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Articles from
April 2006
Keep Gifted Students Motivated Through Mentoring
This year, 28 students have been paired with an architect, a doctor, writers, a biathlon coach, a municipal counselor, veterinarian, artists, a theatrical makeup expert, a lawyer, a carpenter, photographers, an interior designer, computer experts, and a cartoonist. These community members meet with the children for 2 hours each week over an 8-10 week period. At the end of the program, students prepare a presentation for their classmates. These young people have accomplished a variety of tasks under the tutelage of their mentors, including building a ski rack, mastering an architectural drafting program, and working at a veterinary hospital.
The two teachers in charge of the program this year said that they were surprised that it wasn’t that difficult to find community members to volunteer their time to help the students and that the program is very fulfilling to the mentors, as well as the young people.
Each student should be screened to determine if he really has a strong interest in a subject and is willing to commit to the time necessary to participate in such a program. This can either be accomplished through the school or parents can make arrangements on their own. Think about the type of person who might support the child’s interest and begin networking through friends and professional acquaintances. As both a teacher and a parent, I have had other adults approach me with their child’s interest, asking if I knew anyone who might help. I can almost always think of either individual people with expertise or organizations the parents might begin contacting. All of the personal experiences I have had with mentorships—elementary through high school—have been very successful.
Don't Jump to Conclusions about Your Child's Gifted Characteristics
Recently I had some pretty obvious physical symptoms that indicated I should see a doctor. Because my symptoms were pretty pronounced, I was shuttled from doctor to doctor in quick succession. Each specialist hypothesized about what awful disease I probably had. While each of these doctors had a lot of experience in their professions, we had no test results back yet. There was little objective information. I didn’t want to listen to any of their speculations, because I would worry myself unnecessarily. It also would have made no sense for them to treat me for an illness they just thought I had. This reminded me of communications I have with many parents.
I hear a lot from concerned parents with young children. Either the parents or others are having trouble with the kids. The parents are certain that their child is gifted and that is the cause of the problems. They don’t know what to do. They are frantic. I often want to say, “Slow down. You do not have enough information to come to any conclusions yet.” Because some well-meaning teacher or friend tells you that they think your child is gifted, doesn’t mean she is. Even if your child is gifted, that doesn’t mean that his or her giftedness is the cause of whatever problems you are having. The parents are assuming a “diagnosis” and speculating about “treatment” prematurely.
Once your child is in school, talk with your child’s teacher. While you may see one side of your child, your child’s teacher has worked with many children and may have valuable information to share with you that is quite different from your perspective. While it is important for you to share your knowledge, it is also extremely important for you to truly listen.
Parenting Books on the Gifted
Want to learn more about parenting the gifted? Read some of the following books:
Practical strategies for the education of exceptionally high ability children.
A good mix of research-based conclusions and anecdotal stories of how children, parents, educators and society at large deal with giftedness.
From solving social problems, to dealing with perfectionism, and developing time-management strategies, to mastering goal setting, this is an up-to-date guide for gifted kids, their parents, and teachers.
This user friendly guidebook educates parents and teachers about important gifted issues, an ideal resource for the beginner to seasoned veteran in educating gifted children.
Provides a humorous, engaging, and encouraging look at raising gifted children today with practical, down-to-earth approaches. Goes beyond the basics, focusing on attitude, reflection, and subtle changes, rather than specific, cookie-cutter recipes for action.
Great introduction to IQ testing and gifted children. Answers your questions, from “Why test?” to “What do the scores mean?” and “What about scores of twice exceptional children?”
A practical, informative, and authoritative primer for raising and educating gifted children from preschool to adolescence. Beginning with sensible strategies to determine whether, and in which area, your child is gifted, this book takes parents through selecting an appropriate day-care center, a school, and a home reference library.
Helps you understand the meanings and implications of having a gifted or talented child in your family and provides practical suggestions for working with your child's school.
Helps you recognize your child's gifts, understand his or her problems at school, find out your district's policy on gifted education, explore various options, communicate effectively with the school and district, and provide enrichment at home.
Helps you understand what giftedness is (and isn't) and how kids are identified as gifted. You'll discover encouraging practical tips for living with your gifted child, find out how to keep from raising a "nerd," how to prevent perfectionism, and when to get help. And you'll learn how to advocate for your child's education at school and in your state.
Offers background and advice from the identification process, to choosing a teacher, to gifted programs and curriculum.
Stories of gifted kids, from verbal to humor, and great quotes from the experts, all to get you started on your adventure with your gifted child.
How to recognize giftedness, from the obvious signs such as advanced language, math and motor skills, to the less obvious ones such as sense of humor, good memory and active imagination. The book also offers a variety of age-appropriate techniques to stimulate your child's curiosity.
Schooling Options for Gifted Students
Because parents want the best possible opportunities for their children, different school options should be explored. Each type of schooling has positive and negative aspects, and there is no one right solution. The best choice lies within the needs and characteristics of your individual child and your family.
Let’s look at three possibilities: neighborhood school, special school for the gifted, and homeschooling. We will look at these broadly, because even within each of these categories, there can be great diversity. I have listed both advantages and disadvantages for each type of schooling, but these are only possible advantages and disadvantages. Much will depend on the specific situation, including training of teachers, characteristics of individual students, the population of the neighborhood or special school, etc.
Neighborhood School
Advantages—This is certainly the most convenient possibility. The school is close. It is probably either within walking distance or provides transportation. The school often has before and afterschool options, which is convenient for working parents. Children become acquainted with others in the neighborhood, making it easier to make friends in the area. Your child may feel very confident knowing that he is one of the best students in the school. He will be exposed to a wide variety of types of people and, hopefully, learn to get along with those who have different backgrounds, ethnicities, and intellectual abilities.
Disadvantages—A gifted child may not find a cadre of intellectual peers at the neighborhood school. She may feel very lonely and set apart from others at the school. Teachers and/or the organization of the school may not be equipped to provide for the higher intellectual needs of the student; therefore, your child may not feel intellectually challenged.
Special School for the Gifted (may be private or public)
Advantages—Since the school is designed for the gifted, the curriculum will be more intellectually appropriate and stimulating. Your child will have intellectual peers and challenges. She may be better prepared academically to go on to the next level of education. Teachers are trained specifically to work with intellectually able children and will cover not only more content, but higher level thinking skills.
Disadvantages— Transportation may be a problem. There may be additional costs if the school is public. There definitely will be costs of tuition, etc. if the school is private.
Your child will probably not be exposed to as great a diversity of children as in your neighborhood school. Your child may feel intellectually average or even below average amongst so many smart kids. High expectations may feel too challenging and stressful.
Homeschooling
Advantages—Your child can focus on his real strengths. He may advance much more quickly through curriculum and also go more in-depth with it. There may be more time to pursue the study of an instrument or some other nonacademic interest area. There are more opportunities to visit museums and other outside educational venues. Your student may be spared from dealing with others who may be unkind or have different values than your family.
Disadvantages—Homeschooling is a very large commitment on the part of the parent. If both parents are working or the child is from a single parent home, this may not be possible. Parents may not have the tools to effectively homeschool their child. Parents will need to work harder to provide social interaction. Your child may not have the opportunity to learn to deal with students who are unkind or have different values than your family.
Each of these possibilities has advantages and disadvantages. You will have to look long and hard at your family’s situation. When you do make a decision, be careful not to shut doors behind you. You may try an option and find that it doesn’t work as well as you hoped. You want to leave doors open so you can eventually reverse your decision if you decide that is best.
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