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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

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Original poster

How do you...and who defines G&T?

17 replies

Dingle · 13/02/2008 22:33

Got back from the Junior School Parents Evening tonight and I am so proud of DS!! He is the baby of Y4 (30.Aug) and not only is he keeping up with his peers but seems to be up at the top of the class. He has a reading age of 13.3 and graded as 4C for his numeracy amongst other things. (On our last parents eve in September his reading age was 11 which I was very pleased with.)

I am wondering if I need to be doing anything more for him particuarly as my 6 yr old DD has Down Syndrome and unfortunately takes up nearly all my time and energy. Poor DS often gets left to his own devices until DD has been put to bed!!!

Some of his homework is still so basic, especially his numeracy.

Any advice would be much appreciated as I want to try to encourage and help BOTH my children get the best out their education rather than let my DS constantly be overshadowed by his sister and her needs!

OP posts:

Heated · 13/02/2008 22:39

You're obviously doing a great job . Where I work (secondary) g&t is more a label and a mental aide memoir to keep an eye on progress & to stretch them, which is what it already sounds as if his school are doing. I would keep going as you are & certainly keep encouraging the reading & be gently encouraging on the maths.

Do you already know which secondary school he'll be attending?

Original poster

Dingle · 13/02/2008 22:46

Thank you- I don't want to pressure him and try so hard to help him but quality time is so precious due to DD.

His teacher mentioned Grammar school this
evening, but I don't want to raise my expectations to high- this year only 7 children in his school qualified - not sure if that is about average or not! But that seems so far away before we will know anyway.

I always knew he was doing OK, but it sort of came as a bit of a shock to have it "measured out" IYKWIM. For the last 3 years all my energy has been absorbed by fighting the LEA and getting DD statemented and supported in MS and I suppose I feel guilty that I am letting DS down!

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Heated · 13/02/2008 22:52

If you want him to try for grammar, he'll need to improve his maths. The English test is often verbal reasoning. Worth checking out ahead of time what the tests consist of to see if they are within his range. All of the boys at the grammar achieve level 5 in the SATs for Maths. A lot are coached to pass these days. Your ds sounds naturally bright and sure to succeed wherever he goes.

Original poster

Dingle · 13/02/2008 22:57

Sorry Heated, is that level 5 on the same grading lines as his current 4C?

...and when would the 11+ be taken, is it in Y6?

I want to give him all the best chances of Grammar as possible I suppose- is that so wrong?

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Christywhisty · 13/02/2008 23:05

Think you misread Dingles post Heated. Her DS is already 4c in year 4 so he has 2 years to get to level 5 in Year 6.

Heated · 13/02/2008 23:09

We get the raw scores and the level through at our secondary school but they are all somewhere in the level 5 band for Maths (can be lower for English) which is sat in year 6. The 11+ is a different kind of test and it can depend on how selective your local grammar is, some take the top 11%, some the top 25%. Depends on what area you're in.

It is a long way off and tbh I would keep doing as you are, as he is clearly thriving on it.

Original poster

Dingle · 13/02/2008 23:14

Thank you- I just went into panic mode thinking I was letting him down in some way!

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avenanap · 13/02/2008 23:29

My ds was level 3 in all sats at 7, in september I was told he was level 4 (he's 8). I don't particularly care about the sats. All I know is that it's not normal for a 5 year old to know about Newtons law's, or at 8 to want to do nuclear physics, atomic theory or philosophy. I don't mind that he's read 9,000 books, all of them 4 years + where he should be, most of them adult books, in 4 years and that he has adult conversations with vocabulary that I have never heard anyone use because it's so advanced. I don't mind that he's obnoxious and asks so many questions about the world and the people in it that I go to bed exhausted. I wouldn't mind if he watched a runner and didn't say anything, he has to work out their speed, the muscles they are using in their leg and relate all of this to yet another of newtons theories. I don't mind if he wants to work out what 296 squared is in his head. Sats don't tell you everything about a child's potential, it can be obvious by how they talk to you and what they are interested in. It doesn't matter if they are gifted or not. They are still lovely. Each child brings something beautiful to our lives, a hello from one child may be their best ever achievement. We should love and treat them all the same and not expect too much. Blame the wine!

seeker · 13/02/2008 23:31

My dd's at grammar school and she didn't get a 5 for maths! I think it depends what area you're in.

Anyway, Dingle, I don't think you need worry about him getting a 5 in year 6 if he's a 4c in year 4.

If you're in an 11+ area, think about getting some practice papers to do occasionally during year 5, and maybe a bit more intensively during the summer before year 6. But that's miles away!

BigPantsRule · 14/02/2008 00:06

Dingle,

Check out www.elevenplusexams.co.uk - you should be able to find out all you need to know about the 11+ for your area here. It's never to early to start finding out about how it all works and what type of tests will be set. Some areas hold the exams early in Y6 so any preparation needs to be done in Y5.

violetskies · 14/02/2008 00:33

DD is at a Grammar school and she scored 5a in English and 6b in Maths and science.

Original poster

Dingle · 14/02/2008 09:39

Thank you for the advice everyone. I don't want to put any pressure on him but it's obvious that one sheet of numeracy homework colouring in odds and even numbers is not exactly stretching him!

Off to check out that link- Thanks again!

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Hallgerda · 14/02/2008 09:46

Dingle, you may have been helping your son more than you think by leaving him to his own devices. Nothing wrong with an opportunity to develop personal responsibility and independence skills - many children don't get nearly enough of that.

On the grammar school point, look at the websites for your local ones and check what they test. Consider whether you actually like the look of any of them sufficiently to want to send your son there. See what he thinks about the idea. I think Year 4's a bit early to start on practice tests, but you might want to iron out any obvious problems. You might also want to have a look at some Maths practice papers to see whether there's lots of material, or just a few subject areas, that he hasn't covered yet.

BigPantsRule · 14/02/2008 12:05

"one sheet of numeracy homework colouring in odds and even numbers" - OMG I remember that one!

DD2 is not being stretched homework-wise in Y5, either, but it gives us more time to do 11+ prep to enable her to go somewhere where I know she will be challenged. I also have a lot of confidence in the Y6 teacher to get the best out of her so am not too bothered at the moment.

It's worth checking exactly what the 11+ for your area consists of, though, as the exam varies from region to region. For example, some people spend time and money on practice papers for English and Maths, only to find out later that the exam format is Verbal Reasoning only.

Remotew · 14/02/2008 22:29

If the school has a G&T policy, not all do, they will tell you if he is on the list. Sounds like he is bright as a button. Just continue to take an interest and perhaps give him more challenging books to read at home.

Bear in mind the grammer school route for his secondary. Sounds like he will probably meet the criteria. Its nice to know that isnt it?

Original poster

Dingle · 17/02/2008 07:51

Thank you everyone....I told DS not to brag about it (there are some right ruffians in his year and I was frightened it was be used against him) but he came home on Friday telling us what happened during assembly!

At the end of assembly the Head Teacher asks if any of the other teachers have anything to say. DS's teacher stands up at admits that she is showing off and that one of her pupils has the reading age of a 13 yr old..THEN calls little DS up in front of the whole school!! LOL. So much for me suggesting he doesn't brag!

I will look a bit more into the type of selection process for grammar school and in the meantime I will work through some KS2 books with him- it will hopefully give us both some much needed time together too.

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BigPantsRule · 17/02/2008 13:20

Good luck, Dingle - sounds as though you have a little star there!

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