How to tell if a child is gifted?
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Pen88n:
My kids doesn't like Charlotte's web either. My gal prefers Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - she has re-read that book at least 3 times.[/quote]Doesn't matter. There's lots of things to read, whether literature text or otherwise. So long as they enjoy what they're reading and learn something in the process, it's fine.
No, during my daughter's time. There weren't such thing as GEP, or even Normal / Express during my time.rosemummy:
[quote=\"kabalevsky\"]rosemummy, you from GEP last time? that was your P4 text?
deardear, we all watched the show together on TV before, and I've read the book last time (the book that's on the bookshelf is mine), but they are not interested lei. but it's ok la, that's just them.
i asked cos different mommies have mentioned this in particular in different threads in different contexts, so was curious.
Charlotte's Web is a very good children literature text, particularly for the value it espouses. -
rosemummy, i see, so it's your girl.
and, good quote from mt 16:26 and ya, the friendship is really touching in that book.
pen88n, my boys, err, bit off topic, but they love captain underpants and will laugh till they literally roll on the floor and have tears in their eyes clutching each other kind... that's something they reread countless times but not something that's so heartwarming like charlotte's web so i hardly mention this fact, lol. -
rosemummy:
Totally agreed. I've seen kids in GEP who are most probably high ability but end up being labelled gifted due to parent's \"pushing\" / \"drilling\" into GEP. These kids are miserable there, and lost the interest for learning. If they had been in the mainstream, they would have been having an easy time coping with school work, happier, and have much more self-confident. Being top in mainstream would have boosted their ego and make them feel more self-worth, compared with being at GEP where they are constantly at the bottom of the cohort and struggling.
:goodpost:2ppaamm:
I gave the 'IQ' info in my previous posts as-a-matter-of factly to anyone needing such advice. However... here's my personal take.
My kids are now much older, and I have one who is already graduating from uni, and one starting uni in a few days. Having journeyed this far, I have come to learn that giftedness means very little in real life. Those IQ tests are academic and I had to do some to help my younger son who was misdiagnosed for ASD. Fortunately, my older kids are really nice people and that really warms my heart everyday. And because they are my older kids, I had no clue how to raise them 'properly' like many great mothers here.
It was never important whether they were gifted or not, my job was always to help them discover their passions and steer them to the path that will realize their dreams. To some extent, I feel good looking at them, not because some people call them geniuses, but because they are respectful to me, and they volunteer to iron the cloths and cook a dish or two whenever I am tired. I am proud that they will train hard in their sports despite the fatigue and that they volunteer to train the younger kids. They are ordinary and sweet.
I remember how the journey was when they were young. Some told me my kids will be useless, some told me they will be somebody one day. I only knew, just like other kids, they are unique. I did not look for gifted classes to send them to, or even think they are gifted.
Now 17 and 15, I believe they are sensible and matured and most of all, know what they want and what they want to pursue. If you ask me, I believe that's the difference between my children and many of their peers. Someone once told me the earlier a person finds his calling, the more successful he will be.
I have another three more to go. I know some of my kids are more gifted than their siblings, but I raise them the same way. We have the same fun, they attend the same classes, have the same food, love the same silly jokes. My job is the same, help them find that special passion, and then find that path that will help that passion blossom. Job of a mother, to a gifted kid or not, it is more or less the same.
If the child is gifted and we can find the correct help, use that resource. I did not seek any help for my older kids. For the younger ones, I had a lot of offer for help. Unfortunately, sometimes I wished I had raised them more normally like the older ones. I already had a system in place and all these sophisticated 'help' messed up my simple process. I have learnt no one knows my kids better.
The best enrichment for a child, gifted or not, is the same. The opportunities to find his capabilities, love, friends and passion. Time to develop those. Only parents can offer that kind of enrichment. No enrichment centre, no elite IQ club can. The focus groups make our hearts grow stronger by telling us we are not alone in this journey. Ultimately, the journey still has to be traveled by ourselves, most of the time on foot. If we are fortunate, a donkey comes along and we ride on it a little while, knowing we have to be on foot again. I guess our job as mothers is to keep looking out for donkeys (coaches, teachers, friends, opportunities) and never forgetting we are the real riders together with the kids.
IQ is no guarantee of success or happiness. And what's the point even if they can gain the whole world but lose their soul? It's more important that we raise children who are happy, grounded and who can find joy in loving and giving. -
rosemummy:
really? cos they learn lots of boogie jokes, and toilet humour and start doing lots of rubbish things for a few weeks after each reread of Cpt underpants...
Doesn't matter. There's lots of things to read, whether literature text or otherwise. So long as they enjoy what they're reading and learn something in the process, it's fine. -
Charlotte’s web is my younger son’s English text in P4 (GEP) last year. He loves all books, finishes any book in one seating including self-help books and business books. I still do not know which book he doesn’t ever like.
My daughter loved the Chronicles of Narnia and finished the whole series when she was 4. Try those out. She could still remember the story when the movie came. This daughter is so strange, she finished boring university text books when she was eleven, when i didn’t even managed to finish them.
Some kids love to read so much it is strange what they read. Comics is just as interesting as journals. I find this so weird but I buy comics as much as bring journals home. I have the whole series of Captain underpants and access to all HBR. I have never managed to read a single edition of HBR, but my kids did. Kids are so strange. -
kabalevsky:
If what they're learning is negative, then I guess you have to control them a little. :lol:
really? cos they learn lots of boogie jokes, and toilet humour and start doing lots of rubbish things for a few weeks after each reread of Cpt underpants...rosemummy:
Doesn't matter. There's lots of things to read, whether literature text or otherwise. So long as they enjoy what they're reading and learn something in the process, it's fine. -
2ppaamm:
:hi5: My daughter was reading a lot of law books when she was that age. It was :oops: when she once went up to 1 of our church friend who wrote 1 of the article she read to talk about what he wrote.Charlotte's web is my younger son's English text in P4 (GEP) last year. He loves all books, finishes any book in one seating including self-help books and business books. I still do not know which book he doesn't ever like.
My daughter loved the Chronicles of Narnia and finished the whole series when she was 4. Try those out. She could still remember the story when the movie came. This daughter is so strange, she finished boring university text books when she was eleven, when i didn't even managed to finish them.
Some kids love to read so much it is strange what they read. Comics is just as interesting as journals. I find this so weird but I comics as much as bringing journals home. -
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Pen88n:
Can't agree more. Our GEP should be renamed to HAP. High Ability Program. Mentality of educators and parents and children seem to be more HA than GE.
Totally agreed. I've seen kids in GEP who are most probably high ability but end up being labelled gifted due to parent's \"pushing\" / \"drilling\" into GEP. These kids are miserable there, and lost the interest for learning. If they had been in the mainstream, they would have been having an easy time coping with school work, happier, and have much more self-confident. Being top in mainstream would have boosted their ego and make them feel more self-worth, compared with being at GEP where they are constantly at the bottom of the cohort and struggling.
HA is great too! And, the whole GE class going for some kind of tuition, making my son the only one who needs teacher to teach, others already know. And all of the parents send their kids for tuition for the same reason: \"my kids love the program there. \" What a strange world! :? -
what’s hbr, 2ppaam?
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