When parents have reached the conclusion that a child is intellectually gifted, they need to consider the possibility of other educational options in place of the standard public school programs. Public school is designed to serve the needs of children in the mainstream and not at the outer reaches of the bell curve. Here are some possibilities and options to explore.
Gifted Programs Within Public Schools
There are many school systems that offer enhanced programs for gifted students, who are often educated apart from the mainstream classroom. The efficacy of these programs is varied. Some are well run and researched, others are not an optimal setting for gifted students who can become ostracized from other students in the same school system because they are seen as “different”.
Some public schools have extra classes that give special attention to these students. They do some work outside the mainstream but are more integrated in the school, sharing some classes with the general population of students. While this helps to meet the social needs of the child, the intellectual needs may go unaddressed.
Special Schools for the Gifted
There are both public and private institutions for kids will intellectual giftedness. An alternative to this type of program is a dual enrollment that allows for some classes in one and other classes in a different school. This is seldom a practical solution with transportation issues and other logistic problems.
Private Schools
The advantage of a private school is the individualized programs with smaller classrooms. However, the expense of some private schools may be prohibitive to many middle class families, who are more focused on saving money for college educations.
Early Admission/Early Advancement
Letting the child start school earlier and skip grades has been a common practice for very bright children. From a social standpoint, the child is seen as special, different and may have problems adjusting to the social aspects of life with kids who are older.
Homeschooling
For the family who has the luxury of a non-working adult in the home, this option is sometimes viable. However, this arrangement presents a very time and effort intensive commitment for the teaching parent. For some resources on accomplishing this endeavor, see Hoagies' Gifted Education Page: Homeschool Curricula.
Or, an alternate source of information is Homeschooling With Gifted Children.
Tutoring and Mentoring Programs
Hiring a private tutor, or an in-school mentor, who specializes in teaching the gifted may be a solution that works for many families. It is also possible to combine several of the approaches listed here to form a customized program for the child that meets his specific needs best. There are many excellent resources on this topic in any large public library as well as on the internet.
Taking the time to evaluate the child with a psychologist or other specialist up front would be well worth the time and expense involved. The first stop should be the child's pediatrician, who may be a good resource for finding help.
Parents of a gifted child need to consider all the available options including public and private alternatives before developing an educational plan for the child. They may benefit from supplementing any program or school with other enrichment activities including the possibility of selecting a tutor or a mentor to work individually in helping the child fulfill his or her academic potential.
References:
Carol Fertig, Raising a Gifted Child, Waco, TX: Prufrock Press, Inc., 2009.
Therese Haberman - With a MS degree and 25 years in HR mgmt, in 2005, Ms.Therese began a writing career specializing in children and HR.
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