Let's face it, your kid is either born with brains or maybe they are born with some other special gift. I am so proud of how smart my kids are, but genes were more than half of that battle. And although I do believe environment plays a role in reaching your full potential, some people "get it" faster and better than others. With that said, I still can't help but be proud of my little Bryceman!
I was cleaning out the closet of doom yesterday, you know the place where all the stuff gets thrown right before a big party, and I came across all of the paperwork I've been saving from Bryce's school work. It's hard to know what to keep, because once your child reaches school age a LOT of paperwork comes home. It is all so cute and seems like a milestone. I decided to only keep really good grade papers. The problem with that is every paper and test is good. It is overwhelming to keep it and he is only in 2nd grade. I decided to throw out many of these papers. I figure his report card speaks for itself. I will keep only a couple from here on out. So the closet of doom can be organized and clean.
I have always thought the kid was exceptionally intelligent, but put it into perspective- I am heads over heels for the kid, and everything he touches turns to gold. We all think our kids are the best, but mine really are! I figured if he was smart, like I thought, he would get exceptional grades and the teachers would all praise him like I do and he would be tested for GATE (Gifted and Talented Education). He has gotten great grades, his teachers say he is a pleasure to have in class, but he wasn't recommended for GATE.
I was in GATE. My kid is smart. He gets good grades. I wondered if the teachers would EVER test him. But, I didn't want to be "THAT MOM." I work in a school and trust me, there are plenty of parents who think their kids are gifted, and I have seen them in class picking their nose and eating it while staring into space. I hear the teachers complain and get annoyed when every parent thinks their kid should be tested, and I was just going to let it happen or not happen. Brains speak for themselves.
His teacher, who is such an excellent teacher, tells me of his progress. There is a computer program that keeps bumping you up to harder problems if you are getting the answers correct. She was very pleased because Bryce raised his hand because he didn't know how to do a problem. She went to help and discovered he got all the way to division, which they haven't even learned yet!
But still no GATE mention, which to me is what determines where you rank. I still thought he was the smartest kid alive, don't get me wrong, but why wasn't the school on board with my diagnosis?
Finally, I got word. His teacher doesn't test for GATE until Spring, to give the students a better chance at passing the test. But there was a GATE project and she pulled a few of her "hopeful" students out to participate. And guess what? Bryce was one of those potential GATE kids!!
I am excited for him. He needs to be challenged and the extra assignments GATE kids get will be great for him!
This is all said and thought in my head because I don't want him to feel any pressure from me to get into the program. When the teacher told him about the project, he had no idea what GATE even was. But the fact he is being tested is enough confirmation for me....my kids a smarty pants!
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