Homeschooling Gifted Kids

Bella Online ^ | June 2007 | Lorel Shea

[2ndDivisionVet]

A growing number of families are homeschooling. Many of these are doing so in order to accommodate their advanced and gifted learners. The advent of the Internet has made homeschool support and information readily available. People in cities, suburbs, and rural areas can access the same online bulletin boards, courses, and web sites. Though some parents spend a small fortune on home education, it can also be done on a very modest budget. Some families take great pride in making the most of their library cards and buying gently used textbooks, joining educational co-ops, or bartering for tutoring services.

Why is homeschooling a good choice for gifted kids? People tend to be happiest when they have meaningful work that is neither too challenging nor too easy. Learning at home allows a gifted child (with the help of his parents) to design a course of study that is completely personalized. This is especially helpful for asynchronous kids. Many gifted children are somewhat uneven in their development, and a single grade level in school may not be a good fit. A nine year old girl who reads at a high school level may continue to be challenged appropriately in literature, while working her way through fifth grade math. Similarly, a twice exceptional gifted boy can receive extra assistance in his area of need, yet also be encouraged to soar in his areas of strength.

Gifted kids tend to pick up new concepts quickly. In school, they may be forced to wait until everyone in the class has understanding of a subject. At home, each child can learn at their own tempo in each individual subject, and move on when they are ready. Schools are rarely able to address the gifted student whose pace is faster than the standard school year. At home, a boy may zip through several grade levels of math in one year. Conversely, a gifted student may yearn for more complexity and spend more time than the average student on an area of study. A young girl who loves science may spend months collecting data and performing experiments with a depth that is not offered in traditional elementary schools.

Lessons can also reflect the child's own preferred learning style and interests. An auditory learner, for instance, can listen to recorded lectures about Ancient Roman philosophers. A visually oriented child may try watching a documentary on the Roman Emperors, and a hands-on learner may prefer building a model of the Colosseum. It all leads from one thing to another, and even the boy who is fascinated by history's battles will pick up information about period culture and traditions.

Active and engaged kids are happy kids. Parents may find that any problems with behavior or attention in school disappear or are mitigated when the gifted child comes home to learn.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Seem like some good ideas.

[CindyDawg]

IMO all children are gifted.

[NonValueAdded]

reference bump

[proxy_user]

“A nine year old girl who reads at a high school level may continue to be challenged appropriately in literature, while working her way through fifth grade math.

I, although male, was such a gifted reader myself. In the third or fourth grade, I could plow though adult non-fiction at a terrific rate, and was quite a wiz at heraldry, paleontology, and other obscure topics.

But the one thing a child cannot do is understand adult fiction. I could have read the words of Jane Austen or Hardy quite easily, but the understanding the adult emotional and psychological worlds that the characters in these books live in is not possible for someone who has not reached puberty.

[steveo]

Gifted kids tend to pick up new concepts quickly.

I have living proof that it can happen. There should be no doubt that children today only achieve 25% of their potential because of the school mills.

If you can't home school, you need to get into your child's education on a daily intimate bull-dog on the phone with the teacher go to meetings ask why give me proof attitude.

[grey_whiskers]

I could have read the words of Jane Austen or Hardy quite easily, but the understanding the adult emotional and psychological worlds that the characters in these books live in is not possible for someone who has not reached puberty.

All too true, mate.

Cheers!

[Lorel]

Thanks to those who made positive comments on my article. I invite you all to visit my Bellaonline Gifted Education site and share your thoughts on my forum.

CindyDawg, I personally believe that all children are gifts from God. My focus as gifted education editor though, is on children who are (for lack of a better word) gifted in the sense that they learn more rapidly than most and are in the top few percentage points in intelligence. These kids are different; as different from the average 100 IQ person as a mentally challenged person with an IQ of 70. One size fits all education is not beneficial to kids at either extreme. Every child should have the opportunity to learn and grow at their own pace and in their own way.

respectfully,

Lorel Shea