Gifted programs?

Question

We have been approached by the gifted teacher at our daughters school. They would like her tested for next school years program.
My husband and I aren't sure what to do.
On one hand, we want to see that she is challenged and living up to her potential, but on the other hand we want her to be a KID. This is such a short part of her life, we want to make sure she enjoys it and we don't set the bar too high.

(she's an only child. 7 and in 2nd grade)

Any suggestions?

What would you do?

Thanks so much!!

Answer 1

Go for it, challenges are good for our kids. Just make sure she doesn't get overwhelmed and still has time for regular kid stuff. (They make these programs pretty good, it won't make her less of a seven year old to join in)

Answer 2

Why in the world would you think just because she's in the gifted class she'd miss out on her childhood? It's not like they keep her there all day and night! My son is in the gifted class and he has a regular school day just like everyone else. His homework only takes about 20 minutes. He was approached at age 7 as well and now he's 8 and in the class and he LOVES it! It's so much better than last year when he spent most of his school day sitting at his desk with nothing to do because he had finished already. I think that's a far more waste of a child's time, just sitting there. I would think one would want their child to live up to his/her full potential. Remember all the advantages they have now will really help them when they mature and go to college or work. I think you should encourage your child and let her try it out. If you think that it's too much for her then pull her out and have her put back in regular classes. The gifted class is not really much different than regular classes because they still follow the same guidelines as the other classes but sometimes they get extra work. Actually my son adores his teacher and loves being in that class.

Answer 3

My daughter was in second grade when her teacher recommended she get tested for the school's gifted programs. She had fun taking the tests and wound up having a blast during the classes. In our school district (at the time) there wasn't a "gifted school". The kids would have 2-3 class periods a week and be in their regular classes for the rest of the week. The classes added to my daughter's schooling rather than taking anything away from it.

She was able to have her full childhood, complete with friends and playtime. Her schooling was enriched and enhanced instead of shortened in any way.

When I was in school, it seemed like the smartest kids were always the ones who were goofing off the most. They were bored. They were not as challenged as they could have been... their particular energies weren't as focused as they could have been. This was not the teacher's fault, nor the school's. It was simply the way it was. When my daughter's teacher suggested that she may be gifted, I thought about those kids who would make trouble instead of paying attention. I didn't want my daughter to be one of those kids. I didn't want her to be finished her work before everyone else (like she always seemed to do) and get in trouble because she was bored after she was done.

The classes that my daughter took helped her schooling and never hindered her childhood. She was challenged, but she was still allowed to be as much of a kid as she was.

Personally, I don't know think I would have let them move her out the school if that's the way the school wanted to do things.

One last thing concerning the gifted classes... once the teacher recommended my daugther be tested it took a couple of years before it happened. I had to be a bit pushy when it came to the school getting things done. Be prepared for that to happen in your case. Hopefully it won't happen, but just in case you want to be ready.

(I will say that if anyone had recommended that she skip a grade, I would not have let that happen. She needed to be with kids her own age and skipping a grade wouldn't have let that happen except at lunch time.)

Good luck!

Answer 4

If your son wants to enter testing, certainly allow him to do that. When it comes to the actual classes, it's a good idea for a parent to be pretty involved in the process. Some schools operate a "gifted" program by using whatever teacher is available and providing more challenging course materials. Other schools have designated teachers who specialize in teaching gifted students, and their energy keeps the coursework challenging and interesting. It sounds like maybe your son encountered the first situation with accelerated math, and you certainly wouldn't want the same thing to happen with English. Only proceed with the classes if you are satisfied with the coursework and the instructor, and stay involved so you don't get surprises like the comment from his math teacher. Boredom in the classroom is a terrible thing, but inadequate instruction and motivation can be even worse!

Answer 5

Do it.

They only keep school work interesting for your child. The alternative is keeping your child in a regular class in which she will become bored and develop a dislike for school.

My daughter is going through it. Her teachers this year have finally stated that they think she should be placed in the Target program (for advanced students) but now in the 4th grade, she's gotten so bored that she doesn't complete her assignments and has a C grade in math. With a C, she can't be considered for the program, even though her teachers know she should be in it. The problem now is rekindling an interest in school for her...

Don't let that happen to your daughter. You can always pull her out later if it seems to bo too much for her.

Answer 6

The same thing happened to me and my parents.
To this day, I wonder how my life would have developed had my parents gone through with the recomendation. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I have had and am having a great and interesting life where I have been through and experienced more than most people ever will. However, looking back, I wish my parents would have let me test out and advance as my potential allowed.
Like you, my parents where concerned with social issues and developmental issues, and I am an only child. Truth be told, there are problems in ANY situation. If I am ever in your shoes I would take advantage of the situation and GO FOR IT.
You will always regret not knowing. Besides, if it does not work out, you child can always return to the former grade.

Answer 7

It is important for bright children to be challenged in school. I was in a gifted program many years ago, and it was a wonderful part of my education. As a 2nd grader, I was experiencing a great deal of boredom, and really not loving school. I believe you would be well-served by discussing with your school district what is involved in the program and expected of students participating. This will help you decide if this is right for your daughter, and if it meets your needs. There are other ways to challenge a gifted child, with after school programs, library programs, etc. I applaud your sense of wanting her to be a kid, while still being challenged at school. This awareness will help you make the choice that is right for your family. Best of luck.

Answer 8

Both of my kids are in the gifted program. I would talk to your school to find out exactly what is involved at your school. My kids are definitely kids, but being in the GT program has helped them to have more fun with their school work instead of being bored. They have their GT class at a time when some of the other kids go to classes for help in math or reading and some kids just have study hall which would just be a waste of time for my kids. They have also gone on some special field trips that not all kids get to go on. I have been nothing but happy with my children being in the gifted program, but if you feel that it is too much work for your child then you can always take her out of it. My kids love it. My daughter especially tends to get annoyed when the other kids in her class don't get stuff, so it has been great for her to have a chance to work on projects etc with kids who are more on her level academically. But you don't have to let her do it if you don't want to. If you think that she will be too bogged down with school work then it is your choice. I haven't noticed this. Neither one of my kids seem to have as much homework as some of their friends who aren't in GT and the fact that the school's Gifted teacher approached you does show that your child will probably benefit from it.

Answer 9

My son is in 2nd grade and just started his school's gifted program this school year. It has been a good thing for him. He was too bored and not challenged in a normal classroom. Putting them in a gifted program doesn't mean they dont' get time to be a kid. They still have art, music, gym, library time, recess, etc. They just do more challenging work in the classroom. They go more in depth on subjects than the regular classrooms. Our son's class does more fun projects. They tend to work at least one grade level ahead of their age-peers.

Answer 10

I think it's great! My daughter went through the same thing, 2nd grade and they are only learning double digit addition and reading little books, but my daughter is doing multiplication, division, and reading chapter books, she is so far ahead of everyone, so they tested her for the gifted program but she didn't pass! At her school they slow everyone down to learn at the dumbest kids pace (not to be mean) so she isn't getting anything out of school other than social, which isn't that great either. Kids' brains are like sponges and they will learn whatever you teach them. If you don't want to excell her at school, try giving her stuff at home to do. You can get really great workbooks for her.

Answer 11

It's just a test. Let her take it. You don't even know what the result is going to be and you're worried about whether the program is too rigorous. The whole point of the test is to make sure she is a good fit for the program.

And gifted programs for 7 year olds are generally just about having fun opportunities to grow.