[LuckyGirlx4]

Hi everyone,
I'm Krista and I've been around JM for a number of years, though not to this board. I am wondering, how do you know your child is gifted? When do you know?
My daughter Madison is 7 and entering the 2nd grade. We've home schooled until now, so we've not done any evaluations, I just taught her higher and higher levels when she had a good grasp on what we were doing. There wasn't much about her that was all that different until she was about 18 months. her speech took off around and then, and she started telling us things that had happed before she even turned 1. We were kind of freaked out, but you know, you just got with it. She's literally got a memory that just doesn't quit. I don't know if it's a photographic memory (as I have), or not, but whatever it is, she retains everything. She has also shown a great (IMO) talent with her art. She was reading and following "how to animate" type books at around 3. Another thing is, she's extremely good at math, science, reading and comprehension, but not very good at writing. She knows what she wants to say, but she gets frustrated trying to write it. She was just recently evaluated by the school at a 5th grade level in everything, but writing- that's at a 1st grade level! Madison is extremely social, very imaginative, and constantly speaks in a way that is much older than she is. So, how do I know?
FWIW, the only reason we are putting her into public school is that when homeschooling, her life ended up revolving around her sister's Dr/therapy/medication (she's disabled) schedule. I didn't want her identity to become "the well child" and she was really getting angry and resentful. She is very excited about the transition. Thankfully, the school she is in caters to each child's strengths and weaknesses; Madison's class focuses more on writing than anything else. Then she will also be apart of an accelerated reading program.

I'll be interested in your input?


ETA: Another thing! My 3 year old is doing amazingly complex puzzles! If he didn't speak so well, I'd be worried he was autistic (he's not). If he is angry or upset or anything, we just offer him a puzzle and he's good to go. He reminds me a lot of Madison in some ways. He already recognizes the alphabet by sight and sound as well.....hmmm.

My daughter Anika, I don't feel is gifted; she was just evaluated by the school and she is THANKFULLY right down the middle of typical! I'm very thankful for this, as she has a great amount of physical disability and delay.

[LuckyGirlx4]

Hmm.....a lot of people have read this, yet no one has replies. Has this group been closed to new members?

[momofemnry]

Sorry. I think it is just hard to figure out. Here are somethings I have found. I also have been told that you can just be gifted in certain areas. Oh thaere is also a difference between smart and gifted. Children who are smart learn quickly and do well in subjects children who are gifted are 2 or more grade levels ahead. I googled and just started reading.




1. Express curiosity about many things
2. Ask thoughtful questions
3. Have extensive vocabularies and use complex sentence structure
4. Are able to express themselves well
5. Solve problems in unique ways
6. Have good memories
7. Exhibit unusual talent in art, music, or creative dramatics
8. Exhibit especially original imaginations
9. Use previously learned things in new contexts
10. Are unusually able to order things in logical sequence
11. Discuss and elaborate on ideas
12. Are fast learners
13. Desire to work independently and take initiative
14. Exhibit wit and humor
15. Have sustained attention spans and are willing to persist on challenging tasks
16. Are very observant
17. Show talent in making up stories and telling them
18. Are interested in reading.

A bright child will know the answers, but a gifted child asks the questions.
Bright children are interested. Gifted children are extremely curious.
A bright child will pay attention, while a gifted one will get involved physically and mentally - often not seeming to pay attention, but taking in information anyway.
Bright kids work hard and gifted kids play around but still get good grades and test scores.
Bright children answer all the questions while gifted children question all the answers.
Bright kids have same-age peers. Gifted kids prefer adults and older kids.
A bright child memorizes easily. A gifted child is good at guessing the right answer.
A bright child learns with ease, but a gifted child gets bored because he already knew the answers.
Bright children listen well. Gifted children express strong feelings and opinions.
Bright kids are self-satisfied, but gifted kids are highly self-critical and perfectionist.

[~Trina~]

I don't know the answer to your questions...I don't know all that much about G&T kids. All I know is that my oldest daughter has always excelled in EVERYTHING and was recently invited into the G&T program at her school

[*Sharon*]

I do think that she sounds gifted. Being 7 and on a 5th grade level on most subjects is great. My dd is 6 and is working on several different levels.

[AmAnDaMo]

This is similar to what someone else posted, but it was what was given to me by dd's teacher and it really helped me understand:

http://www.bownet.org/BESGifted/brightvs.htm