Strategies for Parents 

 

 

 

Early Childhood

 

 

Explanation: Children learn first from their parents. Parents who spend time with their gifted child are more able to tune in to their child's interests and respond by offering appropriate educational enrichment opportunities. It is important that parents read to their children frequently, even when the children are capable of reading to themselves.

Strategy: In the early years, parents can help their children discover their personal interests, expose their children to their own interests, and encourage their children to learn about a wide variety of subjects such as art, nature, music, museums, and sports. Children who are attracted to a particular area need opportunities to explore that field in depth. Home stimulation and support of interests is vital to the development of talents. Following the lead of the child will help the child flourish.

Rationale: Research suggests that kids raised by warm, nurturing parents develop better emotional regulation, more empathy, and more advanced reasoning skills. They may even test with higher IQs (Dewar, 2011). 

 

Video:

 

Families play an important role in how well students do in school. Find information about the importance of teachers and parents working together on behalf of kids, as well as examples of programs that specifically make the link between home and school. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanation: Parents should know everything they can about the school’s gifted program, because although we often think about gifted from a very broad perspective, each district’s program is very different. Parents need to know the definition of the gifted program in the district. If the program is looking for a high IQ and you have a very creative child, there is no match here.
Strategy: This video will help parents of gifted and talented children understand a typical school’s gifted program. Barbara Klein speaks about understanding the unique characteristics of gifted children, which can help parent’s knowledge on the defining terms of gifted and talented. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: Parent involvement typically involves parents’ behaviors in home and school settings meant to support their children's educational progress. Parent involvement also characterizes parents’ values and attitudes regarding education and the aspirations they hold for their children. Although values and attitudes may not directly influence academic outcomes, they may enhance academic achievement indirectly by promoting children's motivation and persistence in challenging educational tasks (Nokali, Bachman,  & Vortuba-Drzal, 2010).

 

 

 

 

 

Middle Childhood

 

Support Your Child’s Thought Processes:

Explanation: Gifted children are capable of advanced thinking a lot of the time but they also make mistakes and have off days like most people do. The traits of gifted children, anxieties, sensory processing difficulties, or emotional sensitivity sometimes affect their thought processes and these need to be taken into account when dealing with them.
 
Strategy: Supporting your child’s thought processes involves:

• Providing the opportunity for them to be involved in stimulating activities that stretch their mind

• Allowing them the chance to think in complex ways, using higher order thinking skills like analyzing, applying, evaluating and creativity

• Dscussing topics and issues at home and wherever they go

 

Rationale: “It is often difficult for parents to find the most appropriate resources for their child’s advanced learning behaviors. Contrary to a popular myth that these children and adolescents will succeed on their own, many experience academic, social, and personal problems when they do not receive suitable encouragement from society and their families. Of primary importance in the recognition and development of their special abilities is the active, engaged support of parents both at home and in school” (Hillmann, n.d.) 

 

 

Explanation: This video is presented at a parent workshop that helps provides information in helping parents understand the individualizing learning for gifted children. This information is important for parents of gifted and talent children so they know and can make sure their children are getting the best education and instruction.

Strategy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: Independence is often cited as a characteristic of gifted students. But that

does not mean all gifted students have the skills for self-directed learning. Students will be at different levels of readiness. If students struggle with making choices or planning their work, it does not mean they are not ready and that they must go back to teacher-directed activities. Students will never be ready unless they have opportunities to learn how to take responsibility for their learning (Pirozzo, 1987).

 

 

 

 

 

Adolescent Young Adult

 

Explanation: Bloom's Taxonomy defines the role of the cognitive domain in learning. Intellectual outcomes at six different levels are assisted by particular key words and types of questions. These levels can be used at home by the parents to reinforce the strategy and when helping with homework. 

 

Strategy:

1. Knowledge Outcome: The learner recalls facts, terms, basic concepts and answers about previously learned material. Key words: who, what, why, when, omit, where, which, choose, find, how, define, label, show, spell, list, match, name, relate, tell, recall, select.

