OK, maybe he really is gifted

[captain optimism]

It took a long time for me to get the public school to give me my son's second grade achievement test scores. (It was the MAP test, if anyone knows that one.) I expected him to score much higher on the math section than on the reading and language usage sections, but the gap is sufficiently great that I'm feeling a little shaken up. It's an achievement test, not an aptitude test, I know, but his language usage scores were in the 66th percentile and his math scores were so far over the 99th percentile that they got a little asterisk. His raw score, when I compared it to the RIT chart that the testing company, NWEA, provides, is in the 99th percentile range for a seventh grader. (His reading scores are all in the 80-90th percentile range, so nothing exciting or worrisome, I think--he's a good reader now, not great, but he can read to himself and enjoy it.)

He also jumped 25 points from the first to the third math test--he started well over 99th percentile for children in his grade and then went up 25 points! I am guessing that since his reading improved he was more able to understand the test directions.

I think he needs additional math enrichment that the school hasn't provided. (I've done a lot, which is kind of wacky because I'm not really a math person at all.) 

I'm wondering whether I need to have him tested for a learning disability, because the gap between his math and language achievement is so huge. He has a great spoken vocabulary, but hates to write. I worked with him on writing assignments all year while he wept, wailed and gnashed his teeth. His sentences are impeccable--unlike most people, he never writes an incomplete sentence--but he'll do anything to avoid having to spell a word. No one at school is ever going to tell me he needs to be tested, because HELLO, he broke the math test. But do you folks know--should I have him evaluated? It seems kind of borderline, but is it? 

For all this time, I thought of him as a very intelligent (and really dynamic, creative and fun!) kid, but not really a gifted kid--not a kid who needed special intervention to make school interesting or anything like that. First and second grade have gradually persuaded me I have the wrong end of the stick about that. Now what should happen?

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by captain optimism 

I'm wondering whether I need to have him tested for a learning disability, because the gap between his math and language achievement is so huge. He has a great spoken vocabulary, but hates to write. I worked with him on writing assignments all year while he wept, wailed and gnashed his teeth.

Most boys his age hate to write -- it's a normal, age appropriate thing, and asynchronous development is often part of being gifted.

Does he seem to have any fine motor issues? Are his fine motor skills about normal for a boy his age?

Because unless you see signs of fine motor issues, I don't think normal writing development is a flag for an LD.

[Linda on the move]

I also think if you get side tracked with testing for something that isn't a problem, you won't get as far with the kind of accommodations he DOES need (math enrichment).

[captain optimism]

I printed out the testing company's chart of skills a child can do at each score, and I think you're right. I think I freaked out prematurely--I was coming back here to take down my post! I guess the build-up to getting the scores got to me.

He's not really that out there with the math, either--though I guess not a lot of children his age understand equations with variables. I suppose this is that famous asynchronous development. 

[captain optimism]

YES! Right you are. Off to do more research on that--I got a good lead on the math enrichment from another mom and have to follow up! 

Originally Posted by Linda on the move 

I also think if you get side tracked with testing for something that isn't a problem, you won't get as far with the kind of accommodations he DOES need (math enrichment).