mom brag ahead!

Ok, so we've always known #1 was super smart. He could tell me how the digestive system worked when he was three--because he read about it. He was inventing political commercials on his own when he was four!

So it's not really surprising that he was designated as "Talented and Gifted" by his school district. They use a combination of cognitive testing (which students must place above the 97th percentile) and have "supporting behavioral, learning, or performance information" to determine placement. I do have to say though that it is really nice to receive a formal letter in the mail from the school district to inform me that he "qualifies for identification as: Intellectually Gifted".

This means, according to the letter, that he will receive individualized instruction and an educational plan that is designed to both be at his level AND challenge his abilities. It also means that he will have special out-of-school activities that he can be in (like spelunking Mt. St. Helen's lava tubes in June!).

But anyway, like I said, it's kinda nice to get that sort of letter. :-)