Here are some very helpful sites for parents with gifted children. I hope you find them helpful. Please feel free to send me suggestions for more great sites. teachagiftedkid@gmail.com
Unwrapping the Gifted located at Teacher Magazine has put together a comprehensive list of helpful sites about the gifted individual. This is a link to her blog entry about it. http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/
This site is the first place to stop for information on raising and education gifted children. http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/parents.htm
This is one of the best resources on the internet for issues related to the social-emotional issues of the gifted child (and the adult):
Social Emotional Needs of the Gifted is an awesome resource for parents!
Exhaustive list of sites for the parent of the gifted learner
Hello:
I am a mother of the most sweet, sensitive and kind child. I have also noticed over the years on how he seems to absorb things around him like a sponge and I also could say he exhibits most of the traits that could be called “gifted”. in the beginning, we thought he was like any child but over the years, feedback from other adults, teachers led us to believe otherwise. Right now, we feel we need to be his best advocate. I need to ask you a question…we recently learned that he was found “ineligible” for the gifted services in his school district. This shocked us. Now, we are in the process of appealing. We have all the support from his school so we are grateful for that. However, we also feel we are hitting our head against a brick wall. The main reason being, we now have to provide further samples of his “giftedness”. We feel dejected and disgruntled about this whole process. We also need further support. How do we show the committee that yes indeed our son needs further challenges? It worries us that he will lose out on an opportunity to expand his intellectual and creative abilities. Right now, we still have time to “appeal” Let me also mention that we already gave them the results of the WISC IV and the WJ-III. Inspite of all this evidence, he has still been found ineligible. What else can we do?
Help!
DW
Hi DW,
I am working with a parent right now who is a similar position as you are describing. I am a representative of the school district and have to follow the policies and qualification criteria set in place by the district. Not always do I agree with the results of the testing and/or the appeal process. So, why do I say this.
First, I’ve seen where district’s ease-up on qualifications standards which leads to confusion by the parents who, of course, will talk. Why did one child qualify and the other didn’t. It’s best to stick firm on this issue. Understanding the gifted individual is difficult. Administration is projecting if the child will be successful in the gifted setting. They need to see several characteristics, behavior and academic performance from a child to help in their decision process. I know it is hard to hear but trust them. (If they are well-trained and have the resources in place, if not, then work for change.))
Second, he may need time. A child’s brain takes time to fully grow. Your brain is always growing. Sometimes, a child’s performance on an intelligence test doesn’t quite match his achievement test results or his outside interests interests. Gifted children are nearly always out-of-sync or asynchronous in their development. This can occur with the physical, mental or social development AND it can occur with the brain development. Give him time. But at the same time, continue to feed his interests and work with his current teacher to provide the stimulation he needs.
I hope this helps. Your job is to continue to work to understand your child and provide that stimulating environment he needs to become that independent learner. Be careful what you say about those who teach him. He is formulating his opinion about his teacher and school, too.
I am looking for gifted student assessment services in Mandeville, Louisiana…before contacting such a service, I would like some sort of rating or recommendation of the couple of services I found online. Do you know of any sort of accrediation site for gifted assessment services, or can you recommend a service on the Northshore of New Orleans area (Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, Hammond, Folsom). Thank you.
Hi Stacey,
I wish I could provide you with some names and services in Mandeville. We’ve moved away from the area over 6 years ago. I used an assessment service in Lacombe when I was identifying my children in the early 90’s but have no idea if they are still there.
The school district will do a fine job of assessing children for gifted and talented services. The only reason why I used a service was because over half the year would pass before the window of testing would open and my children needed a ‘change’ before then.
You are doing the right thing by asking around. I hope you find what you need.