My son has been ID'ed as "Gifted" by his school (Page 2)

Merely jockeying for position once President Clinton makes us the core of our national healthcare system.  (Eegad! I'm in the middle of a hijack!)

I was put in a "gifted and talented" program in elementary school.  I think the best part about it for me was not having to be insecure about being a little further along intellectually than some of my classmates.  I had some classes that were with the rest of the kids in my grade, and, if you were someone who knew the answers a lot or knew how to pronounce the big words or whatever, you could expect a certain amount of abuse (yes, even in third grade).  I didn't have it as bad as some others, because I played sports too, but I really liked not having to pretend that I hated to read or that I thought school was stupid.  Having experienced both, I think it's better to have the kids who have been identified as being a little further ahead of their peers be able to learn together at their pace in a special age-appropriate program, rather than trying to, for example, stick a first grader who's especially good at math into a third-grade math class. 

(and BTW, I'm just like your son in terms of dexterity.  Write, eat, and play pool lefty, but I'm a righty in every sport. My handwriting was always my one bad grade, too.  And now I'm a serial killer.  But I'm sure your son will be fine. )

Maybe I should have paid a little more attention in my gifted classes, but I am confused and have a few questions for you:

1. What's your question?
   You "supposably" have a kid that might be gifted and the school wants to test him to see if they can put him in a class that will challenge him at a more appropriate level. What's the issue?
   Do you really want to know what we think or did you just want to tell us that you have a gifted kid?
2. You have a daughter that is afraid to go to the bathroom because you have picture on the wall that scares her. You won't take the picture down, why???
   To toughen her up?
   or
   If she pees her pants enough times that will "teach" her not to be afraid?

I don't get it

Take the damn picture down!

Your children's lives are being majorly disrupted by your divorce. This threatens their sense of security. Is it too much to make her feel just a little safer in her own home by taking the picture out of the bathroom?

eh, changed my mind

I was joking.  But I'll put it this way: Private Practice 80-100 hours per week and 300-350k.  VA 40-60  hours per week,residents and 200k.  And one federal holiday a month.  See where the supra genius comes in?

Dangit!! Beat me to the punch.  When I read the title of this thread and saw who started it, this is EXACTLY what I thought!

Brilliant minds... 

I would have given up plenty of my wonderful gifted education classes if I could have had a better social life. Half that crap I never used and a date or two would have been great in high school instead of constantly being driven and doing 4-5 hours of homework a night.

[My, that is fairly bitter.]

Scott, my advice on how to handle it is to simply continue accepting your son just as he is. Take much care not to give the impression that your affection or approval is based upon how he tests. 

Children develop critical thinking skills at around age 7, so I wonder why they recommend testing him now?

[And take down that damn picture in the bathroom.]

I was tested at age 6.  My teacher suggested it.  She thought I had a learning disability.  Turns out I was just really bored.

My personal experience with being termed "gifted" is that it's not much of a gift at all.  In fact, it made my life He!!.  I got nothing out of it at all, other than labels and resentment. 

Heh. The exact same thing happened to me when I was 7. It went quickly from "she's a " to "we can SAVE her!"

Yes, programs and testing do vary widely from state to state. The best source of information for you is your child's school. 

• Does his school offer a gifted program (if his test results are high enough)?
• Is there a different class within his current school that he can get into?
• Find out what the school can do for him, besides just offer a test result.
• Encourage him in his interests - but don't try to push him. Common sense stuff, ya know?
• Don't abdicate decisions to the teacher/school. You need to weigh all of his needs, not just his intellectual needs, when deciding what is best for him.

My 8YO nephew just tested at the 9th grade reading level.  Last school year, the teacher recommended that his parents allow them to have him skip a grade. Naturally, they (and I) are delighted that he doesn't struggle with reading or math but they decided not to have him skip a grade. He is a bright little kid but he's still an 8YO kid and, although he plays with kids older than him in his neighborhood, he would be overwhelmed in a class full of 9 and 10 YOs. So, instead, he gets to go to their class just for reading and returns to his class for the rest of his studies.  I tell you this to give an example that you have to consider your child's WHOLE self, not just the intellectual.

All kids have one issue or another to contend with - being brainy is no silver bullet and your son will still need your support, understanding and patience.

Well the problem is that it is being viewed in HER view as a child. Maybe you can ask your son how to solve the problem?