Private School for Gifted Elementary School Child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insufferable, that is clear. Only difficulty is trying to determine whether the pro gifted or gifted doubters are more annoying. The insecurities of some of the posters on both sides is frightening. For the sake of your children, get a backbone and be kind to others.

.

What are pro-gifted? Pro gifted education? Is that what you mean? IF so, please show us their insufferable statements you claim are here.

Attempts to defend this or that as gifted vs. critiques of what others think constitutes gifted. Both rather annoying! Both here!

Yes, because there aren’t literal definitions of giftedness and tons of papers by experts out there, reiterating the same thing. Yet DCUMers somehow think they knows better about whether a stranger has a truly gifted kid or not. What a crazy notion for some to come on here and explain or defend the reason for possible niche need for this child. How dare they../

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insufferable, that is clear. Only difficulty is trying to determine whether the pro gifted or gifted doubters are more annoying. The insecurities of some of the posters on both sides is frightening. For the sake of your children, get a backbone and be kind to others.

.

What are pro-gifted? Pro gifted education? Is that what you mean? IF so, please show us their insufferable statements you claim are here.

Attempts to defend this or that as gifted vs. critiques of what others think constitutes gifted. Both rather annoying! Both here!

Yes, because there aren’t literal definitions of giftedness and tons of papers by experts out there, reiterating the same thing. Yet DCUMers somehow think they knows better about whether a stranger has a truly gifted kid or not. What a crazy notion for some to come on here and explain or defend the reason for possible niche need for this child. How dare they../

I haven't expressed an opinion about what constituted gifted or disparaged the mom's opinion at all. However, for a child who is profoundly gifted, learning age-appropriate social skills is frequently a compelling need. Any number of good schools can provide that while OP supplements academics.

[Anonymous]

I am pro gifted. I have a child who tests as gifted. I am not a gifted doubter. My dc was doing this kind of stuff in preschool. I believe the op's DD is doing all that she claims. My advice stands: you do not need a special program for gifted kids. Find a good program for kids developing at all rates. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insufferable, that is clear. Only difficulty is trying to determine whether the pro gifted or gifted doubters are more annoying. The insecurities of some of the posters on both sides is frightening. For the sake of your children, get a backbone and be kind to others.

.

What are pro-gifted? Pro gifted education? Is that what you mean? IF so, please show us their insufferable statements you claim are here.

Attempts to defend this or that as gifted vs. critiques of what others think constitutes gifted. Both rather annoying! Both here!

Yes, because there aren’t literal definitions of giftedness and tons of papers by experts out there, reiterating the same thing. Yet DCUMers somehow think they knows better about whether a stranger has a truly gifted kid or not. What a crazy notion for some to come on here and explain or defend the reason for possible niche need for this child. How dare they../

I haven't expressed an opinion about what constituted gifted or disparaged the mom's opinion at all. However, for a child who is profoundly gifted, learning age-appropriate social skills is frequently a compelling need. Any number of good schools can provide that while OP supplements academics.

Age appropriate learning and social skills are the same for kids in a gifted leaning environment as they are in a traditional classroom.

Different kids excel in different environments and parents have different preferences based upon their needs and wants. Some choose and thrive in public, some choose and prefer Montessori, some choose parochial for the religious aspect, some choose to unschool as it works best for their child. So a parent looking into or choosing a gifted based independent school education is no different.

[Anonymous]

Why should a parent have to supplement an education at home if the parent has educational options available that cater to that very need? Do people also say that to parent whose child is old enough and qualifies for AAP?

[Anonymous]

Not all talented kids are the same. If a child scores 170+ on a psychologist administered IQ test, I would not recommend public school. Speaking from my experience, even TJ is not good for many of these kids, as it is more about the quantity of work than the pace of the classes (at least when I graduated there in the early '90s). You need to pursue self-paced education for kids like that and consider just going straight to college instead of high school.

I sent my kids to Nysmith for a while, but I still found it lacking in self-paced work. If a kid can learn two years of math in one year, putting them one year ahead is not going to keep it interesting for them (and kids end up trying to get tutored through another level over the summer). If a kid is reading at an 11th grade level, there's nothing in the 4th grade curriculum that will be challenging to them. When a kid is very advanced in all areas both of these things, much of their school time is wasted.

Too much focus in advanced education is on enrichment, which often just translates to more work at the same level, when a faster is pace is what is more appropriate. The goal is to help the kids become autodidacts, because, that's where we all end up eventually. Teaching is subordinate to learning.

For kids that are more in the 120-140 range, what is in the range of programs that are out there may satisfy them, but will probably still hold them back in a core area of interest or ability. As such, technology-enabled, self-paced education is likely to become the preferred method of advanced education in the next 5-10 years. The vast quantity of online materials available, including open admission university courses with great instructors can transform the local educational authority or parent into serving more of a coaching role. Wasting that resource in the pursuit of status-oriented, brand name, traditional schooling is foolish.

