Hi,

I'm new here and just learned about the young scholars program, and found this forum. From what I've read on this site and my internet research, it seems that all the children who are in the YSP have been accelerated, or are true child prodigies (winning national competitions in piano or equivalent feats). Our child meets the WISC-IV and WIAT-II criteria, but is in a public school with a regular second grade curriculum at age 7 (they don't have gifted programs at that age anyway - they believe in differentiation, not acceleration). I'd like to apply, as I believe that many of the problems in his first years of school could have been avoided or lessened with the help of the YSP, but we are not in the same boat as those of you whose children are so many years ahead in reading, writing and math.

I'd appreciate your sharing your experiences and knowledge.

Thank you so much!

We haven't applied to the YSP but since everyone still seems to be sleeping off the Thanksgiving turkey I'll give it a go! As long as you have the required scores I believe you are in the same boat. I think YSP can be especially helpful to families like yours whose children haven't received accomodations or acceleration for our children. One of the services they offer is advocacy help with your child's school. If that, and connection to a network of peers for your child are what you're looking for, you should definitely apply.

I'm sure when other DYS'ers (like Trinity and Dottie off the top of my head) wake up they can give you much more detailed info.

Welcome to the board!

Wuh....what? Did someone mention my name? Sorry, I was snoozing off my pumpkin pie fest of the last 3 days, LOL!

I agree, if you have the scores and you think your child would benefit, fill out the application. It only costs your time to apply. DS (almost 9) has been in for about 1.5 years now, and it's been extremely helpful for us. He is not what I'd call a "prodigy", but was/is clearly different from your average run of the mill 98th percentile GT kid. Had I not stopped and really looked into what your average GT kid is like, I might not have realized how unique DS is.

For us, DS LOVED the big annual gathering last year, but other than that....DYS is more about "me" at the moment. I love the support from others jumping through similar hoops with their schools, and the camaraderie in the sharing. With the "backing" of the Davidson's name behind me, I've been able to get more appropriate things in place for my son at school. It helped distinguish me from the other moms making radical claims about their child's abilities, LOL!

We too are in public school, and I can't imagine DS in a regular 3rd grade classroom. At 2nd grade age though he was only accelerated one year overall and 2 for math. Others in the program have not been accelerated, and this can work too, but that was our obvious pressing need for DS. He is/was a fish out of water in an age peer curriculum. However, he's my third child, and having the two older ones at home helped "spur" him on in his early years. I imagine things would be different if he had been my first. He would still be as bright, but without the exposure, perhaps not as advanced? I don't know.

Long story short, it can't hurt to apply. Send what you have, and let the Davidson staff make the call. Most of what I've been able to get in place for DS has been a result of others paving the way, and sharing their situations.

We've applied to the DYS program recently and are waiting to see if dd has been accepted or not. She is also 7 and in 2nd grade, like your son. Based on everything I've read, and the response from the ladies here, the YSP sounds like an excellent program. DD also scored well on the WISC IV and is doing accelerated work in school. She isn't a child prodigy like you described (nat'l awards, piano, math etc) but there's no question that she's PG.

I think your son would benefit from the program, especially if he has no acceleration options.

Davidson runs 2 different programs that are easy to get confused even though they are different: the young scholars program (YSP) and the Davidson Fellows. The Fellows get awards for their prodigious accomplishments, whereas the YSP supports and nurtures highly/exceptionally/profoundly gifted kids who have great potential, but may or may not have accomplished at high levels. I remember getting these two progams confused when I was new to the website. It seems like the YSP would be good to apply to.

Thank you all for your replies. We actually had our son evaluated because the first grade teacher thought he'd have trouble with second grade!!! He hated school and hated the school work - and the educational psychologist stopped most of the tests once he reached the upper ranges b/c it didn't matter any more for our purposes. She said he'd test even higher if he was willing to go further, but he was tired and tired of the testing so she stopped when he went high enough for her to understand the source of his frustration in the classroom. Needless to say, his last school was an utter disaster. At least he's happy in the public school, but I realize that my role as an advocate is far from over - and I need some clout behind me.

