gomomgo Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Anyone have any experience using this? I know that the GDC will be my best bet, but we just don't have the financial means to pay for the testing and make the cross-country trip. http://www.talentigniter.com/ruf-estimates-gifted-assessment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I wouldn't spend the money on it. I don't see how the information that you would get would be useful. Why do you want to test? Is it to get into a program? If so, ask them what they will take instead of the test or how to get the test less expensively. Is it to look for learning challenges? If so, ask your child's doctor for help. Is it to find out what level to teach? If so, an iq test won't help. It doesn't give that kind of information. Try a placement test in whatever the subject is and go from there. I hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2smartones Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) She used to have all that info free on her website. It's also available in her book(s), which can be found at used bookstores and libraries for $10 or less. Don't pay $60 for a computer to "test" your child. It's not a giftedness test, anyway. An IQ test can tell which children have the highest potential regardless of culture, background, or socioeconomic status. A lot of what Ruf says varies greatly based on these factors. A lot of "gifted" kids according to her guidelines aren't actually gifted at all (especially in the preschool & early elementary years when there are such wide variations of normal). Also... call GDC and ask them if there are any testers in driving distance of you. I know there are some in places like Dallas, etc. who are just as capable and who trained in Denver. They sometimes have a cheaper hourly rate for consutations, too. Another suggestion is to do testing through a university or something, then call GDC for a consultation over the phone. It'll only cost you about $250 to talk to them that way. Something else to keep in mind is that testing MIGHT be covered by your health insurance if the reason for testing is something like ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, etc. Health insurance companies don't cover testing purely for academic curiosity, but they sometimes will cover some or all of the costs for a medical (mental health) reason. Again... any psychologist could administer the tests. The results might not be as great as if someone trained in giftedness gave them, but you could still call GDC with the scores and do a phone consultation. Edited September 24, 2012 by 2smartones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Gomomgo, I know each school district is different, but I had my daughter tested through our school district. It was free. She started with the Naglieri and then there were 2 more rounds of testing and an interview with a gifted specialist. Our testing was through the school district's Early Childhood Center. They also did free testing for LDs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomomgo Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Thanks. In my state, we have no gifted programs in the schools, nor testing for it. The focus is on helping kids with special needs on the other end. So I would not be testing for that - I already know my only hope is homeschooling. My mentor has suggested it (she raised/homeschooled her two gifted children) so that we could apply our children to the Davidson Young program. I also would like to just know for sure. Our pedi was the one who originally cued us in to the fact that our precocious first DD was very likely gifted. We just thought she was entertaining and smart, but now that I've read up on it (and realize that we know basically no other peers who started reading at age 3, memorizing entire books after one read aloud, etc.), that she likely is. I just want 'proof', I guess. I get questioned on my motives a lot, for homeschooling, and I hate throwing around the word 'gifted' (and don't) but in those few cases (I'm thinking of a particularly aggressive, anti homseschooling neighbor/former teacher who regularly questions me), I'd like to just be able to say 'you know what? School isn't going to work for her and here's exactly why.' Thanks for the ideas. I have indeed approached the GDC and there is no one nearby, as far as testers go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I actually used this just recently because I was curious how it would come out. If you're actually looking for answers about your child, I wouldn't rely on this test. It uses information you remember about your child's milestones from birth to age 6 and comes up with a level of giftedness based on that alone. It doesn't take into account any issues that may be inhibiting certain aspects of development. For example, it scored my son just a tad above average in spatial ability. We discovered when he was 4yo that he needed glasses and then at age 5 he did vision therapy for more than a year. By the time he was 7, he scored two 19s on the WISC IV PRI subtests. So my point is that I wouldn't use it for anything other than entertainment, if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2smartones Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Online tests aren't valid for DYS anyway. I'd look for a psychologist (any psychologist) who could do something like the WJ for you, and then submit a portfolio if the WJ is high enough. That way you're not having to pay for an IQ test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Thanks. In my state, we have no gifted programs in the schools, nor testing for it. The focus is on helping kids with special needs on the other end. So I would not be testing for that - I already know my only hope is homeschooling. My mentor has suggested it (she raised/homeschooled her two gifted children) so that we could apply our children to the Davidson Young program. I also would like to just know for sure. Our pedi was the one who originally cued us in to the fact that our precocious first DD was very likely gifted. We just thought she was entertaining and smart, but now that I've read up on it (and realize that we know basically no other peers who started reading at age 3, memorizing entire books after one read aloud, etc.), that she likely is. I just want 'proof', I guess. I get questioned on my motives a lot, for homeschooling, and I hate throwing around the word 'gifted' (and don't) but in those few cases (I'm thinking of a particularly aggressive, anti homseschooling neighbor/former teacher who regularly questions me), I'd like to just be able to say 'you know what? School isn't going to work for her and here's exactly why.' Thanks for the ideas. I have indeed approached the GDC and there is no one nearby, as far as testers go. I agree with what others have said about Talent Igniter. I happen to have a kid who doesn't adore jigsaw puzzles and TI had quite a number of qns about jigsaw puzzles :glare:. Uggh for crazy neighbors and good for you for going with your gut. I missed how old your child is but you could try the EXPLORE test option for the achievement portion and compile a portfolio of some of her best, most promising work (videos make great portfolio samples!). If her EXPLORE scores make the cut for her age-grade and her portfolio is strong, you might have a fighting chance even without the IQ scores. The following offer EXPLORE through talent search programs. Even if you don't live close to a testing region, Belin Blank might be able to mail your chosen proctor the test packet so that she can test at home or in your library. I asked BB to send our packet to a credentialed teacher we know; the teacher proctored the test in our home and I treated her to lunch to thank her. The teacher mailed the packet back to BB for scoring. http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/246 http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/testing_elementary_student_talent_search.html http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/Students/BESTS/4-6.aspx Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomomgo Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) Thanks, that's helpful, Quark. Didn't know about the puzzle questions, but my DD hates 'em, too. She's more creatively gifted, I believe. I think she'd be very hard to identify on a test. In fact, I have a hard time imagining how she will be identified, if at all. My DD is 5 (well, will be in a few days). Will check out those links, looks like she may be too young right now but I'll note it for the future. Big challenges right now are behavioral issues with her related to insane sensitivity/hyper focus on things. Ugh. I don't really know where to turn. Edited September 25, 2012 by gomomgo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Big challenges right now are behavioral issues with her related to insane sensitivity/hyper focus on things. Overexcitabilities and the Gifted Child article Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities on Hoagies I have two intense, hyper focus kids and I am the same way myself. Still figuring my way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara H Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Do you live anywhere near a college or university? Some graduate psych and education programs offer testing by supervised students at a pretty reasonable rate. If you haven't already seen it, also take a look at the Hoagie's list http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/psychologists.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slackermom Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 We are in the same boat, with no school-based programs or testing. We had extensive free testing done through a hospital-based research program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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