I Think My Son Might Be Gifted. Where Do I Get Him Tested?

As mentioned GATE is the program offered by most schools. However, just because he's smart doesn't mean he will qualify for gate. GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) looks for other areas that indicate a child is gifted. The child must also display other aspects that indicate he/she is gifted or talented.

If he is bored, conference with the teacher to ask if he/she can assist in some independed challenging work at a higher level or if he can help struggling students or go into another class to help when he finishes his work.

Another option is to look for a Montessori School (Charter or Private). The Montessori method is designed to meet the child at his or her level and provide work to challenge him/her.

I don't think the issue is so much whether he's gifted, but how the teacher addresses children who can get through their work quickly. Some of the other moms had good ideas about meeting routinely with his teacher to go over his progress and what can be done on a daily basis to make sure he's engaged. Maybe the teacher can assign a special project that he can work on, in a subject that really interests him.

If his needs can't be addressed adequately in his current classroom/school, are there any charter schools or private schools that would be a better fit?

Hello. I am a high school teacher in CA. Every state has a little different process but in general, the gifted are considered special education students. The best place to start would be to ask his current teacher. The school should be able to provide that assessment for you. I would suggest you also talk to your son about how he might challenge himself. I've seen gifted students take two basic routes: they get bored and can develop behavior issues or they learn how to put more into the assignments offered, adding a depth and creativity that other students don't have the time or ability to get to. Best of luck.

Greetings E.: As the mother of 5 very talented children and one of them has Aspberger's Syndrome. I am also an advocate for Special Education. Gifted children as well as disabled children generally fall under special education and Special Services. One of the things that you need to ask yourself is are you prepared for all the challenges that come with advanceing your child to another grade where children are older and socially advanced. I don't know the age but have you considered if at elementry age you put the child in a dual grade class? We did this and the teachers could help those that were advanced 4th graders and it also helped the 5th graders that needed help. The children were all a success. We know of a 10 year old that is so bright she stays up with 9th graders step by step at school but emotionally and soscially she is very much a child her age.
Your district will make arrangements for testing through special services but they have about 100 days to process the papers and tests so it is a slow process. I know they can make what ever allowances that are neeed.
I hope you have your child in several stimulating programs music esp. so that her brain is challenged and is not bored.
I wish you all the best efforts and that you reach the best solution for your child. Nana G

A lot of school districts won't test until March of 2nd grade, so you may need to discuss strategies with the teacher like "once he gets his work done, could he read at his desk?"

Lyceum for this area is
http://www.lyceum-online.com/

The school district test isn't as complete a picture as the assessment a one-on-one Licensed Educational Psychologist would give you. The list for LEPs in this area is here

https://www.lyceum-online.com/?page_id=15

This is also helpful reading about the different levels:http://www.educationaloptions.com/resources/resources_how...

and
http://www.educationaloptions.com/resources/resources_une...

the thing you have to ask yourself is: what would testing change? For parents who have kids who are gifted in natural sciences and music knowing that isn't going to change the school choice. Would it help with talking to teachers? (You aren't a pushy parent - you have data!) If it's just one area like Math, then would a program like EPGY keep him occupied?
http://epgy.stanford.edu/district/

btw when you read this:
http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/Nation_Deceived/

it's interesting to find out how our public schools don't have to money to deal with the bored kids, despite the drop out rate.

My daughter reads over 3 grade levels higher than her current placement, but I still struggle getting her differentiated instruction/work in the classroom.

His public school should be able to assess him. That's how they get kids for GATE.

Call the admissions office at The Nueva School in Hillsborough. They test children for adminisions process and they can give you the names of assessors. It costs about $200-300 when you apply to the school.

You can have a private neuro-psych or ed=psych (I don't remember which on gives the IQ.Both might.) done and those cost about $5,000.Dr. Dale Jacknow (female) in San Mateo,CA does neuro-psych, but her wait list is at least 6 mo. She often gets weird openings. We signed up, got on her wait list for June and as it turned out the process (7 visits) was done by end of April. We were flexible.

