home school the child, please. This whole thread is assholery even by dcum standards.

This is currently the dumbest post on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, a big part of effective schooling for a gifted kid is around teaching them to work (which many have never had to do) and work to their particular abilities. Finding a supportive and stimulating peer group is also critical. My kid has thrived in the MoCo magnet schools - but it was a bit of a slog to get through K-3 in our (excellent) home school.

[Anonymous]

Read write and spell are very broad terms.. Is writing a 3 word sentence or 5 sentences on 1 topic? What level does she read? Simple chapter books are not uncommon for pre-K reader..larger complex books are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public. Honestly. The strongest kids are in public. The bright kids who didn't get into the public programs? Those are the kids in the "private gifted schools."

What is your expertise that allows you to assess the intellects of all of these school populations? How many schools have you taught in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Home school the child, please. This whole thread is assholery even by dcum standards.

This is currently the dumbest post on DCUM.

Not at all. Prodigies rarely amount to anything. If the op had judgement, they would try to normalize the child’s social development. This is in fact assholery.

[Anonymous]

We had gifted kids in private. Teachers were largely uninterested with them. They were busy with the kids who were struggling or average because they are assessed as teachers by the gains children make throughout the year. Since my kids are going in at the top, they won’t be making large gains. We have since moved them to public because there are far more clubs and stuff. They’re going to be bored everywhere so why not let them have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public. Honestly. The strongest kids are in public. The bright kids who didn't get into the public programs? Those are the kids in the "private gifted schools."

Really? My preschooler can read, write, spell, add, subtract, multiply, divide and she is not yet in K. She can read clocks, knows days, weeks, months and years. She loves maps and even knows the 50 US states with capitols, the different continents and oceans. Public can meet her needs?

Yes. Sounds like quite a few kindergarteners in public.

And they must all be so bored.
OP look into Montessori for grades preschool to 3, then you can stay if you like it or apply to the highly gifted program for upper elementary or then look into other private schools. Look at adian Montessori or oneness family school they both have had highly gifted students. All kids work at their own pace and go as far as they can

[Anonymous]

I’m the pp above, I would also look closely at Feynman. They really get gifted education and kids like yours