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06.26.08, 09:19 AM New York City
39 replies
How do they determine that a child is G&T at 4? I'm asking because I was talking to some moms DD went to daycare with, and one has a kid I always knew was smart (was reading at 3, very intense, etc.) who scored in 97%ile, and a sweet little girl who I didn't have a clue was any brighter than any other child who scored in the 99%ile. I was shocked. I didn't think she wasn't bright, just that she never comes off as prodigy material. We didn't test because we're in a good school district, but I'm wondering how they figure this out in small kids. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 06.26.08, 09:19 AM Flag
 

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I'm constantly amazed at which kids score high/low on the tests. I've posted before that dc has several friends at Anderson and Hunter and I've never been able to tell the difference on playdates, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:22 AM Flag
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I am curious about this as well. We willtest DS in January (4.5), and I am honestly curious as to how they go about determining if he is G&T as they define it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:24 AM Flag
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I am suprised so many people are talking scores. I would never tell anyone dd score for fear of people like you. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:23 AM Flag
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If you fear people like me, you may just want to hole yourself up in your apartment and give up on life. There was nothing mean about my post. Geez. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:26 AM Flag
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I just wouldn't do the score comparison as much as I would not tell someone my income and I do think it is mean to say little Janie scored 99 and doesn't seem like a light bulb. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:53 AM Flag
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NP: A friend outright asked me our dd's score, so I told him. Otherwise, I have never offered that info to anyone else. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:14 AM Flag
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It should not be top secret info re scores, as it is bunk to rate a kid's intelligence on 1 test s/he took when 4 y.o. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 11:52 AM Flag
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Well, this is the whole debate, and why I think G&T is a crock. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:24 AM Flag
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ditto [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 11:52 AM Flag
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i've never seen the test. my son is like the second child, he's age-appropriate when it comes to reading, etc, but he scored a 99. i'm not sure how much listening and following directions are factors. or if they there's 1 right answer to a mulitple choice question and 1 other than indicates you're thinking one step ahead...not sure as my son has friends reading at high levels who scored lower than he did. while i do think he's smart, he was in the shadow of those other kids. sorry, don't have answer, but i can relate. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:24 AM Flag
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^his score is not a topic of conversation. but i do know many children (like 4) who didn't even finish the test. i think actually finishing is a huge step. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:25 AM Flag
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First, there really is not much difference in those scores and the 97 may very well be smarter than the 99. Second, the OLSAT is not an IQ test. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:24 AM Flag
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what does it test, you think? This is an honest question, I'm trying to learn more about these tests in order to decide whether to subject my 4 year old to them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:26 AM Flag
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np: i thought that may be showing potential, and that's what's important at this age, maybe? perhaps? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:27 AM Flag
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NNP: Any test whose name ends SAT... is going to be some kind of Scholastic Aptitude Test. Wikipedia has a pretty good entry for OLSAT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olsat [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:44 AM Flag
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I think the process isn't perfect - it favors the kids who follow instructions and test well (like mine who is just bright but scored 98). There are definitely kids at the genius level out there who would not test well. Not sure what happens to those kids. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:25 AM Flag
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Your issue about the other kid is fair but I think you sell your kid short. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:46 AM Flag
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Maybe. But I was a lot like my child - and kids like us do great in any good school situation, we don't need anything special. There are kids out there who need a certain kind of learning environment to succeed, not much different than the SN kids on the other end. I would have assumed that those were the kids the DOE would be looking for, but they aren't. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:48 AM Flag
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I have one of those and I cannot tell you how difficult it is. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:05 AM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:07 AM Flag
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You seem like a really nice person, and I appreciate that. I've never been one to complain about the testing process - it is what it is. You jump thru the hoops placed in front of you by the organization that you are trying to get in. And while I beleive my dc is a rarity - that doesn't change the fact that it is almost all consuming when it comes to schooling. Its tough. But, what are you going to do? The best you can. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:13 AM Flag
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I'm sure you are doing just great. I'm just feeling so disappointed in the whole process right now. The DOE has turned getting your child a decent education into a cage fight for moms. I can be "a really nice person" because we have in a pretty good zoned school - otherwise, I'd be lowered to fighting you for a spot at a G&T myself, you know? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:20 AM Flag
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I doubt you'd fight me. Thanks for your ear. And wish me luck. I swear in 12 years I'm going to write a book called "Educating (my dc's name here) and you will remember its me! I might even reference you in it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:23 AM Flag
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GL! I'll remember. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:29 AM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:29 AM Flag
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I'll give a different perspective. we've always been told how bright our dc is, etc. The tests were the only things that alerted us to a possible learning issue. It's always better to know early. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:37 AM Flag
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I only tested b/c we are in a HORRIBLE school zone. DC scored 99 on SB and OLSAT, I NEVER expected this outcome. He is definitely cute and socially mature, but does not strike me as gifted by any stretch. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:37 AM Flag
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I think there is a huge flaw testing 4 yos. I was in a G&T program as a child but we were tested in 2nd grade to start in 3rd grade. We did SB and a few other diagnostics and spent an entire day being evaluated. I just don't see the NYC practice as being very accurate. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 09:47 AM Flag
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The test format favors kids who, at age 4, are more mature, more able to focus and concentrate, and have good listening skills. I personally think it does not mean very much in terms of "giftedness." [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:14 AM Flag
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I agree that the whole thing is a sham. I had a lovely 99-scoring DD who I never viewed as gifted at all and I even thought taking the OLSAT was just going through the motions, especially when I compared her to some of her rocket scientist peers at nursery school -- who, ironically "only" got mid-90's on the test. It's random, but I'm happy that the randomness worked in our favor (and who knows, maybe my DD is secretly a rocket scientist :)) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 10:27 AM Flag
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We've been stopped on the street/bus/subway/playground by strangers and told by friends since dc was toddler that she was "gifted" but guess what? 93 SB/91 ERB. Parents in our preschool class were shocked she didn't make Hunter cut-off and a public G & T. It's a crap shoot. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 11:50 AM Flag
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wow, people on the bus and subway notice your kid is gifted? what was she doing? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 12:20 PM Flag
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talking, making observations, interacting with people, reading the signs... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 12:48 PM Flag
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^^here's an example: dh was walking down the street with her one day and she was chatting away as usual, and when they got to the corner, a woman stopped him and said "I hope you're applying to Hunter and the G & T's, because she's pretty amazing, and I know, I've got one kid at Hunter and one at LL." [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 12:51 PM Flag
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my 99 dc does this all the time and we've never heard a comment about her being gifted, ever. Friendly, yes. Chatty, yes. Gifted no. And btw - it's never occurred to me that she's "gifted", in spite of 99s on all of the tests. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 01:01 PM Flag
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just reporting our experience, and no, we never thought of her as "gifted" either, despite what everyone else was saying. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.27.08, 06:43 AM Flag
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np; not OR, but same thing happened to us. Dc was a toddler reading all the signs in the subway. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 12:48 PM Flag
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You are me too. Dc is now older and we really have to stay on top of what's going on at school - even in a "good" zoned school. I think it's just the way it is. My brother (who has older kids) says we all end up home schooling - it's just a question of how much. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 12:30 PM Flag
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You're joking, right? I think they've actually shown a negative correlation between olsat and SB-5. Don't judge children you know (including your own) based on the test. The DOE just has to have some blind way to schore children prior to getting settled in a school that won't get them sued and doesn't cost $$ for a trained tester to sit with the child. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.26.08, 12:08 PM Flag
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