tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349025651070168896.post8343664085836061326..comments2024-02-10T02:51:24.273-07:00Comments on Mom, Ph.D.: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Talented and the GiftedMom, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06382723864273701137noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349025651070168896.post-51803204530794194242011-01-16T20:00:19.976-07:002011-01-16T20:00:19.976-07:00Thanks for the insight. Our school district has ma...Thanks for the insight. Our school district has many high-performing and TAG kids, but I don't think the funding is at all impressive. And the TAG coordinator is overworked and definitely under-inspired (another reason I held off getting son tested). It is definitely up to us nurture my kids spirit here! I'm glad you emphasized balance. Your kids seem to be doing well AND well-adjusted. Refreshing!Mom, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06382723864273701137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349025651070168896.post-86528989215406982762011-01-16T17:35:27.354-07:002011-01-16T17:35:27.354-07:00From an elementary teacher and mom of two gifted a...From an elementary teacher and mom of two gifted adults (25 &27)<br /><br />Gifted and Talented classes depend on the teacher of the class. If they are creative, the class can be wonderful. Most districts will not test before third grade since the IQ settles around that age. Gifted classes are federally mandated but federally unfunded. More and more districts are moving into G only, which is sad for those who are gifted in other areas than academics.<br />It drives me crazy that we will spend $10,000 more on a child who does not have the capacity to feed themselves instead of on the child who could cure cancer. Grease goes on the wheel that squeaks.<br /><br />As far as skipping grades, I totally agree with with your assessment. It is slowly becoming acceptable to be smart in school. <br /> Our son started school young. It was suggested that he skip fourth grade. We held him- since his father had skipped and regretted it. Our son still wags his finger at us for starting him young because his strength for sports was a year behind those he competed with. You were well rounded. I am sure you want your child to be as well.<br /><br />We told both our children that their purpose was to be the best and to bring a friend to be the best with them. In high school they both competed in sports and were the captains. They started clubs. They did independent studies with teachers who held feet to fire- reading books that the average student would not have tried. Believe me, WE were the ones seeking out those teachers and placing them in those classes.<br /> In college our son took 26 hours a semester. He didn't want to miss out in learning anything. Graduated in Physics and Chinese. Well balanced, he does not play games to get what he wants. <br />Our daughter rebelled against school. She now runs a large social network in her area of the country while she "stays at home" with our grandson. Her husband, gifted as well, was a Marine linguist and now makes more at twenty-three than most academic people, without the benefit of college. There are many roads for gifted adults.<br /><br />Help your child be balanced. It sounds like your parents did that for you. Carry on the tradition. <br />Obviously the "letter" that he was accepted in the backpack means he is good where he is at. If he wanted more, he would have been waving it in front of your face. I hope your "gifted teacher" is better than most that we encountered in our children's nine schools. If they aren't, then it is up to you to nurture their spirit!Janettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10054888725603183006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349025651070168896.post-7502988932673795922011-01-08T08:26:38.940-07:002011-01-08T08:26:38.940-07:00I can definitely relate to "finding loopholes...I can definitely relate to "finding loopholes is what I am most gifted and talented at, really." Very funny and tragically true for my life too. In high school, I somehow arranged to avoid the honors class (or any class) of "xyz" by sitting in study hall instead so that I could "study" the subject and test out of it the next summer. Stupid! I should have just taken the class. Who let me get away with that?! Worst part is that I ended up with a PhD in something very close to xyz.Mom, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06382723864273701137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349025651070168896.post-21215887989291429692011-01-08T07:54:20.508-07:002011-01-08T07:54:20.508-07:00Interesting perspective. I don't have kids but...Interesting perspective. I don't have kids but many of my friends who do are struggling with similar issues.<br /><br />I went to a school that was dead-center mediocre, had some G&T (as they called it) through 6th grade, then no AP, but if your parents were pushy enough, they let you take classes at the local community college. So, at 15, I was taking college courses in Spanish, art, and Latin. (You were supposed to take math, but I didn't like math and finding loopholes is what I am most gifted and talented at, really).<br /><br />I sidestepped the popularity issue by being a theater geek, and this was the idyllic days when you didn't have to worry about cyberbullying etc. so I escaped relatively unscathed. I'm glad I didn't pick up the obsessive perfectionism that some of my friends got from magnet schools, but the bad habit of 'skating' (because I didn't have to work hard) has stayed with me. <br /><br />I still don't know what the right answer is when it comes to smart kids. I was bored in school and now I often wish I'd absorbed more when I still could, but there's no denying the anti-intellectual tendencies of hormonally crazed teenagers, and I'm glad I wasn't completely out of the social loop. I mean, I still don't self-identify as a proper nerd even now, I'm definitely more of a geek.<br /><br />When I was teaching, I became ruthlessly Darwinian about the issue -- yeah, smart kids, I know it sucks that you're bored/in charge, but guess what? That's gonna be the rest of your life so you may as well learn to deal with it...but that was at the college level, so I don't imagine it's a good strategy for younger kids. I think you can only do your best to keep theme entertained/stimulated, while explaining the reality of the world to them.WorstProfEverhttp://www.worstprofessorever.comnoreply@blogger.com