Kid five grade levels ahead

[Anonymous]

My seven year old, who has consistently been above 99th percentile, recently tested at end of sixth grade level for reading and math. Any advice? There is no gifted program where we live.

[Anonymous]

If they don't have gifted programs why are they testing for giftedness? She's scored about 99% in what ?

[Anonymous]

They are not testing for giftedness. This is regular mandated testing in reading and math.

[Anonymous]

Oh, standardized testing? They don't give "grade levels ahead". I'd chill out.

[Anonymous]

Do what you can to foster that ability in math. Are there any fun math/STEM activities where you live? As far as reading, you're already doing what you should be doing if your 7yo is five grade levels ahead. It's a difficult balance, finding books that are at your child's level, yet do not have inappropriate content for a 7yo. Even if there's no formal gifted program, you can still meet with your child's principal to find out what opportunities for enrichment the school can provide.

[Anonymous]

He'll take AP classes in HS. Until then, school will be easy peasy.

Encourage some extracurricular activity that is challenging. Piano, sports, something. Also focus on friendships and social maturity.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean "above 99th percentile"?

[Anonymous]

Spend some time at http://www.hoagiesgifted.org

Start with "Gifted 101": http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/gifted_101.htm

[Anonymous]

What is offered in your area? It doesn't have to be academics, per se, music lessons? Is there a real good piano teacher? Or art lessons. Find the best of whatever it is that your area has to offer and expose your child to that. But as you do, let them take the lead re: genuine interest.

[Anonymous]

How can he have tested consistently above 99 percentile? How often has a 7 year old been tested already? What tests?

[Anonymous]

Very high intelligences usually are not very useful until the child develops the emotional maturity to do something useful with it. Its not like gymnastics.

Buys lots of books for your kid, encourage them to try new things, and train them self discipline. Self discipline is important for any field, intellectual or athletic.

Once the kid hits college, send them away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do what you can to foster that ability in math. Are there any fun math/STEM activities where you live? As far as reading, you're already doing what you should be doing if your 7yo is five grade levels ahead. It's a difficult balance, finding books that are at your child's level, yet do not have inappropriate content for a 7yo. Even if there's no formal gifted program, you can still meet with your child's principal to find out what opportunities for enrichment the school can provide.

Non-fiction text is the best for advanced comprehension readers. However, OP, it's important to understand in what areas your child is ahead. Is it word recognition AND comprehension? A lot of kids are several grade levels ahead in reading, but their comprehension is actually pretty poor at that level. Obviously you have a very bright child and it's quite possible your child also comprehends at that level, but it is important to really understand the tests they are giving and the results. You should get a report that disaggreates so you understand processing speed, listening comprehension, reading comprehension of informational text.

Personally, I think TAG as well as many other "in school" gifted programs are a joke. If your child is profoundly gifted, even if your school did have a program it wouldn't do much for him/her. Right now, as long as your child enjoys school and isn't acting out in boredom, let him/her continue there. You can supplement your child's natural abilities in other ways. In my area, there is a woman who does after school classes for the profoundly gifted where they primarily play logic games. Look to see if anyone is doing something like that in your area. There are some great games you can order on Amazon that were recommended to me by the woman who does the classes:

SET:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IV34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and Swish

https://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-1512-ThinkFun-Swish/dp/B004INGVIU/ref=pd_sim_21_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004INGVIU&pd_rd_r=ZPGDTXYFCPPKN4GSBD8R&pd_rd_w=WBub5&pd_rd_wg=7QUa9&psc=1&refRID=ZPGDTXYFCPPKN4GSBD8R

Both are great games to challenge your child and they can be made to become more challenging.

You can also check out the Davidson Institute which has some great resources and information: http://www.davidsongifted.org

Hopefully some of this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very high intelligences usually are not very useful until the child develops the emotional maturity to do something useful with it. Its not like gymnastics.

Buys lots of books for your kid, encourage them to try new things, and train them self discipline. Self discipline is important for any field, intellectual or athletic.

Once the kid hits college, send them away.

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Your 7 year old is ready to do pre algebra or even algebra?

[Anonymous]

Or read "the drama of the gifted child". Good luck.