Stephanie

you can take him to a child psychologist, they have IQ tests designed for his age and you'll probably get a better and more specialized analysis there than any where else, you can also contact MENSA they have test they administer themselves and they can refer you to other testing facilities

The school must test him if you request it in writing.

Hi E.,

Talk to your son's teacher. They should have someone, a counselor perhaps, who will administer the test on site free of charge. If he does qualify and his school has a GATE program or classes, he will have the option to participate. Good luck.

S.

You have gotten a lot of good advice, including utilizing the public schools and the GATE program. If you really want to test him, one option to consider is just an IQ test, appropriate for his age. This can be done by many child psychologists. The other place to consider is a gifted school, like Nueva, in Hillsborough (on the Peninsula). When you apply, part of the process is an IQ test. The cost of application is about the same as just getting an IQ test done by a child psychologist (about $250), and you can also learn about what a gifted school might offer your son. Good luck!

Hi E.,

My children also get bored at school because they finish so fast. So, at the beginning of each school year I give the teachers a list of my expectations and what they can expect from my daughters. Then, I follow up with the teachers weekly and also monitor what they have for homework to ensure that it is meeting my expectations. With my regular follow through, my daughters are not bored in class, they continue to excel, and the teachers step up to the plate. (By the way, this makes it easier for students later when the teachers have advanced students later.) I know it seems like a lot of work on your part, but it is worth it.

D.

Dear E.,
You may want to see if your son's school has a G.A.T.E.{Gifted And Talented Education} program. They will test your son for free. Also, it's good to lean on the Lord and find His rest,{peace},even during these stressful times. Strong alliances and support are more important than ever before. Groups like Mamasource can be a beneficial resource.

I am a 46 year old mother of 7 children and 6 grandchildren. Two of them are currently living with my husband and I,{a twelve year old and seventeen year old,both boys}. I was a minister for years and am currently starting a business that organizes businesses.

I put my kids in a charter school because my youngest kid had the same problem. He was never bored after that because they taught to the individual instead of to the tests.

i guess we need to define what "gifted" menas. My son is 3.5yrs old and he knew all his letters, shapes, colors, numbers by 2. People were shocked for how much he knew so early. He has a very large vocabulary and his preschool teacher said he is a very smart little boy but never said he was gifted. He was talking in sentences at 2.5yrs old. He went to Kindercare at 27 months and the teachers didn't know what to do with him because he knew it all and was also bored so I pulled him out. He needed a smaller setting to get that 1:1 attention/education. He just wants to learn. He "connects the dots" and gets it. It doesn't mean he is "gifted". He is just advanced. My brother, my father and husband were all this way growing up. It can also be difficult on the parent because you are always trying to find new things for them to do. My family memebers were never "gifted" just "advanced" for their age and they grasp information easy and was above the avg grade level. In fact my brother went to an excellent grade school at Stanford and in Kindergarten the teachers want him to skip 1st grade. My parents refused. He turned out fine but my parents had to find other things for him to do like my son to keep him brain moving all the time. My brother was reading in 2nd grade at 6 grade level. The only thing my parents kick themselves for now is they wished they could have put him in Harker for high school, but they couldn't afford it back then. I agree with one of the comments....the school will be able to know if your child is advanced/gifted. I don't think it is worth having him tested and paying to have the testing done on your own. Also, you didn't say how old your child is either. He sounds like an amazing little boy and you are truly blessed.

Pat yourself on the back because you have done a great job even if your son is gifted or not. You have obviously taught him well and you are wonderful parent for taking such interest in your childs education. You are truly blessed. That is what gifted means to me.

Good luck

SAHM/zombie with 2 amazing and funny little boys 3.5 and #2 just turned 1 last week and walking at 7.5 months. They keep me super busy.

talk to the teacher about a GATE program or call student services at the district