I'm pondering a sitch right now outside of DB....interested in input. S13 is a gifted child with a learning disability in math. very gifted in other areas, but really struggles with math. well, he's getting a C in it, but that is with difficulty. so here's the dilemma. S has been invited to participate in Duke University's 7th grade talent search. what this means is that he has to test to qualify for a bunch of really neat programs they have. the testing is the actual SAT/ACT, he would take it with the high school juniors and seniors.
Sometimes S like the challenge of tests, and I know he will do fine in science and humanities, he tested at 11th grade level in those in 1st grade. BUT, i'm pretty sure he will bomb the math part big time. I guess my inner debate is, let him test and see how it goes, or pass up the opportunity because the math portion could be so discouraging for him? He is a very sensitive kid...On the other hand, it would give him a chance at the very least to see what the test is like, and to understand how important it is for him to maintain his efforts to overcome his difficulties. worse that could happen is that he is even more discouraged and anxious about math. If he qualifies though, he would have so many neat opportunities to give him the challenges he needs. i dont' know, I'm really torn.
S is not real commental about his thoughts one way or the other right now.
I had to laugh though...S and I were discussing it last night, and it was so clearly brought home to me that he may be bright, but he is still a just-turned 13 year old boy...I mentioned that they have a tropical ecology course in Costa Rica in the summers (one of his current passions) and he was all excited about it, and beginning a discourse on what that course of study would include, and suddenly he stopped in mid-sentence and said "oops, I feel a burp". yeap, there's a 7th grade boy for you!
I don't know...we could request accomodations for his disability, since he does have an iep, which I suppose we'd have to do, but it is so stigmatizing. the purpose of accomadations is to level the playing field.
decisions, decisions. hold him back to protect him from potential discouragement and cause him to miss what could be a great opportunity....or prepare to deal with the possible consequences and let him fly as high as he can go????? I truly dont' know at this point what is in his best interest.
