really confused and a bit anxious

[singarainbow]

Hi,
My DD is above average, I wouldn't say she was in the G&T group, but she copes well at school. Our school doesn't do the G&T register, I only know this as a child from another school was on the G&T register at her old school and the mum was constantly moaning at me how they don't do it at our school.

Today DD came home with an invite given to her to attend a 2 day event for G&T kids to attend with a parent, making a bloody eiffel tower, and then some people talk to the parents about bringing out the best in your child.
I have 2 issues,

1. I had no idea that the school gets involved in anything like this, and although I knew she was doing ok, I didn't think we had to do anything different with her.
2. I am NOT G&T and apart from the fact I hate junk modelling, I am crap at it, as is DD!

So, do we go, or do we just file it away in the bin? any advice?

it is more than just junk modelling! i am sure they can bring a lot out of it in say engineering, maths, design, persistence, testing strategies, lateral thinking etc. it may be worth going for the talk bit and putting up with the "junk modelling" part. you may be pleasantly surprised or bored to tears

Sounds like you've made up your mind pretty quickly.

What do you have against "doing anything different" or hearing professionals discuss "bringing out the best in your child"? Nothing to lose by going along, surely?

I don't have any thing against it, it was just completely out of the blue. I suppose with the whole G&T label I feel that we must do more at home to stretch her, that yesterday when we didn't know this we thought we were doing ok, and now suddenly I feel a bit of pressure, iykwim.
As for the professional discussion, I never thought she was G&T, so it all feels a bit weird.
And I am still terrified of making stuff!

I'm sure my Eiffel Tower would be rubbish too :o

Totally agree with Susan, there will be a lot more to it than that. Ds hates arty stuff but has been on a masterclass for technology which was all about drawing etc but he loved it! Tbh I don't think it matters if you're rubbish at junk modelling, you could just use 'the making bit' to spend a bit of 1-1 time with dd & treat that bit as a laugh.

Having said all that, are you actually more 'confused & anxious' about just discovering dd is g&t (equivalent)? How old is she? Do you know her national curriculum levels? You mention not realising that you should be doing anything different with her. Well, tbh, even if she is 'gifted' it doesn't necessarily mean you have to be doing anything different with her, as long as school is giving her appropriate differentiated work, then theres no reason to do more at home, above & beyond homework, reading etc. So don't feel bad or anxious. Be happy that your dd is doing well & that the school has recognised this! And if you're still confused talk to her teacher! There are probably more things you could be doing to extend if you want to (start another thread if you want ideas,) but again tbh, the same is true for every child, whether they're high achieving or underachieving or somewhere in the middle.

Thanks all. I am anxious and confused about discovering that the school thinks she is good enough to be put forward for this, as they have never done anything like it before, even with the kids who are obviously exceptional. Also that I feel we may have been "doing her a disservice" so far in not seeing this.
She is 8, and in year 4.

You shouldn't feel like you're doing her a disservice, as a parent I'm sure you have always tried to do your best by your dd.

If she's shown an interest in something have you not bought (or borrowed,) books about it for her, or if she's asked you questions have you tried to tell her or help her find out the answers, have you taken her to museums and/or castles or for walks in the park? If you've done the best & tried to do some of these kind of things with her then have you really been doing her a disservice?

What else would you have done differently if you knew she was g&t (equivalent)? I don't do anything other than this with my dcs. If my dcs are curious about something I try & help them find out more about it, & show them the different ways to find out information, (Internet, library, encyclopaedias, museums etc) and I did the same before I knew they where g&t (dd is in yr 1 & she got added to g&t list for a few subjects at the end of last half term).

It could well be that while that other child was on the G&T register at their other school they're not actually on the register at this one.

There's a mum I know who's just moved her DD to another school as the first school had her G&T for maths, the mum felt they then weren't stretching her enough or doing enough extra things with her - but now she's moved her, she's not on the register at the new school.

they probably just got the info through and so passed it on to any child who more or less fitted the bill. schools usually discover an interest in more able children (and looking as though they are catering for their needs) when they suspect an ofsted inspection in the next year.

it may be that they do not offer anything in school for more able children - this sounds as though it is being run externally?

we used to get invites to nagc things passed on. it's an easy way for the school to tick some boxes without outting in too much effort.

it's good though. honestly. but it doesn't mean you need to do anything different - go if you want to, don't if you don't fancy it. we didn't ever go to any of the workshops or anything, not for any specific reason, just had other stuff on or whatever. school won't even notice or care

send her dad with her if you don't fancy it? or have a day trip instead to make you feel less guilty.