How do I find out if DD (6) is G&T ?

[Feelingforty]

My DD1 is 6.5 & literally hits the floor running & has done since a baby. I've read the threads on here & ticked the boxes asking if certain things apply. Most of them do.
She bombards me with questions, talks non-stops, very determind. Dd2 is 'normal'. I am exhausted by DD1 (hence me searching). She is very well behaved at school, works well etc. Her reading progress was initially slow, but she seems to have grasped it now & she is working through the books. She always has a pen in her hand, writing, drawing.

I am wondering if I am trying to find an answer, because I thought the school might have picked up on her if she was G&T ? BUT I have just found out that her english teacher isn't aware she is left handed (gives her the right handed paper for spellings, whereas a friend in a difference class has the lefthanded paper) .

Can someone advise & or point me in the right direction please ?

[TheFallenMadonna]

G&T is a school term. And so you would find out from the school.

What is left handed paper?!

[Quattrocento]

I dunno. Is it like a left-handed screw?

[NoahAndTheWhale]

Does left handed paper have the margin on the right hand side? I know you can get left handed cheque books.

I think the top 10% of children are said to be G&T and should have work tailored to their needs. Not sure how it works out in practice though.

[Feelingforty]

the left handed paper for spellings has the spellings on the right hand side, with a space on the left, so the left handers can copy the words. At the moment, her hand covers the words (on the left) she is supposed to be copying & she writes on the right. My point is, the teacher isn't aware..whereas there is a provision for left handers.

[TheFallenMadonna]

But you've told her teacher now though?

I want a left handed ruler.

[CirrhosisByTheSea]

I'd be really concerned if a teacher didn't know my child's left or right handedness! If they don't know that, it doesn't give you any confidence that they'd pick up on something like whether she's G&T or not!!!

I think if you want to know you could ask the teacher for a meeting and discuss progress, see what they have to say. And/or get an Ed Psych report done which will highlight strengths, weaknesses and give an IQ

[LittlePushka]

Left handed paper? - FGS!

[bubblerock]

DS1 was in G&T at primary and has today been put into G&T at secondary school (yr 7) he's left handed and never had any left handed paper?!?

[TheFallenMadonna]

I'm torn on the left handed thing. I'm a leftie, and although I can see the usefulness of all this stuff (and I do really want a LH ruler), I get at my students who say they just can't do anything without the right equipment. I just feel it's best for them to learn how to use RH stuff too, as we live in a RH world, and not everywhere falls over themselves to accomodate us to the same extent that schools do.

[Feelingforty]

CirrhosisByTheSea thanks - I am so glad at least someone understood me.

For those others who seem to want to pick at the left handed paper. If you are left handed & on a weekly basis, take spellings home to copy & learning, THE SCHOOL (not me) provides this. It's not something I;m asking you lot to debate on. My point is, as her english teacher (not her form teacher), has NOT picked up her lefthandedness, then I feel she may have overlooked the potential for G&T. So I am asking..is there a some sort of government/official checklist I can look at, before I ask the school ?

Yes, she does cope & I've watched her doing it, but no-one is asking righthanders to cover their work & copy it at the same time.
PS She can use normal scissors & a normal ruler fine.

[Merrylegs]

Why do you want to find out if she is G+T? Do you think she is missing out on extra-curricular activities provided by the school because she hasn't been identified?

[NotAnOtter]

g and t is only top 10% of that particular cohort
i would not worry - means nowt anyway

[Feelingforty]

I'd like to know because it would help (me) understand her behaviour. Her DS is the complete opposite, very calm etc.

If I can understand what is going on with DD1, the whole family will benefit. If she's not G&T, then I'll have to look somewhere else.

As I've asked, is there some sort of official assesment/checklist ? - there must be one within the school, so is there one available to parents ?

[Merrylegs]

Ah, I think you are confusing the issue then.

'Gifted and Talented' is a label used by the school to identify the top 10% in that school in a particular subject so that, if the provision exists for it, they may benefit from extra learning or activities.

However, I think you may be talking about 'Gifted' as in a child with unusual or perhaps abnormal ability beyond her years. These children often seem 'at odds' with their peers?

Is that what you mean?

[CirrhosisByTheSea]

That's a very good point Feelingforty - alot of what schools do (it seems to me) is very un-transparent and we're not in on the criteria they use to judge stuff! I've just looked on my local council's website and can't find any reference to 'able child' or 'gifted and talented' on their website.

Does your dd's school have a website? It might be worth having a look on there in their policies and procedures section.

She does sound bright as a button and very hard work. the other thing that occurs to me is that really, if she's working well at school, then even if she's identified as G & T then that won't really change things for you at home. Might be worth going down the ed psych route because they may be able to suggest strategies for stimulating her at home which might stop you being so drained by her. Though have to say, unless the school refer her (doubtful if she's coping well at school) then it's £400 or £500 quid privately.

[TheresSnowDragonHere]

My gut feeling is that what you describe isn't G&T, just bright, lively and inquisitive.

[mistlethrush]

What books is she reading/what sort of number games etc does she do... this would be a much better indicator of G&T. The fact that she's always writing or drawing doesn't mean that she's G&T. Neither does the 'hitting the floor running', talking all day and always asking questions - that sounds just like my ds!

However, I do think that the Left-handed set-up for the spellings does sound a good idea.

[Feelingforty]

thanks - that's helpful. I would be happy (or DH!) to pay £400-£500 if it helped.

I've looked on the school website - nothing, the council's website & then came across this.the department for Gifted & talented children & unfortunately, I can't open the link.

