When we started our Blended Family, the kid's therapist recommended we do a baseline IQ test of our three youngest. The reasoning? Many times over the years she had witnessed teachers and administrators easily label kids if their square peg learning style didn't fit into a school's round whole approach. Little to do with a kids intelligence level, more of a way to make a kid the problem when their teaching style wasn't working.
Am-I-A-Genius?_IQ-Tests-For-Kids
We agreed at the time, thinking it would never be necessary. We had done a lot of research in selecting a private school we believed was the perfect fit for our kids. Yet the kids respective IQ testing played a pivotal role in all three of their education. Little Hart's more so than the others.
Little Hart had a rough go of it in lower school, specifically 5th grade. Her 5th grade teacher expressed growing frustration with Little Hart which quickly turned into vocal protests that our child was bordering on being "unteachable."
That little gem was not only a huge shock, but stung particulary hard given it came from a teacher that knows "how to" teach smart kids. The implication being that if she couldn't teach Little Hart - she must not be smart.
We never bought into the Teacher's expert assesment. Yet our kid was doing poorly in her class - so we agreed with the Teacher and School Principal to send Little Hart to a tutor an hour a day. At an additional cost. Little Hart excelled with the tutor. However, it never translated into the classroom.
Not surprising given the Teacher's negative attitude toward Little Hart. Yet, the teacher continued pushing for more hours of the school day to be spent with the tutor - to "help" Little Hart. The cold hard reality was the Teacher had no clue how teach Little Hart. Rather than say that - our kid became a huge problem.
When we refused - all Hell Broke Loose. We calmly explained our belief that Little Hart was a smart kid, supported with IQ testing, our own experience doing homework with our daughter. Along with the success Little Hart shared with her tutor. Our conclusion, the problem wasn't our kid. That didn't sit very well as you can imagine with either the teacher or the school.
So we changed schools. We found a school that taught smart kids according to how they learn not a one size fits all approach.
Funny thing happened. Little Hart blossomed! From day one - No outside tutors - No outside help of any kind! Not even extra help or special attention from her teacher. Turned out when someone taught Little Hart according to her intelligence level - she kicked some major ass at school.
Luckily we listened to the therapist's sage advice. Without the IQ testing, Little Hart's story probably would not have been one of success. The testing supported our gut feeling at a time when "experts" were constantly telling us that we were blind to our child's limited learning ability.
Bottom line, you know your child better than anyone. Experts in the educational field don't always get it right. No two kids learn exactly the same way. An IQ test gives you the strength to support your kid in times of trouble. Giving you a fighting chance to find an educational landing place for your kid to be successful academically. There is a right fit for you kid both school wise and teacher wise. The trick is finding the right combination.
Has you gut ever been opposite of an experts opinion of your child? How were you able to counteract the assessment?
