How to Tell if Your 3rd Grader Is Gifted and Talented

How Can I Tell if My 3rd Grader Is Gifted and Talented?

Consult with Your Child's School and Teachers

You may want to begin by asking your child's teacher about your child. Since teachers work with so many 3rd graders, he or she will be able to tell you if your child is performing above grade level and suggest appropriate enrichment opportunities. It's also quite possible that your child will be tested by the school to determine if they should be moved to a more advanced level or a gifted program. Your child's school counselor or a child psychologist outside of the school are also professionals you might consider consulting to help determine your child's ability level.

Monitor Your Child's Test Scores

Monitoring your child's test scores in his or her classes may reveal a lot about your child's potential. If your child takes benchmark tests or state standardized tests, look at the percentile in which your child scores. If he or she scores above the 90th percentile, your child may be gifted and talented. You can also check the grades on your child's assignments. If he or she consistently scores 100%, the assignments are probably too easy.

There are also tests that your child can take that are designed to determine if your child is gifted. First, you might consider administering an interest inventory test to your child to find out more about what your child likes. An Intelligence Quotient (I.Q.) test, while not conclusive, is useful to gauge your child's ability to reason, retain information and problem solve. There are a number of exams designed explicitly to determine if a child is gifted, such as the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).

Determine Your Child's Strengths

You should observe your child to see if he or she displays any particular strength. Many gifted and talented children excel in certain areas but perform at grade level in other areas. Look for the subjects your child enjoys the most and compare his or her performance to the curriculum expectations at your school. Your child could be gifted in many different areas, some more readily apparent than others. For example, it's not uncommon for a child who has little to no interest in math or science to be above average in another area like art or music.