How to tell if a child is gifted?

[vlim]

my ds school also has a AS gep kid and this year he is p6. I met him when I was attending the IVP presentation. He was one of the audience and he kept every bodies attention when he asked many funny questions to the student presentors. So some people might find him disturbing. So apparently, the school’s teachers are very much aware of his conditions and are accomodating well(I presume). Heard from my son he is very good in Maths.

[2ppaamm]

vlim:

2ppaamm:

[quote=\"sleepy\"]
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with school. Do you mean GEB or the school asked you consider Pathlight? I suppose implication is different here.
If suggestion comes from school and that particularly GEP school is not willing to accomodate your ds condition, possible to enlist GEB's help to transfer to another GEP school or perhaps convert him to mainstream instead of going to Pathlight?
If suggestion coming from GEB directy, then I can only say this is really disappointing, considering it's their motto to nurture exceptionally gifted children

Sleepy, your child is a GEPer so you know how precious each GEPer is. With an AS child in the class, there need to be provisions and explanations. Problems come from (1) the child - he has sensory issues, perception issues, sensitivity issues etc (2) other children - if this child is given 'special' treatment, other children would found it unfair (3) other parents - parents who get jealous if this child does better than his own child, and was also given special attention, more time to finish his papers etc, I've a few experience when parents complained about things without grounds and it took so long to rectify or prove (4) other parents - when this child throws unwanted remarks, show aggression to his child. Mind you, all kids will play aggressively in the playground, but if the AS child does it, he will surely get into trouble, because he would have done it at the wrong time, wrong place, while the non-AS child would have done the same thing at the right time, right place
(5) Non stop asking of questions disrupts the class, and therefore affects the class learning
.... many more. Since the kid creates extra work and takes up extra time FROM other kids, and all GEPers are precious, it is therefore more sensible to protect the rest of the GEPers.

The school. School needs to protect the teachers as well. They need to make sure teachers are not stressed to have to deal with the unpredictable nature of the child. Our school system works on a SYSTEM.

By recommending Pathlight, I believe the school and MOE both believe that's the best for the child. Of course, as a parent, I don't think so. But I've been told many times I'm wrong. I want to see if other parents have the same experience/knowledge of Pathlight to shed me some light.

My question is, would PM Lee send his son to Pathlight, since it is actually better catered to his son's needs, and Pathlight is meant for high functioning autism as I was told.

And, of course, if everything falls apart for the child, he still has me. I'd draft my own study and social plan for him. Ultimately, I believe as his mother, I have the ultimate responsibility for his education. It's just tougher, that's all.

but why they recommend him to pathlight instead of back to mainstream :shock: ...I think it is too fast for them to give such analysis ..my ds (gep) has a classmates who always got very low marks or fail..guess wait... maybe after some talking to between the teachers and parents..now he got the highest mark in class for one of the subject....[/quote]On the contrary, he doesn't get low marks. He topped the Maths for all the tests, except for the last exam, which he handed up empty paper. It's the AS issues, not his results.

[2ppaamm]

vlim:

my ds school also has a AS gep kid and this year he is p6. I met him when I was attending the IVP presentation. He was one of the audience and he kept every bodies attention when he asked many funny questions to the student presentors. So some people might find him disturbing. So apparently, the school's teachers are very much aware of his conditions and are accomodating well(I presume). Heard from my son he is very good in Maths.

Can PM me? Which school is this? I might want to talk to the school.

[autumnbronze]

Hi 2ppaamm,


Chanced upon your post.

I hope things work out for you and your kiddo soon

Take care and all the best.

[ksme]

2ppaamm:

ksme:

Hi 2ppaamm,

I don't know if this information helps but I read in 1 of the article on this forum \"Choosing GEP school\" that Henry Park seems to have good teachers who can help Autistic kids. The writer of the article says there were 2 autistic kids who did very well there with the teachers' help. Not sure if they can help your kid. Good luck anyway!

Thanks, will try, but MOE is also suggesting looking at Pathlight.

Hi. Here's the link for easy reference. http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/choosing-gep-school

hope things will work out for your son soon!

[ImMeeMee]

reading the posts at this thread, my heart really goes out for those who are struggling with the issues. My dd3 is autistic.


whether high- or low-functioning, it is a struggle, as we all fight so hard to find a place for them in The System.

2ppaamm, my best wishes as you continue with your fight. Keep well and dont’t give up.

[Blobbi]

Yes, all the best, 2ppaamm.


Unfortunately, it’s your instincts alone. But youve pulled through each time. You’ll do it again. Really sorry it didn’t work out with the school.

Maybe when your son is well settled in uni/gets his first job/gets married, you can sit with us to look back and heave a sigh of relief about how you made it through!

[tamarind]

2ppaamm:

ksme:

Hi 2ppaamm,

I don't know if this information helps but I read in 1 of the article on this forum \"Choosing GEP school\" that Henry Park seems to have good teachers who can help Autistic kids. The writer of the article says there were 2 autistic kids who did very well there with the teachers' help. Not sure if they can help your kid. Good luck anyway!

Thanks, will try, but MOE is also suggesting looking at Pathlight.

I don't have similar issues, but I believe that gifted kids do not need to be taught by teachers in school, they are fully capable of learning on their own. In fact, it will be much more beneficial to them if they are given the freedom to learn anything that they want to. I am curious about whether you thought about just keeping him at home instead of sending him to any school ? I don't see why MOE will not approve of you homeschooling him given his issues in school.

[2ppaamm]

tamarind:

2ppaamm:

[quote=\"ksme\"]Hi 2ppaamm,

I don't know if this information helps but I read in 1 of the article on this forum \"Choosing GEP school\" that Henry Park seems to have good teachers who can help Autistic kids. The writer of the article says there were 2 autistic kids who did very well there with the teachers' help. Not sure if they can help your kid. Good luck anyway!

Thanks, will try, but MOE is also suggesting looking at Pathlight.

I don't have similar issues, but I believe that gifted kids do not need to be taught by teachers in school, they are fully capable of learning on their own. In fact, it will be much more beneficial to them if they are given the freedom to learn anything that they want to. I am curious about whether you thought about just keeping him at home instead of sending him to any school ? I don't see why MOE will not approve of you homeschooling him given his issues in school.[/quote]tamarind, how do we handle the social and behavioral issues if homeschooled? I'm confident of the academic part but not the social skills part.

[pecalis]

2ppaamm:

tamarind, how do we handle the social and behavioral issues if homeschooled? I'm confident of the academic part but not the social skills part.

Hi 2ppaamm,
There are quite a handful of families in Singapore tt homeschool their children. Most of them are Christians and they are committed to bringing out the best in their kids. I believe they meet regularly for outings and mutual encouragement. When my children were younger, we had a playgroup whereby we meet once a week, for lessons conducted by the parents (or outing, picnic or sports), for their social development. I'm no longer with the group but I have friends who are homeschooling, even at Secondary school level. If you are interested, I can link you up with them.