Thspatial Reasoning - 1St Grader

Updated on February 18, 2012
L.E. asks from West Mifflin, PA
13 answers

Hi Mamas,
Hoping that you can help. My son scored highly in math comprehension, problem solving, and reading in two rounds of gifted testing for 1st graders, but has to go through a third round as he was a point off in a category called "spatial reasoning". I asked his teacher what this meant, and even checked the CogAt site, but all I was able to find is that it has to do with moving or manipulating shapes. I have not found even one example of what a question would look like in this category. Since he came so close and has qualified to do another round of tests, I'd like to see if there are study resources out there to help him prepare. I'm pretty sure that if he understands the question he'll be able to figure out the answer. He's in the appropriate IQ range for gifted classes, but our school is very large and very competitive, and there are only so many slots to go around. I have to say that all this testing is foreign to me; I'm a "mature" mom, and 1st grade was a long long time ago, in a Catholic school far away.

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for your insight. I was fairly sure that this was not something I could prepare him for, but found myself slipping into obsessive parent mode after hearing conversations of other moms regarding this test, and what they were doing to get their kids ready. He will be tested again within the next two months given that he's right on the line, but after talking with his teacher I've learned that there will be plenty of opportunities for him to do advanced work next year even if he's not put on the 'gifted' track. I am happy with that and most definitely don't want to put pressure on him. Many thanks to everyone for your advice!

Featured Answers

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

My son did the 3 hr gifted testing this year and we did not study with him beforehand. It is my belief that you child either gets it or does not and if they need to be in the gifted program they will automatically "get it" with these kinds of concepts. If they are a very bright child but just don't quite make it on these tests, then this is ok...this is the way it should be. I told my son to just try his best and if he gets into GATE, great! And if he does not get into GATE, that is fine too.

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I completely agree with the others who thought this was a test that should not be studied for. I am a g/t certified teacher, and this test measures HOW a student learns, not WHAT they know. Your son sounds extremely bright, and it sounds like he is in an excellent school. He will very likely get an exceptional education whether he is labelled g/t or not.

Also, many experts believe that one can't get an accurrate reading on the CogAT or any g/t test until the 3rd grade or so because of maturity levels. Will your school be willing to test your son again in the next year or so? Chances are that he will do better on the test when he is a little more mature.

Have a great weekend! :)

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

I taught math. Spatial reasoning is generally that ability to manipulate pictures and shapes mentally. For example, showing a cube unfolded where each side is a different color and then being about to choose the picture that shows what the assembled cube would look like. It's also the ability to read a map and then "see" the path in your head as you are walking. Or it may be the ability to see a picture of the front of a building and visualize that back. There are a wide variety of ways to test spatial reasoning. Tangram puzzles may be one way.

The issue here is that your child may be extremely bright and extremely gifted, but not meet the school requirements for the program. If this test is truly objective, you will not be able to study for the test. I know many kids who were not even tested until sixth grade and higher. Please do not put undo stress on your child or yourself over this issue. I really feel like school is an extension of what we should be doing at home, so you can fill any those gifted needs at home for a while. Gl!

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

There may be such resources for spatial reasoning. But the point of the testing they are doing is to assess him without that sort of prep. Seriously. It isn't to see WHAT he knows, but what his level of perception and understanding is. Does that make sense?

http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idReg...
Here's a free sample test. No way to study for this. Really.

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I would NOT have him study for this. Spacial reasoning is just that REASONING. This type of question is typically part of a "cognitive abilities" or IQ test. Different than the math or reading sections, they aren't about KNOWING things or understanding complicated questions, they are typically about using spacial sense to manipulate things.

Examples I've seen in this area are... He might be given a picture of a tower from one angle (front view) and asked to pick out of a set of pictures which one could be THAT tower from a different angle (maybe right view). Or... he might be given the outline of a figure that can be made from pattern blocks and asked to create the figure using the blocks in front of him (the examiner probably times him to see how quickly he does this). Or, might be asked to figure out what image would be next in a pattern (but not the obvious patterns like AABA).

HTH

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

Spatial reasoning is like being able to read and locate by directions.

Where is the ball?
On top?
In the middle?
On the bottom?

Is the yellow cat on the left or the right?

Is the boy swimming under water or above water?

Here is the deal. Our daughter also attended schools that sound like what you are dealing with. The good news is that the entire teaching staff was trained to teach gifted and so no one was treated any differently.

Some parents had their children tested, but in reality, there was no difference inthe education.

Our daughter was not labeled and yet she was always an excellent student. NMS, accepted to all 9 top tiered colleges she applied to.

So do not worry so much. Just encourage your son to do his best. As long as he is doing this, you should be very proud. If he needs to learn a concept, you will want him to be taught this concept, not just guess or cram for what should be his natural needs.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

I like the analogy that spatial reasoning is like imagined manipulation..... the child can "see" in his mind how things are going to work/go.

I believe that each generation gets better at this....due to computers/video games. Dorky commentary, but I do believe there is some truth in it.

