Gifted Education in Rural Communities
Gifted education in metropolitan communities can be difficult, but it has the potential for much greater challenge in rural areas where the options may be more limited and funding even more restricted. Nevertheless, some small, isolated communities are able to move past those hurdles and provide excellent opportunities for gifted students.
When consulting with school districts in rural Colorado, I was always very impressed with the caring communities of teachers, their willingness to recognized real strengths and potential in individual students, and their efforts to see that the needs of these students were met.
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Smaller classes make children’s needs more apparent.
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Administrators are more accessible, making it easier to get approval to implement new accommodations.
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Teachers have fewer students to oversee.
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Because fewer students are competing for available spots on teams and leadership positions in clubs, gifted students may be able to participate in more activities.
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School personnel, students, and families often socialize outside of school, making the community more close-knit. Because of this, teachers are able to observe their students’ achievements in out-of-school activities and accept gifted students’ individual differences more readily.
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The community often opens itself up as a resource, enhancing open-ended learning opportunities.
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Students are often grouped with the same individuals throughout their school years, permitting classmates and teachers to develop strong relationships.
Although many of these advantages can also be viewed as disadvantages, specific strategies can be used to overcome negative aspects. Technological advancements make many of these strategies even more viable. Many of the hurdles that rural communities face have the same solutions that should be heeded by metropolitan areas. They include:
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various types of acceleration and grouping,
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specialized gifted education training for educators,
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development of relationships with like-ability peers and mentors through interactive technologies,
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creatively accessing additional educational resources, and
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helping students and parents to see education and career possibilities beyond their local environment.
Parents can have a strong influence on the quality of education for their own children and for the school as a whole. Much can be accomplished when parents offer positive feedback and assistance to educators and work with other parents.