Thanks again for your repsonses. I have to say that this is one of the most polite message boards I've ever seen.

Well gosh thanks for the compliment Questions!!! (Since I post so much I'll take that personally, !)

And thanks ACS for the two program clarification. I hadn't even thought about that .

Hi questions,
Welcome! Not all the YSP kids are accelerated, and my son is only accelerated by a single year, and that was just last year. He has made it quite clear that this is "just right" for him! Some of the kids are academic superstars and some are problem children and some are just nice normal appearing kids, particular from an adult view-point, if you don't have much experience with what normal children are truly like. Some kids go out of their way to fool their teachers and fit in, with elaberate stratagies for calibrating just how well then can do to get good grades and still fit in.

I would say that the number one concern of all the parents that I have talked to is about raising a decent human being. Profoundly gifted children have certian advantages and certian disadvantages on this path, and I've found it really helps to know what the other parents have discovered.

One of our jobs is to help our children understand themselves. Being around other parents of kids who scored similarly has really helped me know my child better, and be a better mirror for him to know himself. I don't see how I would have gotten that without the YSP.

Smiles,
Trinity

For those already in the YSP:

Were you able to find other parents in your area that you could talk with/meet or are the contacts purely online?

I ask because I live in a small little town but am just an hour away from the Davidson Academy. I sure would love to meet other parents and kids around here that we could talk with and meet.

(of course, we are still waiting on word on the YSP...hopefully we get the opportunity to be a part of it! Fingers crossed..we should know in a couple of weeks)

Thank you, Trinity. Your comments are helpful. We'll apply and see what happens.

My area has had some "local" gatherings, but I haven't met someone closer than an hour away, and those that come to the events aren't generally same age/gender/etc, but even so, we've thoroughly enjoyed those get togethers! Most of my contacts are online, but I've met quite a few of those IRL in the past year including our very own Trinity and her son!

I thought as homeschoolers we were reasonably well off without the YS program, but I eventually applied with the hope that I'd have some help with mapping out a plan for my unique children. Five years later, I am SO incredibly grateful to the Davidsons and their wonderful staff. I can see what a huge hole it would leave in my family's world if the program dissolved. The parent to parent contact is more amazing and helpful than I ever would have believed. The professional seminars are informative, the staff will do their best to answer off the wall questions and help with advocacy.

Most of all though, my kids now know what it is to be with true peers. I grew up feeling like a stranger in a strange land, and lonely as hell in the middle of a crowd. Nobody seemed to know the real me. I am thrilled that my kids have access to other "aliens" and will not have to journey through childhood trying to fit in and feeling like pretenders. They know that they are not alone after all.

Sorry to get so sentimental. If your child has the test scores, I encourage you to apply!

Tammiane,
Yes, the YSP definitely helps you find other families in the PG community. For our family that has been the greatest benefit of the YSP. We have what some would consider a large group in our area. We (the parents) plan a variety of activities that provide the kids and parents opportunities to interact.

Another benefit of the YSP is that they provide private bulletin boards and e-lists specific to different needs and stages of raising a pg child.

Summer

Tammiane,

I forgot to say good luck to you and your daughter! From the website, it looks like they respond in two weeks after the deadline - which is pretty amazing, considering what they are offering and how long the private schools around here take.

Good luck! Hope you get good news in the next few weeks.

It's typically closer to 4 weeks, maybe even longer with the holidays.....be patient!

We have 3 families with similar aged boys at the hour away mark, that we've gotten to know through YSP. My son "hit it off" with one a pair of brothers, and it's been amazing for me to see him interact with them in a totally different way than he interacts with me, or his cousins, or his other fiends.

The "Density" varies by area. But we have also learned about certain local events, such as MIT Splash, Beyond IQ Conference, and the Talent Search activities through YSP parents. Meeting Dottie and her son in real life has been so important, because as you know, my son's "adaptive" behaviors in the past have had us all wondering "what's wrong with him?" Dottie can vouch that he spends long hours at a time acting like a delightful young young man. When we were first in the YSP, I was desperate enough to drive to gatherings 6 hours away, just for my son to breath the same air as other YS kids. I am happy to report that I am much less desperate now, and have even turned down 3 hour trips.

