We didn’t grow up in the US, so we don’t really know much about the gifted programs. She has scored 99 in CogAT, and 96.5 in ITBS, so she qualifies to the HAG program in NC. We can either switch to a different school that has the HAG curriculum, or keep her in the current school under the next lower level curriculum (AIG). The school says their AIG program is excellent, and that many HAG students have opted to stay in the school’s AIG program.
I want to do what is best for her social, emotional, and academic growth, so please share your experience/horror stories/success stories with the gifted programs, and your advice on which one to choose.
She’s an only child and a bit naive, if that matters.
I was identified as “gifted” in elementary school and was offered to participate in the 4th/5th grade split class. It was an accelerated program where we got to do all kinds of interesting science experiments, read harder and more interesting books, and learn math at a much faster pace than the other classes. I really loved it. The math was super interesting and all my friends were there. If your kiddo is interested in the class and gets along with the other students, I think she’ll do great.
As stated in other answers, the curriculum is significantly less important than your parental involvement. Ask her often what SHE likes most about the program (writing, math, the humanities) and listen, then encourage extracurriculars that conform to those interests.
What I DON’T see mentioned in the comments, though, is the fact that a “gifted” student is a “special needs” student. If your little kiddo is constantly around people that tell her she’s “smart” and “full of potential”, (statements that are undoubtedly true given your circumstances) her expectations of herself will be much higher than those of her “non-gifted” peers. Fulfilling these expectations will take a long time through school, college, and career. In this time, the assurances of her intelligence will seem to ring hollow as the inevitabilities of life take their toll on her development. Even more important than fostering her intellect is fostering her patience with herself. Your kiddo has to understand that it’s okay and natural to fail; and that smart people fail A LOT. “Gifted” students that never learned this lesson tend to burnout pretty early in life.
Anyway, thats enough from me. You’re on the right track in my opinion. Everyone else’s comments have been spot on and I wish I would’ve read this forum post when I was 11.
All the best to you and your kiddo
This.
Gifted is special needs, and one can burn out very easily pretty young.
Also, its really important to actually teach them how to study and work. And just… normal functioning in general. (It doesn’t have to come from education specifically, but there needs to be some outlet where they need to be able to apply themselves with some good hard work, research, etc)
When you can do stuff well, you can often avoid learning normal healthy habits and pacing, (because you don’t HAVE to) and it can wind up causing and/or masking other issues.
I literally didn’t know how to do anything like that until I skipped grades and started college early. And I still just kinda winged it until my junior year.
Compare that to how your average person has to actually put some kind of effort into school from at least the third grade or so. Learning that level of regular discipline is good for you.
Not that I didn’t work hard, but it was more of “gotta make the big thing happen right now!” crunch time. Which isn’t healthy.