About the kid (RL filter)
My son, it turns out, is off the map in some IQ levels. Like, 70th to 89th percentile in language and perceptive tests. The psychologist read one sentence that he’d written, aloud in tones of reverence and awe.
Unfortunately, this means he disqualifies for learning-disabled help.
I STILL cannot tell what difference high IQ makes, when the kid is getting failing grades in his academic classes. As far as I can see, too high an IQ is a god damned disability.
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There is ONE condition that qualifies under the American disabilities act, and only ONE, that does not qualify as a “learning disability”- and that is what I have: ADHD.
I was horrifically bored in school, and despite having an extremely high IQ, I detested the hoops and busy work that public school required of me. A bored ADD kid is literally unable to function, because they are so understimulated.
So I skated on tests, eschewed busy work, and had a terrible GPA freshman year, until I tested into the Running Start program and was allowed to go to college early.
Life saver.
The ADD didn’t get diagnosed until I was an adult- but it sure would have been nice to know earlier.
They tested for ADD as well, and nope.
I DON’T GET IT!
They made all sorts of lovely noises about “Square pegs in Round Holes” and Einstein sucking in school too, and his brilliant conversation and high self-esteem. They were very sweet about it. I got the same back in my day. it did me no good either.
Our next door neighbour works as a tutor– I wish I’d known this a year ago– and Wolfie likes this guy very much. We are waiting for said neighbour to get back in town, and we’ll see if he can make any difference.
And yeah– we are looking into early college entrance, at a visual arts college specifically. And we will see if we can’t find him an internship in a small animation studio.
yay for you and Running Start!
As far as I can see, too high an IQ is a god damned disability.
It can be! On the other hand, if the work ever gets interesting enough to make him want to do it, a bright kid can catch up what he missed in the past. (A slower kid who can’t do that is pretty much doomed to go on failing unless there’s amazing help on offer.)
My 12 year old has some of the same traits but things have been a lot easier since he went up to big school and found the work more interesting. Not fixed–we still have regular dealings with the school ‘behaviour management’ systems–but much, much better.
It also helps that his new school knows the difference between clever kids and kids who do exactly as instructed. Many schools don’t.
check out the link in the comment below!
We use these criteria where I work (I head up the team who deal with our 17/18yr olds)
Scroll down for the box about high aciever, gifted learner and creative thinker.
link to bertiekingore.com
Wow, thank you! That jives awfully well with the kid– that creative thinker profile. I’m going to spend some time looking at that site, I’m really grateful to you *kiss*
Very helpful info – thank you!
I am not sure how old your son is, but my youngest was also found to have an exceptionally high IQ at age four. But she could not do the simplest of things in the classroom and was falling behind, even at kindergarten level. Having been born with craniosynostosis (fusion of the plates in her head) we suspected there might be more going on. We had her evaluated at age seven, day long neuro-psychological testing as well as an MRI on her brain. Her brain was fine though a bit lopsided, but the real culprit was teased out with the testing. She was found to have short term memory problems (which accounted for her distractibility as well as reading comprehension) and executive reasoning problems (which covered the math issues). She now has an IEP in place and will be protected throughout her schooling.
My oldest son was also off the charts bright, with no other problems. It turned out his problems in school were boredom.
In Florida, too high an IQ is also considered exceptional.
Sorry for poking my nose it, hope I didn’t offend you.
Oh, no offense! I really appreciate hearing other people’s stories.
How is your girl doing now? What sorts of coping skills have you guys learned– if you don’t mind me poking my nose in…
My son is planning to take the highschool equivalncy test, which happens in October. This means he’ll have to be in classes for a month– and I’m hoping that, with the tutoring he gets this summer, from a very sympathetic young neighbor of ours who just so happens to have the credentials– he might find himself willing to stay in school after all.
Otherwise, I’m enquiring into early entrance into an arts college here. maybe he can take a few classes per semester, while he works a part time job…
My son dropped out of high school his senior year, bored mostly. Aced his high school equivalency test the next week then spent two years playing video games before suddenly deciding to go to college. He is making straight A’s and doing fine.
My youngest is in inclusion classes, we squeaked by her passing her third grade FCAT (a test you have to pass in Florida to be promoted). She is going into 5th and will stay in inclusion classes. I am going to put her in a charter school of the arts for middle and high school, where she can have a more creative approach to learning.
The middle child just graduated 4th in her class, and will start college in the Fall with half her freshman classes completed. Full scholarships, the works.
Someone once told me that the people who know the least about child rearing are not the ones with no kids, but the ones with only one. Because each of them are completely different. Amazingly different.
I am not sure how old your son is, but my youngest was also found to have an exceptionally high IQ at age four. But she could not do the simplest of things in the classroom and was falling behind, even at kindergarten level. Having been born with craniosynostosis (fusion of the plates in her head) we suspected there might be more going on. We had her evaluated at age seven, day long neuro-psychological testing as well as an MRI on her brain. Her brain was fine though a bit lopsided, but the real culprit was teased out with the testing. She was found to have short term memory problems (which accounted for her distractibility as well as reading comprehension) and executive reasoning problems (which covered the math issues). She now has an IEP in place and will be protected throughout her schooling.
My oldest son was also off the charts bright, with no other problems. It turned out his problems in school were boredom.
In Florida, too high an IQ is also considered exceptional.
Sorry for poking my nose it, hope I didn’t offend you.
Oh, no offense! I really appreciate hearing other people’s stories.
How is your girl doing now? What sorts of coping skills have you guys learned– if you don’t mind me poking my nose in…
My son is planning to take the highschool equivalncy test, which happens in October. This means he’ll have to be in classes for a month– and I’m hoping that, with the tutoring he gets this summer, from a very sympathetic young neighbor of ours who just so happens to have the credentials– he might find himself willing to stay in school after all.
Otherwise, I’m enquiring into early entrance into an arts college here. maybe he can take a few classes per semester, while he works a part time job…
My son dropped out of high school his senior year, bored mostly. Aced his high school equivalency test the next week then spent two years playing video games before suddenly deciding to go to college. He is making straight A’s and doing fine.
My youngest is in inclusion classes, we squeaked by her passing her third grade FCAT (a test you have to pass in Florida to be promoted). She is going into 5th and will stay in inclusion classes. I am going to put her in a charter school of the arts for middle and high school, where she can have a more creative approach to learning.
The middle child just graduated 4th in her class, and will start college in the Fall with half her freshman classes completed. Full scholarships, the works.
Someone once told me that the people who know the least about child rearing are not the ones with no kids, but the ones with only one. Because each of them are completely different. Amazingly different.