Help Your Gifted & Talented Child Request a Grade Skip Your gifted child is not challenged in any subject and enrichment and differentiation are not enough. If you’re considering whole-grade acceleration, do your legwork. Acceleration allows a student to be challenged in a standard classroom without extraordinary efforts for differentiation. Teachers usually do not have … Read more
Research Supports Grade Advancement of Gifted and Talented Students Grade acceleration is a viable option for gifted children performing above grade level in all subject areas but is often resisted by school administration and teachers. In Genius Denied, Davidson Institute founders Jan and Bob Davidson claim objections to acceleration fall into two categories of concern: … Read more
One of the toughest decisions a gifted child’s parents may have to make is whether skipping a grade is right for their child, not only now but also in the long run. Why Consider Whole-Grade Acceleration? When a gifted child excels in math, art, music, or literature, parents and teachers can work as a team … Read more
Modern Misnomers and Fallacies About Gifted Children For good reason, many parents of truly gifted children, as defined by traditional standards, are very reluctant to have the “gifted” label attached to their child. Because intellectual giftedness is commonly misunderstood by parents, educators, and the general public, certain myths, and fallacies need to be addressed for … Read more
Signs of Intellectual Giftedness in a Young Child Identifying a gifted child at the earliest possible age is key in providing the optimal stimulation the toddler needs to realize his or her potential. There are certain key characteristics typical of the gifted toddler, who can be challenging from a behavioral sense. These children tend to … Read more
Balancing the Need for Stimulation Versus the Need for Solitude Parents of gifted children can be so anxious to provide opportunities for stimulation, that they sometimes forget the child has an increased need for quiet reflection. Many parents of gifted kids have a fear of not providing enough stimulation to their child. They have read … Read more
Homeschool Curriculum for Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Calculus When gifted math students finish homeschool curricula like Math-U-See, Right Start Mathematics, or Singapore Math, they need more challenging math problems. Many homeschool math curricula serve gifted students’ needs. Student-directed learning paced to individual skill accommodates the asynchronous abilities of many gifted children. The flexibility to condense material … Read more
Finding Enrichment Opportunities for a Young Gifted Child Parents who discover they have an intellectually gifted child want to ensure they provide the appropriate stimulation for optimal development. Here are some ideas. When a young child is discovered to be gifted, initially at least, parents are elated. After the glow of these feelings wears off, … Read more
Maximizing the Full Potential of a Gifted Child Raising a child is the greatest lifetime achievement adults can accomplish. Rearing a child with high intelligence is challenging but very rewarding. Every parent makes some mistakes, but if one pays attention to some fundamental principles, nurturing a child to achieve his maximum capabilities is a logical … Read more
Teacher Compliments Are Different From District Assessments Every child works a bit of magic, and every parent has had those breath-taking moments when a child says, does, or creates something brilliant. When a parent says, “My child is gifted,” that parent is absolutely accurate. Children are gifted and talented, and the parents and teachers who … Read more