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.
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.