I know that I can achieve this much easier than my DH, & my sons rock waaaaay past my skills. Or perhaps we're just more visually-oriented.

Trying to study for this seems a little bit odd....it's something you either have or you don't. :)

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

If your school is using valid tests, tests that truly test reasoning and cognitive ability, which are the ones that should be used to test for giftedness, then there is no way to study for them. Other standardized tests test for material that can be taught and learned, and can be studied for.

Here are some examples: http://www.queendom.com/queendom_tests/transfer

I also agree with Jo that 1st grade is too early to test for giftedness. The latest research shows that late 2nd or even 3rd grade is much more accurate, since child brain development is very uneven until that age. Read the book "Nutureshock" for more details on this. My daughter was well below grade level in reading ability in 1st grade, by the end of 3rd grade, she tested at 99th percentile in reading.

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L.U.

answers from Seattle on

Here's my feeling on this.
Your son is probably very bright. BUT...he's in 1st grade. If he doesn't understand what spatial reasoning is (which I don't know what it is either!) then he doesn't know! Can you imagine the stress your son is feeling doing three rounds of testing!?
My kid tested for our HC (highly capable) classes too. Just last week. But, I didn't study with him at all. If he is highly capable he is, but I am not going to put any more pressure on him. And if in fact he passes the testing then we will discuss if we are even going to put him in the class.
I have to remind myself that he is 9. He needs to be a KID. He is going to have about 80 years to be an adult (God willing).
L.

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M.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Here's a great website with some ideas for spatial reasoning-
http://www.psychometric-success.com/aptitude-tests/spatia...

One of my favorite examples of spatial reasoning is when your child is so little that you can break 1 cookie in half and they think they have 2 cookies. ;)

Or- When you have 2 containers of liquids (1 long and skinny and the other short and wide) and children automatically think that the tall one holds more liquid when they both hold the same amount.

Or- my Grandpop used to always play a trick on my sisters and I where he would have a $1.00 bill in one hand and a bag of pennies in the other. My little sisters would automatically choose the pennies because there were more of them. Then he would laugh that there were only 96 pennies, etc...

You can probably get some neat shape kits at the 'Learning Connection' or other creative kid store (usually marketing for educational or homeschool materials) that will help with this sort of thing.

Good luck! It sounds like he's on the right track!

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E.B.

answers from Denver on

I am fairly certain that a spatial reasoning question would be non-verbal, with few or no printed words in the question, other than "what comes next?" or a similar phrase. For example, there would be a series of five squares. In the first square, there would be one dot. In the second, two dots, in the third, three dots, and in the fourth, four dots. The fifth box would be empty. The child would have to predict which of the answer boxes would be the next in the series. The answer boxes would contain various numbers of dots, or no dots, and one box would contain five dots, which of course would complete the pattern. Other examples might be a particular colored triangle. First it would be placed in the lower left corner, then the upper left, then the upper right. The answer would be the box showing the triangle in the lower right. It's patterns, predicting sequences, figuring out which shapes would belong in a blank space, etc. So it involves observing, and thinking about which answer option completes the pattern. You can help your son prepare by having him look at the pattern, and not rush. Some kids pick the prettiest or brightest colored answer, or the first answer, or they get flustered.

Spatial reasoning is what allows us to judge simple things, like how big a container we will need for storing the leftover food, and it allows architects, designers and artists to determine scope and perspective and how their plan will fit in a landscape or in the space allotted. It's the ability to look at an empty backyard and say "oh, our swing set will fit there, and we can easily fit the hot tub there", without literally placing them in a spot and moving them around. It's physical and sight judgment. You know how some people can just say "your couch would look awesome over there" and you say "oh it would never fit and if it did it would look terrible there" but then you try it and they were right! And they didn't measure or spend hours dragging the couch all over your room? That's spatial reasoning.

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

If you Google "testing for spatial reasoning," you'll find many links that show one or more sample questions. Here's one: http://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/spatial_reasoning.aspx

Spatial reasoning means the ability to "see" mentally in pictures and to "feel" mentally in shapes. This allows us to see a shape and recognize what it's mirror image will look like. Or see a flat shape and recognize which of several choices shows that same shape folded into three dimensions. Or which of several shapes can be categorized, and which fall outside that categorization. Or similar mental tasks. Not everybody has full access to these skills, any more than everybody has a great memory for names, dates or faces. Some people have some aptitude that can be developed with practice.

Some educators/testers would agree that spatial abilities are important, others would argue that they're an assist to overall intelligence testing, but those without them can get along just fine in real life, as long as their educations nurture their particular strengths.

If your school reserves TAG placements for those kids who score high in spatial reasoning, that may keep your son out. The tests are somewhat arbitrary. And there's a rising argument that first grade is too early to test for TAG placements – those results can change radically over the next few years. For now, it is what it is. You might want to read about the system and what activism might change it for future kids. Your efforts may not change the opportunities available to your child.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I would ask his teacher to explain spatial reasoning as well as ask for study tips.

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