So far I don't have any gifted kids, just difficult ones BUT my cousin was/is gifted.
He never really attended school because they weren't teaching him the stuff he needed to be taught... eg - he was doing year 7 maths at 7 years old.
The only school my aunt tried though, was a private school (TAS in Armidale). She pulled him out after about 3 months & home schooled him for the rest of his schooling years (which she did the wrong way!)
He was on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph as one of the highest IQ's on Aust at about 10 I think.
He was also ADHD. The biggest thing for him was boredom. The need for constant stimulation & needing to be challenged... pulling apart old computers etc & putting them back together was a fave past time through his early teen years.
I can't tell you about services though... he was never lucky enough to have recieved outside help. His mother is a bit odd
MR - Spot on, as usual Your advice is always so balanced. Great social skills can only enhance our other skills (academic, creative etc) and life enjoyment.
FWIW - Every childcare/kindy/school is different. They all manage giftedness in different ways, and can vary greatly from year level and classroom and teacher to teacher. As a teacher, I know we tend to deal with the disruptive aspects much more quickly (and much better) than the boredom/giftedness. I also know that logistically it can be difficult to cater for children's varying needs.... but it can be done! In my year 4 reading program, I used readers from a pre-prep to a beyond year 8 level, all at the same time, in one classroom. Although our school has a great 'enrichment' program, it tries to fit too many students in (it's great pr) and so works at too low a level for the more gifted ones! And I've had teachers in the following year level refuse to let a gifted student join their class for a maths lesson due to overcrowding/behaviour problems, which, although frustrating, was well within their rights. I've also had gifted students removed from my class for enrichment in say, maths, during our class reading time, which was a weakness. On the positive side, I've seen several students skip a grade and many more well catered to by addressing their weaknesses as well as fostering their strengths - that's what any educator worth their salt does all day every day. We have year levels that 'stream' their students for literacy and numeracy so that students can learn more effectively at the level they need to. What I'm saying is, 'shop around', start early as it might take a while, but don't give up on finding somewhere for your child.
Hope you don't mind me butting in... I just saw this thread and wanted to share some info I came across by Louise Porter. I'm a massive Porter fan and she does a lot of work regarding gifted children.
I also organised a phone consult with her via skype last week to discuss my own son (autism) and it was great. Just wanted to let you know if you're interested in asking her some questions because it was $75, so cheap compared to some psychs and she has opinions I really value.
wow this thread is gaining more people every time i pop in to post !!
all the links and posts are sooo helpful !
Niadalla , If you think your child is gifted do some reasearch and get an appt with a pead . I had an inkling that DD was gifted so i listed all her behaviours ( some gifted behavoirs and some not ) and with out even mentioning the word gifted the pead pulled up an IQ scale and told me about DD and where she sits and why , he didnt talk about reading or writing or profound gifts like piano playing etc , he spoke about the behaviour side of things , and how hard it can be . which helped as DD can not read ( that i know of ) the only word ive seen her read/remember is Kookaburra. so it wasnt in my best intrests to know about that side of things just yet . If your child is happy and progressing well than there is no need to push for testing at the moment. there is also a difference between Bright and gifted .
Having a sensory processing disorder in sensory seeking was what brought me to the pead , so yes maybe bring it to the attn of the MCHN . and see a pead . Im glad ive met this gitftedness early as i can provide better as i learn more .
MR .. yes we must meet ! everything you have wrote has struck a cord with all that ive learnt about giftedness ESP the part about low muscle tone and the inability to not sit still , the behaviours like defiance and rough play and hitting .. all fits with DD . I will PM you in a sec .
thanks Ladies its so good to talk about this its really helping . xx
oh and these kids definatley have their quirks !! currently DD is playing air gitar with a old numberplate , she has already put my passport in the blender to "chop it up " so i cant leave on a plane ... and thats only in the last hour lol !
Gotta love the quirks Lea!! I have rather a lot of stories that I can use for his 21st but I'm not sure I'll still be sane by then!! One of DS's quirks is that he never, ever, ever stops talking (unless he's reading and then he tells us that we aren't allowed to talk to him). It takes forever to get him to eat a meal because he keeps talking. Trying to get him to stop talking long enough to clean his teeth is a daily challenge. Sometimes when I tuck him in before I go to bed he will stir and start talking away in his sleep. His teachers all mention his talking as well - I tell them that we know all about it!
wow ... all that talking would do my head in !! but they have so much in their little heads i guess its got to come out . !!
Im really struggeling (sp?) with her quirks ... one of them in particular .... water .... if you give her a cup of water with a meal . she wont drink it but tip it in the water ,then tip the water in various places around the house ( i may have mentioned it before ) yesterday a 750 ml drinkbottle with a pop top lid went all over the leather lounge. and it was also coated with youghurt . ive gone back to no spill sippy cups so she cant tip water everywhere ... as its darn annoying mopping up water all day , but also a hazard !!
I cant wait to find out more next week at the phsyc. i must admit .... its getting harder each day !!
argh !! i wish i could bury my head in the sand ...
BUT my cousin was/is gifted.
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Your advice is always so balanced. Great social skills can only enhance our other skills (academic, creative etc) and life enjoyment.
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