So, how do you know if your dc is gifted or not? I have a few friends that are always telling me how ds is way intelligent and beyond his years. They have kids the same age and tell me that their ds' aren't doing the same types of things.

For example: my son chooses to spend his free time in the evenings a couple of times a week going to a nearby yeshiva (highschool/college) and studying with older kids.

This summer he is working at IDT (http://www.idtdna.com/Home/Home.aspx) building his own airplane to scale. He checked books out of the library, researched the planes and how to make them, and bought materials. He is working every day from about 9-4 on building it. I know a couple of weeks were all math - figuring proportions and ratios. He plans, next summer, to make it remote controlled.

I just figured he was being normal... Is this not normal? one friend is pushing me to homeschool him so he could learn at his own pace instead of the pace at the school where he's been very frustrated because it's too easy.

He also plays the violin. he picked that up last year and has really grown. He's taking lessons once/week.

You don't say how old he is, but from the sound of it he would be considered gifted. He has a lot of focus for a kid if he can stay on a project like that for long periods of time.

These are considered traits of a gifted child:
From Characteristics of Giftedness (http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/What_is_Gifted/characgt.htm)
•Reasons well (good thinker)
•Learns rapidly
•Has extensive vocabulary
•Has an excellent memory
•Has a long attention span (if interested)
•Sensitive (feelings hurt easily)
•Shows compassion
•Perfectionistic
•Intense
•Morally sensitive
•Has strong curiosity
•Perseverant in their interests
•Has high degree of energy
•Prefers older companions or adults
•Has a wide range of interests
•Has a great sense of humor
•Early or avid reader (if too young to read, loves being read to)
•Concerned with justice, fairness
•Judgment mature for age at times
•Is a keen observer
•Has a vivid imagination
•Is highly creative
•Tends to question authority
•Has facility with numbers
•Good at jigsaw puzzles

You don't say how old he is, but from the sound of it he would be considered gifted. He has a lot of focus for a kid if he can stay on a project like that for long periods of time.

These are considered traits of a gifted child:
From Characteristics of Giftedness (http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/What_is_Gifted/characgt.htm)
•Reasons well (good thinker)
•Learns rapidly
•Has extensive vocabulary
•Has an excellent memory
•Has a long attention span (if interested)
•Sensitive (feelings hurt easily)
•Shows compassion
•Perfectionistic
•Intense
•Morally sensitive
•Has strong curiosity
•Perseverant in their interests
•Has high degree of energy
•Prefers older companions or adults
•Has a wide range of interests
•Has a great sense of humor
•Early or avid reader (if too young to read, loves being read to)
•Concerned with justice, fairness
•Judgment mature for age at times
•Is a keen observer
•Has a vivid imagination
•Is highly creative
•Tends to question authority
•Has facility with numbers
•Good at jigsaw puzzles

well, that totally covers ds from a-z. He's my 13 yr old. FWIW, dh was considered gifted as well.

So, what do I do for him, if this is the case? are there tests out there? is it worth testing? He's unhappy in school because it's so boring (truth be told, it's below grade level for him - he's in a special school due to behavioral issues).

adding: I just noticed the 'questions authority' - he does that to a fault and gets upset with his friends when they 'blindly obey'.

Is he in public school? They should test him and be able to provide extra services for him.

If you are seriously considering homeschooling him, then it may not be worth testing him. You know he would qualify for YOUR program. ;)
The trick then would be to find appropriate curriculum that challenges him and works for you all.

Here, when the kids are 14 and homeschooled, a lot of them will do dual-enrollment and take classes at the junior colleges for dual high school/ college credit. Well, the high school students can do that also but they don't do it at 14. They usually do it as juniors or seniors.

Is he in public school? They should test him and be able to provide extra services for him.

If you are seriously considering homeschooling him, then it may not be worth testing him. You know he would qualify for YOUR program. ;)
The trick then would be to find appropriate curriculum that challenges him and works for you all.

Here, when the kids are 14 and homeschooled, a lot of them will do dual-enrollment and take classes at the junior colleges for dual high school/ college credit. Well, the high school students can do that also but they don't do it at 14. They usually do it as juniors or seniors.

He's in a private Jewish dayschool.

Ah...and they are not willing to work with you?

I did think of another scenario that might have you get him tested. If you try to sign up for EPGY or another gifted program, they will want documentation.

Does the school not recongize it in him?

Ah...and they are not willing to work with you?

I did think of another scenario that might have you get him tested. If you try to sign up for EPGY or another gifted program, they will want documentation.

Does the school not recongize it in him?

What is EPGY? I was going to google and the kids got me...
Ah, the school...Well... I honestly don't know what they are thinking. They are focusing on the behavioral issues and not on academics. I fought tooth and nail last year to get him out of the math class that he was stuck in. He's now being tutored privately in the school by the secretary (she was a teacher who retired). Still, the math is below grade level.

It's online courses for Gifted kids through Stanford. Education Program for Gifted Youth (http://epgy.stanford.edu/)
There are several families on here that use it. We haven't yet.
Maybe you could figure out a way for him to use that during school hours. Especially if they have pulled him out in the past.

If he is having behavioral difficulties, it is even more important for him to have his curriculum differentiated.
Is he 8th grade this year? Does he change schools for high school?

Yes, he's in 8th this year. It's a big fear for next year - that if he doesn't do well enough this year that he won't get into a good school. Plus, with behavioral issues (the main problem) that a good school won't take him.

I'll have to check out EPGY and see what we can do.

The behavioral issues could be a symptom of inadequate academic stimulation/challenge. As an example, imagine if a 6th grader reading stuff like Huck Finn was made to sit in a kindergarten reading class every day. It would probably result in some significant behavior problems!

Tara

I agree with Tara. You may find that at least some of the behavioral problems disappear if he is challenged mentally. How was his behavior this summer? It sounds like he's loved what he did!

the Hoagies Gifted website has a lot of good info. Read through that, it might really help. Hoagies' Gifted Education Page (http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/)

That is what I was trying to say. That behavior can be directly linked to inadequate mental stimulation.
Maybe you can get letters of recommendation from the insructors that had him this summer?

He wasn't working with any instructors per se; he was working independently with supervision as needed. I do think he will get letters of recommendation when needed - especially since one of the scientists is a teacher in the school he'd like to attend. They really like him a lot there :hbeat:

His behavior was better this summer - only if he was busy. The days he's not busy then we're in trouble. Likewise, he is being treated for allergy elimination - and while the treatments are going on, he's having a very, very difficult time holding himself together. I think the worst one so far was dairy.