Is it possible for the gifted to have a positive school experience? - Page 3

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by ChristaN 
I think that's a bit of a black and white declaration.  My dds are both highly gifted (with IQ test scores as well as achievement scores in the 99th percentile - 99.9th).  One of them has had mixed experiences, but with significant acceleration is having a good experience at this point.  It's not perfect and she's not being seriously challenged in many areas, but it is fairly good.  It just takes a lot more atypical accommodations in her situation.

Agreed. There is nothing that points to my eldest being NOT "truly highly gifted" (with her IQ nearing the HG/PG line, achievement scores off the scale as well, plus reams of exceptional accomplishments), and her school experiences have been overall pretty positive. She's not "seriously challenged," but she's happy and she's learning, and she gets plenty of serious challenge in other areas of her life. So it's all good.

Miranda

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by moominmamma 

Our experience with public school for my highly gifted eldest daughter has not been typical, but I think it's worth mentioning because it flies in the face of your statement above. We live in a rural area served by a single small school which receives considerably less funding than an average US public school, has minimal teacher resources and is populated by kids who aren't exactly the socio-economic cream of the crop. There's no gifted program at all and no program for identification.

And yet the school has served my dd's needs very well. She began attending in 9th grade, part-time, in order to motivate herself to do academic work in subject areas that aren't her natural strengths or passions. She's technically considered a full-time student now, but has a ton of latitude to work at home. She was given advanced standing in all areas, was not required to take prerequisites for challenging courses, she was allowed to self-pace her way through courses as an independent study student. She tends to work through courses sequentially: her first year she did Math 10 in 6 weeks, then Science 10 in 6 weeks, then headed into Math 11 and Writing 12. They've given her credit for her extensive music studies, a creative writing portfolio, her travel-related projects. She is given time off for part-time work, for orchestral gigs, for travel within Canada and overseas, for music tours, for violin lessons, for travel to choral rehearsals -- no questions asked. There's no question that the things she takes time off for are learning-related, and they see the sense in that. She mostly makes use of their Facilitated Learning Centre which is an open classroom for independent study, staffed by a teacher and TA who float about offering assistance as students work independently on coursework, project work and computer-based courseware. She knows all her schoolmates, hangs out a bit with a couple of them, is friends with a dozen or so, has fun on class trips and at special events; she has little in common with 95% of them, but feels valued and respected by her peers there. She enjoys being a little eccentric, and feels accepted for who she is. The teachers absolutely love her. 

So ... even poorly-funded rural schools with no special resources or programming for gifted children can provide a good school experience for gifted kids. (At least at the high school level. My youngest would love to attend in a similar fashion, but there's not provision for independent study prior to 9th grade.) The school just needs to be open-minded and willing to make wiggle room in the rules.

Miranda

I think that is awesome!  I do think, though, that it is easier to do in high school, where kids are not in one classroom with agemates, but can choose from a variety of selections, almost like in a college.  Not much help for my 7 year old.  :-)

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Galatea 

I think that is awesome!  I do think, though, that it is easier to do in high school, where kids are not in one classroom with agemates, but can choose from a variety of selections, almost like in a college.  Not much help for my 7 year old.  :-)

Totally agree. The "School of One" model would be very well-suited to elementary-aged kids ... but that's not the model our school uses.

Miranda

[mom2ponygirl]

Interesting program.  I think the plan of many groups working in one large space could be problematic for some kids though. Of course no one model would fit everyone - that's why choices are good.  

Originally Posted by moominmamma 

Totally agree. The "School of One" model would be very well-suited to elementary-aged kids ... but that's not the model our school uses.

Miranda

[Linda on the move]

My kids attend an open plan school (there are a couple of classrooms, such as the music room) that have doors, but it's mostly open plan. It works well for a variety of students, even those with ADD or sensory issues. However, there is a 6 to 1 student teacher ratio and the amount of square feet per child is FAR greater than at a traditional school. It's not like they just took a regular school and pulled the walls out -- that would be a mess. It's really the ratio that makes the difference, well, that and the attitude toward learning.

Our school is different from the one linked because technology is de-emphasized. Kids aren't working though computer based learning modules, but instead of doing things with their hands -- working in the green house, creating in the art center, studying with real live teachers who are experts in their fields. It's very dynamic.

It works great for gifted kids as well as kids with mild special needs. It's a dream for kids who are 2E.