Discussion Topic # 4

sorro said...

I think clear, science based guidelines on what comprises a "gifted education program" should be established along with some level(s) of accreditation. As has already been posted such things as teacher training, curriculum, selection criteria would presumably form a part of this.

Discussion Topic # 3

winniemytong said...

To add curriculum - focus on kids' emotional wellbeing and development which is disproportional with their intellectual capability.

Learn to respect older generations and etiquette/ means of communication with them ( not just unidimensaionally using hightech and gadgets, etc..) and thus prepare them when they in the coming years enter into the real world and workforce could utilise their creativity in helping to solve some of the problems that might have been around us for generations... Sorry - not vey good in expressing this - just felt that the young clever people tends to dismiss older gnerations' mentallity and intellects...As a parent of a gifted child at BHHS, I felt I lost the link/ communicative capability with my daughter who is in Grade 8.

Discussion Topic # 2

Sunil said...

The Federal and State governments both need to implement appropriate policy and programs for gifted education.

As there is no structured policy or process for identifying gifted children, there can be no equity in the access to any programs that are in existence.

Gifted children have the potential to make a significant contribution to society. They should, as all children, be provided with learning environments suitable for their special needs.

It is important that the government support accelerated programmes, because of their special needs, particularly in the State School System, so that gifted children from poorer socio-economic backgrounds have the opportunity to gain access to a suitable education.

Students who are gifted, while advanced intellectually, still require a special classroom environment to learn. Their emotional and social development often lags behind their intellectual development. Having their intellectual peers as classmates allows them to be them self. They do not have to "dumb-down" to "fit-in". This provides them space and time to develop and grow socially and emotionally

Discussion Topic # 1

Gifted students should be taught by teachers with the appropriate training

I guess I should get the ball rolling.

One issue that I feel quite strongly about is the perspective that I have gained through my studies in to gifted education. What I have learnt has had such an impact on my teaching, that I have come to the conclusion that gifted students are simply not going to reach their potential by a teacher who thinks that teaching a SEAL class simply involves teaching the content faster or simply teaching the content assigned to a higher year level.

Gifted students often have very different learning requirements that should virtually be considered as "special needs". The research in this field is ongoing and teachers should be required to be in touch with this.