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from the teach-your-children-well- dept. With their schools' funding and future on the line, teachers today are often forced to "teach to the test," ensuring the highest possible percentage of students obtains a "proficient" rating on the required standardized tests. Special programs for gifted and talented students receive less that one fifth of one percent of the $5 billion that the government spends on students with learning problems, which results in gifted programs relying on state support which, varies dramatically and is woefully underfunded. Some people wrongly assume that gifted students are just super-smart kids who can fend for themselves; however, research shows that gifted students need specially trained teachers and advanced curricula that let them progress at different speeds in different subjects. "Gifted students often become frustrated and depressed if they're held back from developing their full potential," says Dorothy Sisk, Ed.D., former director of the Office of Gifted and Talented in the Department of Education, which was eliminated in 1981 by budget cuts. So, what should parents look for in a school to ensure it meets the needs of their gifted children? The following is a chart of characteristics of gifted children and how that effects their requirements for a school program: Because gifted students Are curious and desirous of learning…They need a program that sustains involvement in a wide variety of advanced studies Because they have a long attention span…They need a program that allows them to delve deeply into a subject during class periods of sufficient length Because they resist routine…They need a program that does not drill students on problems they've mastered Because they like to question and express ideas… They need a program that has lively and intense discussions where the adult is often not seen as the sole authority Because they are extremely sensitive to fair play, honor, and truth…They need a program that is based on a relationship of trust and balances the development of heroes with the understanding that life and individuals cannot always be perfectly fair or honest Because they are able to think at advanced levels of complexity…They need a program that includes activities and discussions of concepts such as cause and effect, as well as cross-curricular relationships Because they have an advanced sense of humor…They need a program that is creative and fun Because they need to interact with mental peers…They need a program that is multi-age - does not arbitrarily group students by age But there is increasing concern - from parents and teachers - that students who are already "proficient" and beyond are being overlooked and that our public school system is neglecting our future leaders. Because they like to focus on their strengths and successes…They need a program that requires interdisciplinary learning and appropriately reinforces the concepts. Because they prefer looking at the "whole" rather than artificially segmented "parts"…they need a program that allows them the freedom to skip steps that seem unnecessary or come naturally, without much awareness on their parts Created by The Logan School for Creating Learning, Denver, Colorado - www.logan.pvt.k12.us.co < | >
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Meeting the Needs of the Gifted