Smiles,
Trinity

Hi,

It's Questions with questions again. I'm confused (sorry, Confused). I've been reading a lot of the other posts here and then I went back to look at the YSP criteria, and I'm not sure what Total Language is on the WIAT-II. Our son's substests were Reading Composite, Math Comp., Written Language Comp. and Oral Language Comp. Which one is the Total Language referenced on the YSP website? Now I"m wondering if I misread the qualifications - oral language is our child's strength - he has a fine motor delay and resultant writing issues. Is oral language the Total Language they're referring to? Of course, I could just call and ask... but you all seem so nice!

Those are the same headings we have from our 3/2006 report Questions, so I'm confused as well (I'm sorry too Confused, LOL!) I'd place money on "Total Language" being the Oral Language Composite, since the written ones are more clearly aligned.

They changed those criteria fairly recently and I was surprised to see them go to composites. It's easier to get a 145+ on a composite than it is on a single index. It seems to me like they want at least one 99.9th percentile score at the composite level.

If you have a full writeup, I'd just send them everything and let them weed through it!

gee suddenly i don't feel so alone. everybody is me
but i also have questions, questions.
and dottie if you are confused at this point i don't feel so bad about being confused.

Laugh all you want, but I was REALLY confused when I went over to the "Test Discrepancy" thread and thought I was talking to Questions! ROFL!!! At least we don't have anyone (yet!) named Sorry!

haha.....

I do like this forum. You are ALL so nice! In any event, thanks, Dottie - if it's oral language we're okay, as he has qualifying scores with the composite and one subtest, as well as the VCI on the WISC-IV. Now I'll have to go over to Test Discrepancy and see what you wrote...

Thanks, everyone - for the info and the laughs.

I'm glad you feel just like I do about finding this forum, questions! It has been so incredible for me to be able to talk about my dd like this. The women here (are there any men that post? ) are so helpful and encouraging. Feels like home!

Well questions
I'm sorry for hijacking your thread.
but you and dottie did invoke confusion.

I stopped short before responding, but I was MAJORLY confused for a few!!!!

I love all this laughter!!!!

Part of my confusion stems from trying to do too much at once....I better fully commit to the kiddies! I'm quite certain I'll be back later, !

I just read this thread aloud to my DH. Hilarious!

Well, I feel like I should change my name - maybe to "Answers?" or how about "Bossy?" Maybe "UnSpeller" would be better!

Big Giant Giggly Smile,
Trinity

You all don't know how many "Broadway Musicals" I've made up in my mind while waiting for the traffic to clear, about my life with you all in the Gifted Liberation Movement. I never remember them the next day. Now that we have Confused, Questions, and Incognito I feel more like I'm living "A Chourus Line" than ever before!!!

Yes, Trinity, but it is incogNEATo........see, a play on words....Kind of like I AM a lurker, but I am also kind of Neat!!! I know, not so funny, but it is the best my mommy-drain-brain can come up with lately.

Cheers!
Incog

OOOPs ,, I mean incogNEATO as in I am "neat-o", as in somewhat cool. My family will tell you I am most definately NOT neat!

So, who's on first?

I'm so uncreative stealing my mother's name like I did!

I love the idea of Trinity being Answers, LOL!

I had zero imagination when I chose my screename! (laughing now!)

Although this thread has taken a very entertaining turn, which I totally love, in all seriousness I have to say how refreshing it is to have such meaningful, intelligent ADULT conversations. What a gold mine this place is! I wish we all lived close to each other...I can only imagine what a blast that get-together would be like!

I think I'd call Trinity "Wisdom." Her answers are always so much deeper and more useful than mere "Answers".



P.S. I'm also clearly without imagination. Maybe you and I could be "Without Imagination" Tammiane? Tee-hee!

I love the Wisdom idea!!!! And as for Without Imagination, my very first screen name included my first name AND my last name. Feel free to call me Naive And Stupid, ROFL! But at least I'm trainable, !

