Having the time and $$ to keep them academically and intellectually challenged. There are so many things we could do, learn about, investigate, etc. I just wish we had the resources and time to pursue them. It seems to me that gifted kids are intellectually hungry in ways that need ongoing, committed attention and that can be a real challenge. ~Bev
Our biggest challenge is to find ways to keep our child interested and challenged. School has always been very easy for our child and as a result, she is failing to learn how to STUDY! I also failed to learn how to study and it was always a challenge for me even through college. We also find that many of the characteristics that may do one well as an adult may not be the easiest characteristics to live with while they are a teenager.
I agree. I need more time, money, resources, and ideas to keep my daughter challenged and motivated. I have one idea for an activity for GATE. My daughter petitioned the PMMS administration to mediate debate teams at PMMS. She had students who were interested in being on a debaste team sign a petition but administration was unable to provide personnel to serve as advisors. Perhaps GATE students could form debate teams and the GATE teachers could mediate. it. The middle school age group is in the stage of development where debating issues and challenging opposing opinions comes natural! ~ Ann
@ Ann - at least at Central, 8th graders can join the high school debate team. I think a middle school debate team would be great and can think of several kids who'd qualify as great debaters! Our gifted 6th & 7th graders who don't have the high school option would benefit most of all.
I also wish that there were more informal opportunities for gifted kids to get together with their peers. Even just parent sponsored trips to local museums or events (say at JMU or carpooling to something farther away). It would be great to pool resources and give the kids more access to activities that are out there.
Having an informal "GATE" track for gifted kids in our school would be hugely helpful. I would love to know what AP classes my 9th grader might be able to take next year and/or what classes she could test out of and move up to the next grade level class if that were an option.
My child also needs to learn how to study but hasn't yet and won't unless something really changes in her class offerings. Nothing has been difficult enough to require it and I'm out of ideas on how to find a class hard enough. I really worry about her going to college and getting walloped because she never learned how to study. Online classes aren't the same and it seem difficult to get kids into higher level classes other than math. Thank goodness for the advanced math options we have. I wish the kids could also jump two or more years ahead in the other classes - especially english and science.
It is very difficult to keep your child challenged, and to get the schools to recognize the need for this. In 2nd grade my son was bored out of his mind and it seemed the only answer I could get from the school system at the time was to give him MORE work, not challenging work. They would not even consider letting him skip a grade. I ended up homeschooling him in order for him to be able to skip to the next grade. He did wonderful and luckily when he chose to go back to public school, they allowed him to go back into school a grade ahead. He is doing great and I always wonder what problems we may have had if he would have had to stay in his actual grade.
Thank goodness you were able to find a solution that worked for your son. I struggle with this issue, too. If my kids learn more than what they will cover in the school year, am I setting them up for major frustrating boredom later on when they scheduled to learn something in their age appropriate class that they already know. My DD was able to skip two years of math and that made a huge difference but it was only in that subject. I can already see that this type of concern will come up with my DS and science classes. At age 10 he is getting his own microscope and by the high school he'll want to take the Bio class that addresses anatomy but it isn't offered at our high school. He will doing dissection at home this year just because he is that interested. I have no idea what I'll do as the years go by to keep him engaged at the level he wants to be learning, and is ready for. I know we are a small school system and they try hard to meet the needs of gifted kids and can't offer all classes at all campuses. I wonder if the school lets you advance kids in science if they show the interest, apptitude, and commitment needed to take a higher level class. Bev H
Having the time and $$ to keep them academically and intellectually challenged. There are so many things we could do, learn about, investigate, etc. I just wish we had the resources and time to pursue them. It seems to me that gifted kids are intellectually hungry in ways that need ongoing, committed attention and that can be a real challenge. ~Bev
ReplyDeleteOur biggest challenge is to find ways to keep our child interested and challenged. School has always been very easy for our child and as a result, she is failing to learn how to STUDY! I also failed to learn how to study and it was always a challenge for me even through college.
ReplyDeleteWe also find that many of the characteristics that may do one well as an adult may not be the easiest characteristics to live with while they are a teenager.
I agree. I need more time, money, resources, and ideas to keep my daughter challenged and motivated.
ReplyDeleteI have one idea for an activity for GATE. My daughter petitioned the PMMS administration to mediate debate teams at PMMS. She had students who were interested in being on a debaste team sign a petition but administration was unable to provide personnel to serve as advisors.
Perhaps GATE students could form debate teams and the GATE teachers could mediate. it. The middle school age group is in the stage of development where debating issues and challenging opposing opinions comes natural!
~ Ann
@ Ann - at least at Central, 8th graders can join the high school debate team. I think a middle school debate team would be great and can think of several kids who'd qualify as great debaters! Our gifted 6th & 7th graders who don't have the high school option would benefit most of all.
ReplyDeleteI also wish that there were more informal opportunities for gifted kids to get together with their peers. Even just parent sponsored trips to local museums or events (say at JMU or carpooling to something farther away). It would be great to pool resources and give the kids more access to activities that are out there.
Having an informal "GATE" track for gifted kids in our school would be hugely helpful. I would love to know what AP classes my 9th grader might be able to take next year and/or what classes she could test out of and move up to the next grade level class if that were an option.
My child also needs to learn how to study but hasn't yet and won't unless something really changes in her class offerings. Nothing has been difficult enough to require it and I'm out of ideas on how to find a class hard enough. I really worry about her going to college and getting walloped because she never learned how to study. Online classes aren't the same and it seem difficult to get kids into higher level classes other than math. Thank goodness for the advanced math options we have. I wish the kids could also jump two or more years ahead in the other classes - especially english and science.
ReplyDeleteIt is very difficult to keep your child challenged, and to get the schools to recognize the need for this. In 2nd grade my son was bored out of his mind and it seemed the only answer I could get from the school system at the time was to give him MORE work, not challenging work. They would not even consider letting him skip a grade. I ended up homeschooling him in order for him to be able to skip to the next grade. He did wonderful and luckily when he chose to go back to public school, they allowed him to go back into school a grade ahead. He is doing great and I always wonder what problems we may have had if he would have had to stay in his actual grade.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you were able to find a solution that worked for your son. I struggle with this issue, too. If my kids learn more than what they will cover in the school year, am I setting them up for major frustrating boredom later on when they scheduled to learn something in their age appropriate class that they already know. My DD was able to skip two years of math and that made a huge difference but it was only in that subject. I can already see that this type of concern will come up with my DS and science classes. At age 10 he is getting his own microscope and by the high school he'll want to take the Bio class that addresses anatomy but it isn't offered at our high school. He will doing dissection at home this year just because he is that interested. I have no idea what I'll do as the years go by to keep him engaged at the level he wants to be learning, and is ready for. I know we are a small school system and they try hard to meet the needs of gifted kids and can't offer all classes at all campuses. I wonder if the school lets you advance kids in science if they show the interest, apptitude, and commitment needed to take a higher level class. Bev H
ReplyDelete