Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely agree that not all AAP kids are gifted but do not understand why people on DCUM discount the possibility that someone is actually gifted.

Because "their kid" is not gifted so if their kid cannot be gifted, then yours cannot be gifted, either. Because "it's not fair."

I don't think people on DCUM discount the possibility that someone is gifted. I just think that given it's so rare, people get skeptical when every time a child has been in a math pull-out, the talk quickly turns to how the child needs on a special track to protect his or her "gifts". Kids are not such fragile flowers and constantly wanting to smooth their path, though often well-intentioned, isn't necessarily the way to foster an Einstein.

I had a friend years ago, who told me her daughter was a great reader in first or second grade. Everyone always talked about how this girl was SO advanced. One day my friend went to her daughter's teacher and asked: "Do you think she could be gifted?" The teacher smiled an patted my friends hand, but her words were unequivocal. "No, I think she's an above average student who loves to read."

I think that generally, people, teachers, experts usually tell you if your kid is gifted, not the other way around.

Anonymous wrote:I definitely agree that not all AAP kids are gifted but do not understand why people on DCUM discount the possibility that someone is actually gifted.

Because "their kid" is not gifted so if their kid cannot be gifted, then yours cannot be gifted, either. Because "it's not fair."

21:34 again. Oh, and I do not push or prep this kid at all. He has always been driven to learn and figure out. I have been amazed by him and, as he got older and his interests more complicated as I learned about the risks for gifted kids, scared by it! I have other children who are bright but not gifted and I get the difference. I definitely agree that not all AAP kids are gifted but do not understand why people on DCUM discount the possibility that someone is actually gifted.

21:34 here, my gifted kid actually does always keep himself entertained by constantly thinking, is happy at school and does not get bored. He came home so excited three times in 2nd grade because he "learned something new at school." But that broke my heart that he is there for so long and didn't learn from the school.

Furthermore, the risks are real that many gifted kids do check out and bevome bored and get into trouble and, no, it is not a good thing! I do not think all gifted kids react like my kid does.

Anonymous wrote:Did other schools give out a letter for Level II after kindergarten like 19:12's post? A third of DS's class scored in the 190's on that K reading assessment and end of year reading benchmark at the beginning of 1st too, but I've never heard of receiving a letter for Level II services in K-2.

We didn't get a letter but my child was pulled out starting in October, 2x/week.a

Anonymous wrote:Gifted kids are never bored or " checked out". They will always find a way to demonstrate their giftedness. Writing stories, reading on their own, doing research projects, or creating their own math problems. Kids who get bored in school are not gifted, just parent placed into AAP!

This. Is so true.

OP, my kid was pulled out for math in kindergarten. I believe it started around 2nd semester.

They did not send home a letter, and I can't recall if the teacher mentioned it to me or not.

I found out when my kid mentioned the "other classroom" where he did puzzles and "stuff".

I have another child who tests highly gifted, and I did not see anything in the other one that indicated the same types of strengths. The thing he did have was that he is a perfectionist, attentive to details and good with puzzles/patterns. I believe the puzzle/pattern thing was why he was pulled out, not because he was some whiz with addition and subtraction.

I have no idea how many other kids were pulled out too, because my kid is a man of few words, but I don't believe it was a large group because it sounded like there was one on one attention.

In first grade, he continued receiving pull outs. He goes with a few kids for math, other kids go for reading, one kid goes for both. Maybe a half dozen kids total tops? I don't believe they are doing actual "math" in there. I think based on the little he says, that they are doing puzzle/brain teaser/pattern type activities.

I never received a letter stating he was receiving extra services and his report card never has the advanced material box checked. The teacher did mention at a conference that he is receiving AAP pull out services, but that was the extent of our conversation.

I think he does the same homework package as everyone else, so I am not sure how differentiation may or may not occur in the classroom. He is enjoying learning, and developing some good school habits, so that is all I really care about.

Anonymous wrote:Gifted kids are never bored or " checked out". They will always find a way to demonstrate their giftedness. Writing stories, reading on their own, doing research projects, or creating their own math problems. Kids who get bored in school are not gifted, just parent placed into AAP!

hahahaha! Joke post, correct?

They are kids, first and foremost. AND, many of them have very active, interesting little worlds going on in their heads that are far more fun and enriching than whatever worksheet is placed in front of them. Daydreaming is a big pastime for gifted kids in many classrooms. So is sneaking reading. Even making noises and fidgeting (as they are daydreaming). Perhaps some gifted kids are constantly working on developing their next best seller or cracking the latest algebra problem, all on their own, but many (if not most) are not.

Have you ever heard of Albert Einstein? FYI, they thought he was a dolt. Many aspergers children are highly or profoundly gifted, but they are terrible students or have difficulty focusing on things that they find boring or are not one of their obsessions. And other gifted kids, are, well kids.

Did other schools give out a letter for Level II after kindergarten like 19:12's post? A third of DS's class scored in the 190's on that K reading assessment and end of year reading benchmark at the beginning of 1st too, but I've never heard of receiving a letter for Level II services in K-2.

OP here.. Thank you for the responses.. This was really helpful. I don't think my rising kindergartener is gifted but I do think he is bright. Of course, I have no idea how he will fare once he enters school. I just wanted an idea of what to expect. He does not have to be pulled out in kindergarten (I'm not worrying about that).. I just wanted to know what was available for kids and what kind of kids do get pulled out.

Gifted kids are never bored or " checked out". They will always find a way to demonstrate their giftedness. Writing stories, reading on their own, doing research projects, or creating their own math problems. Kids who get bored in school are not gifted, just parent placed into AAP!

Anonymous wrote:Still missing the point. It is not about the label. It is about having the kid learn something in the eight or nine hours they are at school. Gifted kids are at risk of checking out if their needs are not met.

I think that risk is overplayed -- as others have noted truly gifted are few. And how do we know that something good might not come from checking out. Gifted kids don't need to be spoon-fed constant challenges as many make their own. I once watched my son space out during an activity, staring at the ceiling when the rest of the class was looking at the performance in front of them. Only later did I realize he was trying to figure how the ceiling was constructed. You need to lighten up.

I don't think the pull out or level services mean your kid is really gifted. The kids need more challenging work than the standard subjects being taught. IMO, being gifted is inborn / natural state for the person. Not drilling math or reading at an early age. The truly gifted population is small, very small. My DC is smart but far from gifted.

Still missing the point. It is not about the label. It is about having the kid learn something in the eight or nine hours they are at school. Gifted kids are at risk of checking out if their needs are not met.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school doesn't start pull-outs until first grade.

Oh my! Think of how behind all the smart kids will be by then. . .

You really don't understand what having a child who is truly gifted and has an insatiable need for knowledge is like, do you? For some of us it has nothing to do with status or parental pushing and everything to do with special needs. Please educate yourself on the Hoagies website and sengifted.org.

actually, I do. had a son who is off the charts and went through GT, taught himself how to program, very shy, difficulty in social situations, teachers always told me he was gifted. but in kindergarten, the last thing I was worrying about was how to get him labeled as special and different from other kids, which I think can be harmful when taken to the extremes some folks on these boards like to take it to. It will look very different to all these worrying kindergarten parents when your child is looking at college, applying for a job and finding their way in the world, which surprise doesn't bend over to make allowances for your special, gifted, attention-issued etc. kid.

if you're worrying about pull-outs in kindergarten you have a long road ahead of you