Coffee and munchies on me, if you ever find yourself in PA!

well, I was looking for Answers over on the GT thread re: the Stanford Achievement Test. I guess I'll just have to remain confused with questions, and thankfully -- incognito (not so neat-o either).

by the way (or should I say btw), what does ROFL mean?

ROFL == Rolling On (the) Floor Laughing

Hmmm, I like Dottie's idea of taking her mom's name....maybe I'll nab my sister's next time I need a screen name! That's sure to annoy amuse cause WWIII, if she ever finds out....

This thread has kept me laughing!

Wisdom is a perfect name for Trinity, I agree! Yes, Kristin, without imagination is totally appropriate...either that or I can just use Lame-name! Haha!

Dottie, coffee and munchies sound great..Im on my way!

But Tammy, Lame-name is sort of clever, no? Maybe we could call you Oxymoron then? (But *never* plain "moron"!)

And kcab, the thought of your using your sister's name and causing WWIII made me laugh out loud again! Oh, I so know how that works!

((blushing, but very pleased))
Thanks you all.

I was thinking a weekend gathering of us Gifted Issues Moms would really be the thing to do. As in, leave the kiddo's home and take the weekend off!

But of course then you would see that I'm an "unsnappy dresser" and snore, and talk too fast, and we could all get overstimulation headaches together! Actually that sounds fun!
Sophia

To take our OT conversation even one step further afield...

I am a regular on a site for healthy weight loss and have made some online friends there. I have often wondered about how real meetings with such virtual buddies would play out. How many of us are in life as we seem online?

I know I'm much less organized when I speak than I am when I write--I edit a lot when I write! I talk too much. Oh, and I snore, too.

It's nice to know your real name, Sophia, though it's hard to think of you as anything but Trinity now.

Come to think of it, to introduce a religious analogy befitting the name "Trinity," I think you, Dottie and Lorel are the "trinity" of the site guiding newbies like me along the "true path" and all that. Tee-hee!

Sophia, who is Sophia? ROFL!!!!

I used to post regularly on a moms site, and did quite a few IRL's (In Real Life meetings) through that. It was great fun, and my kids were used to being drug around to meet Mom's "Imaginary" friends. I was fortunate that quite a few came to me though, I never drove more than an hour or two.

By the way, now it's MY turn to blush!

I edit a lot too by the way, but usually uncheck that "edit" box so I come across more well thought out.

It's funny because the entire time I've been posting here (which isn't long) I've been thinking, "I could be friends with these people in real life"! It's amazing how nice and helpful everyone is on this board.

Sophia is such a beautiful name. But I agree, it is hard to think of you as anything other than "Trinity". :-)

I could just see us in real life...

"Could you pass those cookies....um....what was your name again?"

Sophia is NOT my real name! I urge everyone (except Lorel) to protect their children's anonymity here online.

5 points to anyone who got the joke "Sophia=Wisdom"

But I thought that signing my posts Wisdom was even worse than signing in "Trinity" ((gulp))

Too funny about unchecking the edit box! I do that once in a while too! Oh Vanity! Maybe I should change my name again.

Seriously, I love my screen name. It's after the Character in my favorite movie, "The Matrix" who brought her friend back to life with a determined kiss, something many of us have had to do for our own children. I do appologise to the folks who are uncomfortable with the religious connitations. I did dabble in Feminist Spirtuality as a College Student, so for me, at this moment, "The Trinity" is the Maiden,The Mother, and The Chrone. Again, appologies.

Smiles and Giggles and Love and More Love,
Trinity

Also,
Ug - here's a new thought that a bit obsure - but here goes:
Growing up Jewish in a Christian culture, there were many aspects of Christianity that I was aware of, but not "allowed" to even think or puzzle over. So I just realized that has left me with a "repressed Christian side." Well, maybe not a whole side, but at least a rib or two (humor alert)

Anyway, Being Trinity here is so much fun because it allows the part of me that is curious about all these things to run free, and it allow me to imagine what I would have been like if I had that extra cultural support of being part of the majority culture. LOL - I'm the majority culture here, aren't I? DS11 says that all things loop around to the origin. You are right again DS11!

