You may have realized your child was gifted in a number of ways. Maybe they started speaking earlier and gained vocabulary skills faster. Perhaps they are obviously more developed than other children their age, and others, such as teachers, friends and caregivers, are commenting on the differences. Maybe you know from official test results that your child is well above average. No matter how you found out, you will eventually be faced with the question of what gifted program to send your child to. Not all programs are equally strong. Make sure you evaluate these three things when selecting a program to match your child’s advanced intelligence.
Enriching Curriculum
The subjects your child studies and the classes they take should be age-appropriate, sufficiently challenging, flexible and conducive to fostering the development of well-rounded individuals. When doing your research, ensure that the program you choose offers curriculum tailored to different ages and instruction that benefits various learning styles. Classes should also cover a large range of subjects and teach disciplines usually considered to be extracurricular, including:
- Fine arts
- Foreign languages
- Types of exercise
Qualified, Caring Staff
Teaching gifted children is different than other kinds of teaching, and the instructors in your child’s gifted program should be specially trained to guide and develop children with higher than average intelligences. Programs that feature a small ratio of students to teachers are also beneficial because they allow each child to receive a more focused, personalized education.
Ample Parent Involvement
When you make an investment in your child’s future and education, it is natural to want to be highly involved in the process. Schools for gifted children ideally will allow parents to be immersed as much as they want to be in the administration of their child’s education. Efforts should be made on the school’s part to keep parents in the know and to invite feedback.
The most important thing you can do as a parent is to encourage your child’s growth and provide as many opportunities as possible. Choose a gifted program that is unique and special as your child.
If you are reading this on anything other than OakCrestAcademy.org, it is stolen content.
If you are interested in learning more about Oak Crest Academy, visit our website here.
Keep up with our blog for more news and information here.