[Anonymous]

A child with an IQ of 145 isn’t going to need college courses in elementary school nor do I think technology and online learning is the way my children should be learning most subjects. Yes, most public gifted programs are best for kids in the 120 up to around 140 range. Though a child in the 140-150 range and reading at a high school level can learn quite bit from experts that know how to properly educate children around that range. Depth of subject matter is not frivolous and shouldn’t be scrapped for speed. There can be a combination of both, depending upon the need and interest. Plus, being with your peers where the educators understand age appropriate behavior and how gifted minds work is essential. They’re still children, being with other children while also being educated according to their needs is a niche some privates seem to understand and can accomplish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why should a parent have to supplement an education at home if the parent has educational options available that cater to that very need? Do people also say that to parent whose child is old enough and qualifies for AAP?

Nope. But OP seems interested in private independent schools and not AAP. People have been encouraging her to look into public schools because private schools are actually LESS ready for profoundly gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why should a parent have to supplement an education at home if the parent has educational options available that cater to that very need? Do people also say that to parent whose child is old enough and qualifies for AAP?

Nope. But OP seems interested in private independent schools and not AAP. People have been encouraging her to look into public schools because private schools are actually LESS ready for profoundly gifted kids.

You keep asserting this, but I don't agree and don't think you would have any way of knowing this. There are obviously differences between a small parochial school and the independents with lots of resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why should a parent have to supplement an education at home if the parent has educational options available that cater to that very need? Do people also say that to parent whose child is old enough and qualifies for AAP?

Nope. But OP seems interested in private independent schools and not AAP. People have been encouraging her to look into public schools because private schools are actually LESS ready for profoundly gifted kids.

My kids are in FCPS, and even AAP is ill-equipped for children who are highly gifted in math. OP's child would probably thrive in an environment in which the child can self-pace, and OP certainly won't find that in public school. Even if the child tests as being 3+ grade levels ahead in a subject, and even if the child's WISC scores corroborate extreme giftedness in a subject, public schools will rarely accelerate a child even one grade in that subject. If your child does manage to be skipped ahead one grade in a subject, that child will still be bored, since the subject matter isn't being taught faster or at a more advanced level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A child with an IQ of 145 isn’t going to need college courses in elementary school nor do I think technology and online learning is the way my children should be learning most subjects. Yes, most public gifted programs are best for kids in the 120 up to around 140 range. Though a child in the 140-150 range and reading at a high school level can learn quite bit from experts that know how to properly educate children around that range. Depth of subject matter is not frivolous and shouldn’t be scrapped for speed. There can be a combination of both, depending upon the need and interest. Plus, being with your peers where the educators understand age appropriate behavior and how gifted minds work is essential. They’re still children, being with other children while also being educated according to their needs is a niche some privates seem to understand and can accomplish.

+1 My child in this 140-150 range is engaged and happy on grade level in his private (not one that caters to “gifted” children). He’s always in the highest groups, but he’s not alone in them.

[Anonymous]

Both our kids were in AAP in FCPS and while 1 managed to get through HS but was miserable, the other wasn't for various reasons including intelligence and the slow pace. A switch to private this year for a sport where classes are smaller and discussion is the norm has made all the difference. AAP may work for a while but you have to wait until 3rd grade and can't skip ahead.

I really wish publics could figure out a way for kids to move at their own pace and not be age/grade segregated. This would allow all to learn at their natural rate. Since this isn't likely to ever happen, the homeschool, online, early college online is likely the best route for some. Our private school kid is super social and would be miserable if homeschooled despite the educational advantages. We homeschooled the first some and even our introvert missed the social interaction of school despite the HS groups etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A child with an IQ of 145 isn’t going to need college courses in elementary school nor do I think technology and online learning is the way my children should be learning most subjects. Yes, most public gifted programs are best for kids in the 120 up to around 140 range. Though a child in the 140-150 range and reading at a high school level can learn quite bit from experts that know how to properly educate children around that range. Depth of subject matter is not frivolous and shouldn’t be scrapped for speed. There can be a combination of both, depending upon the need and interest. Plus, being with your peers where the educators understand age appropriate behavior and how gifted minds work is essential. They’re still children, being with other children while also being educated according to their needs is a niche some privates seem to understand and can accomplish.

Wow my child scored in the low 140's. No-one told me they were gifted. Its years later so it doesn't matter at this point but is that usually mean they are gifted?

[Anonymous]

I sense there's disagreement ITT over whether being 99th percentile is sufficient to be deemed "gifted," or whether you need to be closer to the 99.5 or 99.9 percentile range to deserve that designation.

First world problems!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why should a parent have to supplement an education at home if the parent has educational options available that cater to that very need? Do people also say that to parent whose child is old enough and qualifies for AAP?

Nope. But OP seems interested in private independent schools and not AAP. People have been encouraging her to look into public schools because private schools are actually LESS ready for profoundly gifted kids.

You keep asserting this, but I don't agree and don't think you would have any way of knowing this. There are obviously differences between a small parochial school and the independents with lots of resources.

Okay. I have not "kept" asserting that, nor can I fathom why you think your opinion on this has more weight than mine. I am speaking from experience, and not about "small parochial schools." I have three children in two different so-called "Big 3" schools, which I consider GDS/Sidwell/Cathedral schools. Those schools are wonderful and do have lots of resources. However, they don't do much, if any, differentiation in the lower elementary grades. They certainly do less than our neighborhood public, which is the school my youngest (who tested gifted) attended until middle school. Once students reach middle school, there are more opportunities for advance classes.