Anyway - that does sound like a gifted person's perspective, doesn't it?

Trinity

Um....you only have ONE kid, *I* should be Sophia! I'm the one forced to choose all the time.....

(Was that the reference?)

Gifted yes, but I have a bus to catch so I can't comment! Good morning Sophie by the way!

Wow, who knew SophiA was Greek for Wisdom? I go for the movie connection every time! LOL!

So much for my being gifted... ! I just noticed that I don't HAVE to use edit to add my feelings... .

I've been using "quick reply" and adding them later, but saw a "newbie" using smilies, and knew there had to be an easier way, LOL!

Course now I'm wondering what all these other buttons are for!

FWIW, I'm the mom who first got her automatic sliding door van, and pushed "open" and "close" dozens of times at the convenience store just because I could, LOL!

Trinity, I know I use my real name here, but that's because I am not permitted to use a screen name over at bella. I figure if I am "out" there I might as well be out here. I still use pseudonyms for my kiddos though, FWIW.

Yes ladies, it is wise (see, Wisdom was right again!) to use caution online. You never know who is reading and taking notes.

take care-

Oh, I went to bed too early!

You know, I've been on-line for ages and ages but I've never met up with any of my on-line friends. Plus, most of the people I know IRL sharply limit their on-line presence. The idea of meeting you guys is appealing, though I know I'd get cold feet and fail to follow through, LOL! I do know where DS gets this behavior.

BTW, 5 pts to me! Saw the sig Trinity-Sophia in another thread and thought "How clever!" I didn't realize that "Trinity" was from The Matrix though - thought it was in re the school...

KCab - LOL the edit! And here's your 5 points!
So brag on!

Oh Lorel - I excused you because I figured you were on your way to becoming a "Professional" in this field. If you are heading that way, I say "Yippee!" we need your wisdom.

Smiles,
Trinity

I totally missed the Sophia/Wisdom thing! Doh! Gifted, schmifted! LOL!

And I hope I didn't offend anyone with my decidedly Christian analogy. I'm not religious, but I'm a recovering English major with a philosophy & religion double-minor. You can't use the name Trinity and not have my mind go all "Father, Son & Holy Spirit" eventually! But I realized even as I wrote it that I was potentially opening a can of worms. Sometimes I'm too "clever" (sarcasm) for my own good... I offer my sincere apologies if I've been insensitive to anyone's feelings or beliefs.

I do like the idea of the three of you as "the big three" though! It makes me smile!

And really, if I didn't uncheck the "edited" box, nearly every post I make would have that note. It would be embarrassing. And that doesn't even tell you how much I edit BEFORE I click "submit"! Call it a grad school habit, I guess...or maybe a perfectionist habit! When I talk, stuff sort of tumbles out and I repeat myself a lot. When I write, I try to keep these annoyances to a minimum.

As for online security: I don't worry too much about giving out my first name online. But never my kids' names and never our last names or specific location. But I think most people are pretty much what they seem online, especially on a site like this one. You'd have to be a pretty patient predator to get any useful identifying info here...

My own OT soapbox: Frankly, I think people are much too paranoid these days, generally speaking. Child abusers tend to abuse their own children or kids they have easy access to (baseball coach/players, piano teacher/students, uncle/nieces & nephews, etc.), not random people's children from far away. (Especially if the kids themselves are not e-mailing the predator!) It's just too easy to make kids and too hard to steal someone else's! Nowadays we know about every Amber Alert from Maine to Hawaii, so we feel that our kids are under constant assault. The reality is that if your kids are going to be taken or assaulted, it's probably going to be a relative or close friend who does it. The VAST majority of the kids on the side of the milk carton were taken by their non-custodial parent in a custody battle. I think people waste a lot of time fearing strangers for no good reason. I think it is far more risky to keep kids constantly in your sight and teach them that all strangers are out to get them. Overprotected, fearful kids are not happy, healthy kids, and they become neurotic, unhappy adults.

Stepping down...