Currently my DD is going to a 2-17 yr school for gifted. She is 20m. There are about 10 other kids total from 3.5 to 8. The school just opened for the 2-4 age group in January and she was accepted at the time. Here is the problem. A social services (I believe) law requires a separate classroom and teacher for "toddlers", segregated from the 3+ ages.This would make my DD alone in a classroom and goes against the philosophy of mix children learning (as well as the wrong kind of enviornment for DD). There are also a lot of building modifications that goes along with this that would create a monetary issue for such a small school. My DD absolutely flourishes at this school and loves it there. She has formed extremely strong bonds with the teachers and the children. As many of you know (emotional sensitivities being what they are)...this is going to be a very difficult time for all involved (especially all the kids) come the end of the semester (July) when she might have to leave. They consider her a "best friend" or "little sister" and DD will go on and on about them at home. One of the teachers and I were in tears over this situation...
Just to put it out there, I have been told by the teachers "She exhibits signs of being profoundly gifted". Even parents of other gifted children comment of things that she does in advance of their children at comparable ages. She (IMO) absolutely needs a "different" kind of environment that is aware of the asycronous development challenges and sensitivity needs of these kinds of children. If she is not in an "academic" learning / free play type environment she just declines and we have so many challenges at home. This includes her need to be around older kids. Her closest compainons are all in the 6 to 8 years old kids. While she does "learning" more along the younger kids range and gets along with them, the older group and her are "best friends" and this is the group she "plays" with. She currently goes to "school" 5 days a week, full days, because both my DH and I are employed full time. She is my only child (as was I) so I have no real idea of "how" gifted she is. I only know what I feel she needs because of her actions and personality changes when placed in different environments and what other people tell me (teachers/parents/doctor).
I am trying (as is the school) to figure out what we can do. If she is tested and formally found "gifted" do the rules change? (I know at this age it would be unreliable and probably inaccurate, but it would be just for a formal classification at this point to open up some doors). Is there a special needs law that would allow her to stay? Anyone had to "fight" or change the rules before, and might know some options? I could probably find a place out there (Montessori?) if we have to, but...this place has just been a blessing for her. I know that 3 years old is "just" a year away, but this has seemed to be the story...when she was an infant and needed to be moved to a crawler/walker room...1yrs was "just" around the corner...then when she was 1.3...2 years was "just" around the corner...now she's almost two and 3 is "just" around the corner.... By the time she is old enough to advance, she needs to be advanced past it anyway. I have come to the realazation that she will probably never be as old as she needs to be, there has to be a way around that....there just has to be... Thanks for reading this long post and for any suggestions!!!
Just to put it out there, I have been told by the teachers "She exhibits signs of being profoundly gifted". Even parents of other gifted children comment of things that she does in advance of their children at comparable ages. She (IMO) absolutely needs a "different" kind of environment that is aware of the asycronous development challenges and sensitivity needs of these kinds of children. If she is not in an "academic" learning / free play type environment she just declines and we have so many challenges at home. This includes her need to be around older kids. Her closest compainons are all in the 6 to 8 years old kids. While she does "learning" more along the younger kids range and gets along with them, the older group and her are "best friends" and this is the group she "plays" with. She currently goes to "school" 5 days a week, full days, because both my DH and I are employed full time. She is my only child (as was I) so I have no real idea of "how" gifted she is. I only know what I feel she needs because of her actions and personality changes when placed in different environments and what other people tell me (teachers/parents/doctor).
I am trying (as is the school) to figure out what we can do. If she is tested and formally found "gifted" do the rules change? (I know at this age it would be unreliable and probably inaccurate, but it would be just for a formal classification at this point to open up some doors). Is there a special needs law that would allow her to stay? Anyone had to "fight" or change the rules before, and might know some options? I could probably find a place out there (Montessori?) if we have to, but...this place has just been a blessing for her. I know that 3 years old is "just" a year away, but this has seemed to be the story...when she was an infant and needed to be moved to a crawler/walker room...1yrs was "just" around the corner...then when she was 1.3...2 years was "just" around the corner...now she's almost two and 3 is "just" around the corner.... By the time she is old enough to advance, she needs to be advanced past it anyway. I have come to the realazation that she will probably never be as old as she needs to be, there has to be a way around that....there just has to be... Thanks for reading this long post and for any suggestions!!!