How to tell if a child is gifted?

[joylly]

The truth is, my son, learns his music pieces very fast and he does understand all the nuances of the music. The no. of beats in a bar, the cadences and accompaniments, he composes too ! All while doing his Yamaha JMC and JXC !


However, his recent teacher told me otherwise ! That he dont have any natural rhythms in him etc etc etc …

Its really very disheartening …

[2ppaamm]

joylly:

In fact I have also heard of people who gave up while in Grade 5, cause its really not easy. Most people do ! Give up ! It's a real waste after having spent so long to go thru the the initial grades.

How long does yr son takes to finish Grade 8 ?

Truthfully speaking I'm still searching for the \"truth\" out there of children learning music. Ppl who stops, ppl who starts and end ( like you ) and also stories of piano teachers throwing the music pieces on the floor and like my son's present Yamaha teacher, she scolds the class every Friday ! sigh ..... even though she dont scold my son, but its all the negative vibes he receives as a bystander for the last 2 yrs ! sigh ......

You could say I'm a bit apprehensive whether my son will finish til Grade 8, even though i want him to. And also whether he could handle the exams + his own school exams when he's in P3 - P6.

Hi,

DS1 took 3.5 years from Grade 1 to 8. DD1 took 4 years, DD2 took 3 years, DS2 took 3 years. So it really depends. But amongst the 4, DS1 I think is the most natural, DD1 is the 'stonest' DD2 flows and loves music the most, DS2 is the most gifted generally. So, I guess they are all different. And, we did not skip any grade, they just did more than a grade a year.

Grade 5 is just a number, I don't really care, and no grade should be a road block. If there's one road block, it's in the mind, so we must make up our minds and just go for it. Nobody should set any artificial barrier. Some people tell me the hands will be too small, some say theory is the barrier. Hehe... I'm blind to all these things, I just don't tell the kids there's such a thing, I just keep telling them they can do it.

Grade 8 is no big deal. It is again just another number to me. But I set that as a contractual goal. It can be any grade. Point is, since we managed to find a good platform, I use it as a form of inculcating discipline and a sense of achievement for the kids. It is always wonderful to be the highest grade in primary school, be able to perform, and be known for something special. It serves a good boost for the self esteem, other than that, it really serves no other purpose.

If my teacher throws my kids' pieces on the floor, I'd probably walk out of the class immediately. I think it just doesn't make sense. How can a child learn under such stress and with so much anxiety? I know some really good teachers who are anxious for results, but sorry, that's not my cup of tea. I'd rather them have a long love affair with music, than to achieve short term goals. But if they can do well in exams, then I'd support that wholeheartedly, but it should not be a do-or-die thingy.

Should you bother whether the child can finish grade 8 or not? Why not set the goal together. If that's what he wants, guide him there. If that's not what he wants, then look for something that he wants. Won't the journey be a lot happier?

Just my 2 cents' worth. Again, I'm an old mother, so I'm a lot more relaxed when it comes to these things. :lol:

[phankao]

2ppaamm:

Grade 8 is no big deal. It is again just another number to me. :

Actually i find that real enjoyment and progress comes AFTER grade 8.

[2ppaamm]

phankao:

2ppaamm:

Grade 8 is no big deal. It is again just another number to me. :

Actually i find that real enjoyment and progress comes AFTER grade 8.

That's so true. Grade 8 is just a platform. After grade 8, it is not about obligation but about enjoyment. After grade 8, I did not bother to ask them to go for classes. So my son actually went and ask the teacher to teach him free-of-charge. I was paiseh, so decided to let him pursue the diploma. Diploma or not, after grade 8 is when you see if the years of hardwork has resulted to something or not.

Also, I find it strange why many students stop playing when exams are near, or stop completely when PSLE is around the corner. I thought music is a form of enjoyment... If daily commitment is required, then daily commitment is required regardless of exams. So therefore, homework or exams is never quite a thought in my mind. There's time for study, and a time for music, a time for sports and a time for relaxation. I guess balance and planning is what I hope to achieve with the kids.

[Chirunner]

sunshine05:

Or anyone has any idea to get the IQ test done? :roll:

You can go to a private psychologist to do the Weshchler WISC-IV test. Think it's about $400. I don't know what range of IQ qualifies as exceptionally gifted for MOE to allow early entry to P1, but I'm pretty sure it has to be at least 150. There's a psychologist at Kids Testing n Dyslexia who administers this test.

[Happy Mama]

2ppaamm:

Nowadays, I've stopped telling school authorities about what my children can do. When DS2 was P2, he was bored stiff with the \"_x_ = to what?\" in class because he knew that. So he was a major source of problem to the teacher when he will blah out his answers and not his teacher a chance to teach.


So, I spoke with the teachers and principal about giving him other work, because he is fast. I'd even prepare them, and they can give them to him after he has finished the class work so that he is not bored. Their remark, \"O, we have much smarter students here before, and your child is definitely not the most gifted in this school.\" But, I did not say he is the smartest or that he is gifted, I was trying to solve a behavioral problem, and it did not even matter if he was gifted or not.

Of course, when DS1 started university at 14, I got the harshest remarks ever, from teachers, principals, educators, parents, coaches and even the ministry.

Here's an article about how some students who are different can be misunderstood, and how we can help.

http://www.dukegiftedletter.com/articles/vol7no2_ee.html

Uni at the age of 14 is IMPRESSIVE!!! :celebrate:

[2ppaamm]

Happy Mama:

Uni at the age of 14 is IMPRESSIVE!!! :celebrate:

Ha ha.. not sure impressive or not. Just like any child, going to university at whichever age, the child has his strengths and weaknesses. I guess, as parents, our tasks is to match their strengths with opportunities and help them overcome their weaknesses.

Always tough being a parent and we'll never know if we are doing the right thing or not... perhaps only on our dying bed?

Thanks for thinking my children are impressive. That gives a lot of encouragement and assurance! :celebrate:

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm:

Thanks for thinking my children are impressive. That gives a lot of encouragement and assurance! :celebrate:

Of course they are. They don't do things that regular kids do...

[Happy Mama]

2ppaamm:

Happy Mama:

[Uni at the age of 14 is IMPRESSIVE!!! :celebrate:

Ha ha.. not sure impressive or not. Just like any child, going to university at whichever age, the child has his strengths and weaknesses. I guess, as parents, our tasks is to match their strengths with opportunities and help them overcome their weaknesses.

Always tough being a parent and we'll never know if we are doing the right thing or not... perhaps only on our dying bed?

Thanks for thinking my children are impressive. That gives a lot of encouragement and assurance! :celebrate:

You are just being sooooooooo humble

[adbie]

Parents of gifted children, you may be interested in the advice from a truly gifted child prodigy from Australia, Terence Tao.


He's now a grown up and has won the Fields Medal, which is the top honour for a mathematician. Some consider the Fields Medal even more prestigious than the Nobel Prize.

http://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/advice-on-gifted-education/