One of the points made is that G&T can underachieve, which I obviously don't want to happen. And I expect I am missing out on areas..like taping into what makes her tick. She bright, lively, inquistive, she is also sensitive, articulate, has an excellent memory, determind...it's a bit like a forklift truck banging at my door every morning ! Someone has suggested extra sensory...which I will google in a mo...

FWIW, my other DD had a hearing problem. I went to the HV, got on to the wait list for audiology, who confirmed it, then SALT. And now she is speaking very well (in a year) (no grommets, we took her off dairy, which cleared her blockages.)
My point is, I am SURE DD would be SO much happier & I would too!. I just need to know how.
Thanks

[CirrhosisByTheSea]

I've opened the document - here is the info that might help on what they are seeing as G & T kids:

General characteristics of gifted
and talented learners
The following characteristics (taken from the 1998
Ofsted review of research by Joan Freeman) are not
necessarily proof of high ability but they may alert
teachers to the need to enquire further into an
individual?s learning patterns and ability levels.
He or she may:
l be a good reader;
l be very articulate or verbally fluent for their age;
l give quick verbal responses (which can
appear cheeky);
l have a wide general knowledge;
l learn quickly;
l be interested in topics which one might
associate with an older child;
l communicate well with adults ? often better
than with their peer group;
l have a range of interests, some of which are
almost obsessions;
l show unusual and original responses to
problem-solving activities;
l prefer verbal to written activities;
l be logical;
l be self-taught in his/her own interest areas;
l have an ability to work things out in his/her
head very quickly;
l have a good memory that s/he can access easily;
l be artistic;
l be musical;
l excel at sport;
l have strong views and opinions;
l have a lively and original imagination/sense
of humour;
l be very sensitive and aware;
l focus on his/her own interests rather than on
what is being taught;
l be socially adept;
l appear arrogant or socially inept;
l be easily bored by what they perceive as
routine tasks;
l show a strong sense of leadership; and/or
l not necessarily appear to be well-behaved or
well liked by others.

I will post again in a sec, as there was also a bit on tools for teachers to use to identify kids

[CirrhosisByTheSea]

here is the other bit:

Identification methods
Schools have the discretion to decide how best to
identify their gifted and talented pupils but are
likely to obtain the best results by drawing on a
wide range of information sources, including both
qualitative and quantitative information. A range of
popular methods for identification are listed below.
1 Teacher/staff nomination
2 Checklists
3 Testing- achievement, potential and
curriculum ability
4 Assessment of children's work
5 Peer nomination
6 Parental information
7 Discussions with children/young people
8 Using community resources

[Flightattendant]

Feelingforty, she sounds similar to ds who is the same age.

School hasn't picked up on anything but the other day he was given the WRIT assessment by a specialist teacher (we know privately, but you should be able to find one locally)

it costs about £40 I think

it takes an hour and a half or so

gives a broad picture of intelligence etc plus any problems

I did it because I was worried about ds' literacy, he seems v bright but struggles with that. Turns out he has possibly 'moderate dyslexia' but with an atypical profile ie he can do most things someone with dyslexia shouldn't be able to so it may just be immaturity

she found he is on 98th/99th percentile of iQ/cognitive ability (shocked by that but useful to know!)

tbh I think school thinks he's quite dim, but he definitely isn't. You could try and get someone to do this, it has certainly given me a bit of a hand in understanding him. I am the sort of parent who wishes each child came with a detailed manual but as that's not the case, this kind of thing is next best iyswim!

Am just going to inform school and show them the report, they need to work with his abilities and not label him. I think this will help.

[Feelingforty]

thank you - she is ticking 20 of those of those boxes...It would be helpful to know what the contents of the teachers checklists, I wonder if they differ from school to school.

I've now rung the school & asked for a meeting with her teacher.

Interestingly my neighbours daughter has just been put on the G&T list at age 11. She went to the same school as DD1 & wasn't recognised there.

Thanks for putting the list on. It's a great idea, in case others are interested.

[overthemill]

just had my dc diagnosed with mild dyslexia after years of asking about it (now yr 9). he had iq test at same time and is really really high iq. kind of expected this as he is really high achiever in all but written stuff/english. now he has been G&T across teh board (previously for 3 subjects, older sister is G&T for 5 subjects, younger sister who is just as frighteningly bright as the other 2 G&T in zilch!!?) he is astonishingly quick at all learning - way off any scale i can think of (and quite scary for a parent ifswim). this helps him and us as we can see what support he needs and what support school can give - his disruptive behaviour is a sign taht he needs additional support. helps me so much and now not so cross with him

[DunderMifflin]

My DD's on the G&T register at her school but there's certainly no extra resources or lessons, etc provided for her - I thought it was just another measure to check schools were monitoring all pupils.

Actually, I've just remembered that we were told she could go for extra lessons on a Saturday morning -

[Romanarama]

Those questions are too subjective imo. My ds1 (7.5) is quite obviously 'g&t' though that doesn't exist as a concept in the French school that he's in. My approach is to feed his reading habit and talk to him a lot. We do a lot of quiz games that are about general knowledge or verbal reasoning. He is very happy, doing great at school, and I don't want him to go to Cambridge to do a PhD at 14 so hope it doesn't go any further.

Give your dd loads to read, including science-type books for her general knowledge. Engage her in conversation even if you're exhausted by it. See whether there are extra-curricular activities that will captivate her too and use some mental energy. Tbh reading is the main thing they do at school at that age, so if she was slow to get going at that, that's probably why she's not on a g&t list.