Comments on Parenting Gifted Kids: Why a Gifted Class?

I have come to realize, based on the thousands of ...

2010-06-08T05:31:59.388-07:00

I have come to realize, based on the thousands of gifted websites and posters out there, that in fact that are MORE gifted kids in America today than there are normal kids. If there are this many gifted kids in America today, then I believe our standards have been set too low.

We are in the process of "applying" to the gifted ...

2010-04-28T13:51:36.450-07:00

We are in the process of "applying" to the gifted school within our district. The school we are currently in wants him to stay and thinks they can work with him. I love our current school but question what they can offer him really.It's very stressful as a mom and ex teacher. I want what's best for my 1st grader but how do we really know? I'm glad I found your blog. I will look further into once the kids are asleep!

My daughter is at the 99.8% and has been asked to ...

2010-01-04T21:26:03.906-08:00

My daughter is at the 99.8% and has been asked to apply for a full day gifted program at a different elementary school in our district. She really doesn't want to leave her friends or school! Unlike so many comments I read about gifted students, my daughter has a very active social life. And she doesn't want to leave her friends to go to a different school. Her teacher is very passionate and has challenged my daughter in the mainstream classroom. I'm not sure if I should pursue a different class when things seem to be going well. Although both of her teachers (regular and her 1-day pullout gifted teacher) agree a separate program would be appropriate. Any comments concerning placing my daughter in an inclusive gifted classroom when she is doing so well in the mainstream class, both academically and socially?

I taught a self contained class for students with ...

2009-05-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

I taught a self contained class for students with learning problems which I know isn't gifted but I think the reasons would be the same. I think the support of others is so important and even though it segregates the students from the general population, the positives outweigh the negatives. As you mentioned, these students know they are different so this is no new revelation to anyone. I also was able to incorporate lessons across the curriculum which made more sense to my students. I worked on building up their self esteem and I don't think I could have done that in a pull out program. I'm glad your gifted students have you!

I am SO happy I've found your site! I can relate ...

2009-05-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am SO happy I've found your site! I can relate to the problems of gifted kids from when I was in school (I had a daily pullout), when I was lonely and bored. Because I had a large vocabulary, I remember kids (and even a teacher or two) telling me to stop showing off by using those big words! To me, they were just words that expressed what I meant. I also had some wonderful teachers, too- my 4th grade teacher kept me well supplied with ever harder logic problems to keep me occupied while she went over and over (and over) the material with my classmates. She trusted me, at 10, to pay attention when I needed to. Thanks, Mrs. Johnson!

Now, as the mom of a very smart almost three year old, I have begun to worry about this on her behalf. I don't know if she's gifted, but her father and I both are, and she certainly seems to be a smart cookie. I'm so glad I have a resource for when she starts school! I will be visiting often.

Hi Amy! Thanks for popping by. I think next week ...

2009-05-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Amy! Thanks for popping by. I think next week I will post on how to help your gifted child in a mainstream classroom. Hope to see you again soon!

I'm glad I found your blog! My daughter is in sec...

2009-05-15T03:53:00.000-07:00

I'm glad I found your blog! My daughter is in second grade and she has a once-weekly pullout class. I totally agree that a self-contained classroom would be better for her, but unfortunately our district is strongly in the heterogeneous mixing camp.

Hey Mom to 2e- Thanks for coming by! I am glad y...

2009-05-12T22:02:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom to 2e- Thanks for coming by! I am glad you found me as well. My school district just started the primary gifted, and I was fortunate to teach the kindergarten gifted class. Wowee, were they fun! I hope your family finds a good program where you live. . . Kudos to you for putting your child first and homeschooling- feel free to email me if you want some resources or tips!

Wow - to find a teacher who honestly understands a...

2009-05-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Wow - to find a teacher who honestly understands a gifted child! My son is in that 99% range and is 6. I taught for about 15 years and was very worried about where my son would fit in. I attempted to talk to the county about what they could do for him for his K year this year and they pretty much told me "nothing"....so I left my job and I am homeschooling him this year. I feel completely overwhelmed and SO wish that we had other options in our local school system (which currently offers a one day a week pull out program). My son knows he is different, he knows that other children tend to look at him like he is "weird" and we SO wish that he could be in a group of kids that understood him! Gifted children are not gifted one day a week, they are gifted 24/7. So glad I found your blog.

My school experience was in an environment similar...

2009-05-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

My school experience was in an environment similar to your children's, and I encourage you to do whatever it takes to get them out of that situation. Not only was the boredom an intense misery that I had to endure on a daily basis, but by the 4th grade I could no longer bring myself to put pencil to paper for the 100th repetition of the same problem. I completely turned my back on school and dismissed the value of "formal education" for many years. Though I was able to get back on track later in my adult life (the gifted have that luxury) and now have a great job and family, I did miss out on opportunities that I can never get back.

To summarize:

1) The challenges facing gifted children in a regular classroom are real and can have long-lasting effects.

2) Don't underestimate the torture of their boredom.

When my husband and I were in school, it was commo...

2009-05-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

When my husband and I were in school, it was common practice to gather gifted kids from many schools into a single gifted class. I loved it. Today, this practice seems to be abandoned (at least where I live) and discredited. (Or perhaps there just isn't enough $.) While I see some benefits to having gifted kids mixed in with other kids, overall, I think grouping is better. I have watched my own sons have no peers, no one who understands how they think, no one in their class to challenge them, no one to connect with. It makes school a mind-numbing and lonely experience.