Comments on: Let them soar! http://teachagiftedkid.com/2008/10/15/161/ Personally, I'm reflecting on life. Professionally, I'm a teacher passionate about advocating for the gifted. Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:13:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Angie http://teachagiftedkid.com/2008/10/15/161/comment-page-1/#comment-1635 Angie Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:43:07 +0000 http://teachagiftedkid.com/?p=161#comment-1635 Ahh, the mathematically inclined gifted child, just like my husband. And guess what, he is not strong in the languages. He's learned how to write technically for his job only because of sheer effort. I am most familiar with the type but I haven't had much experience in working with them in the classroom. However, Dave and I have talked about his struggle with having to sit through yet another review of the material covered several times before. He talks about solving math problems well before any other student even grasped the concepts and correcting teachers when they calculated incorrectly. I would suggest a math mentor, most likely outside the school environment but you may get lucky and find someone at school that would spend some time encouraging your grandson to soar. You will also have to work closely with the teacher to see if he/she would be willing to provide additional challenges on the topic under study. There is a fine line between additional challenge and additional work (and your grandson will spot the difference immediately!) Another idea is to find a good math problem of the day site online for his level, you can reward him for time spent on the problem. Notice, I said "time" because he does not always have to complete the problem - he will make connections even if he just "tinkers" with the concepts. I'll forward you a good site for just plain manipulating math and science concepts online soon. Hope that was helpful! Ahh, the mathematically inclined gifted child, just like my husband. And guess what, he is not strong in the languages. He’s learned how to write technically for his job only because of sheer effort. I am most familiar with the type but I haven’t had much experience in working with them in the classroom. However, Dave and I have talked about his struggle with having to sit through yet another review of the material covered several times before. He talks about solving math problems well before any other student even grasped the concepts and correcting teachers when they calculated incorrectly.

I would suggest a math mentor, most likely outside the school environment but you may get lucky and find someone at school that would spend some time encouraging your grandson to soar. You will also have to work closely with the teacher to see if he/she would be willing to provide additional challenges on the topic under study. There is a fine line between additional challenge and additional work (and your grandson will spot the difference immediately!)

Another idea is to find a good math problem of the day site online for his level, you can reward him for time spent on the problem. Notice, I said “time” because he does not always have to complete the problem – he will make connections even if he just “tinkers” with the concepts. I’ll forward you a good site for just plain manipulating math and science concepts online soon.

Hope that was helpful!

]]> By: Nancy McKeand http://teachagiftedkid.com/2008/10/15/161/comment-page-1/#comment-1634 Nancy McKeand Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:33:05 +0000 http://teachagiftedkid.com/?p=161#comment-1634 Angie, you know I agree with you, but I had to laugh when I read your post. And shake my head a little. Your writing assignment example is a great one. What an easy way to differentiate instruction without making life harder for the teacher! But what I have discovered, as the grandmother of a mathematically gifted child and what you already know, is that everyone assumes if you are gifted, you are gifted in language. Do you have any suggestions for the teacher of a child like my grandson? Teachers seem to have no idea how to work with him or children like him. Angie, you know I agree with you, but I had to laugh when I read your post. And shake my head a little.

Your writing assignment example is a great one. What an easy way to differentiate instruction without making life harder for the teacher! But what I have discovered, as the grandmother of a mathematically gifted child and what you already know, is that everyone assumes if you are gifted, you are gifted in language. Do you have any suggestions for the teacher of a child like my grandson? Teachers seem to have no idea how to work with him or children like him.

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