2. Comprehension Outcome: The learner demonstrates understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas. Key words: compare, contrast, demonstrate, interpret, explain, extend, illustrate, infer, outline, relate, rephrase, translate, summarize, show, classify.

3. Application Outcome: The learner solves problems by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules in a different way. Key words: apply, build, choose, construct, develop, interview, make use of, organize, experiment with, plan, select, solve, utilize, model, identify.

4. Analysis Outcome: The learner examines and breaks information into parts by identifying motives or causes, making inferences, and finding evidence to support generalizations. Key words: analyze, categorize, classify, compare, contrast, discover, dissect, divide, examine, inspect, simplify, survey, take part in, test for, distinguish, list, distinction, theme, relationships, function, motive, inference, assumption, conclusion.

5. Synthesis Outcome: The learner compiles information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions. Key words: build, choose, combine, compile, compose, construct, create, design, develop, estimate, formulate, imagine, invent, make up, originate, plan, predict, propose, solve, solution, suppose, discuss, modify, change, original, improve, adapt, minimize, maximize, delete, theorize, elaborate, test, improve, happen, change.

6. Evaluation Outcome: The learner presents and defends opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas, or quality of work based on a set of criteria. Key words: award, choose, conclude, criticize, decide, defend, determine, dispute, evaluate, judge, justify, measure, compare, mark, rate, recommend, rule on, select, agree, interpret, explain, appraise, prioritize, opinion, support, importance, criteria, prove, disprove, assess, influence, perceive, value, estimate, influence, deduct. 

 

Rationale: "The major idea of the taxonomy is that what educators want students to know (encompassed in statements of educational objectives) can be arranged in a hierarchy from less to more complex.  The levels are understood to be successive, so that one level must be mastered before the next level can be reached" (Huitt, 2011). 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanation: This video is from a seminar that provides strategies for parents and educators on how to effectively communicate with one another about differentiated assignments for gifted students. Additional resources for educators and parents are also identified.

Strategy:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: "Substantial evidence exists showing that parent involvement benefits students, including raising their academic achievement. There are other advantages for children when parents become involved — namely, increased motivation for learning, improved behavior, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about homework and school in general" (American Federation of Teachers, 2007).

 

 

 

 

Assistive Technology

 

 

edX

When it comes to education gifted and talented students technology can be what sets their instruction apart from the regular level instruction by facilitating more advanced concepts. Massive open online courses ( MOOC’s ) such as edX can allow students to begin experimenting with and engaging in college level coursework while still in high school. For my students who experience financial literacy education for the first time they often have a piqued interest in economics. An MOOC can give them access to higher learning in the field as a supplement to their high school work, which will better prepare them for entering college.

EdX courses are open to everyone, and free. All you need is access to a computer with a current browser, an Internet connection, and, of course, a desire to learn. To sign up, create an edX account and then register for the course of your choice. Choose Register Now to get started. Unless you choose a verified certificate, registration is free!

Watch the video below to see how it work: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration is assistive technology in the form of software designed to help organize and outline information. This can be used to help as a stepping stone towards developing higher level ideas and critical thinking skills. For any larger writing project or presentation they can use this to outline their ideas and stay on track.

 

Inspiration 9 - Single

Our Price: $39.95 

Inspiration 9 Single Upgrade

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Inspiration 9 5-computer license

Our Price: $199.75 

Inspiration 9 10-computer license

Our Price: $380.00 

Inspiration 9 20-computer license

Our Price: $640.00 

 

 

Check out the video to hear more about this assistive technology: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Reality (VR) programs provide visual and kinesthetic experiences within the confines of the classroom that would not otherwise be available. Students strap on special goggles connected to a “data glove” which provide a three dimensional environment simulation of real life. The price of this program ranges from $300.00-$599.00.