Two of the biggest names in technology and education philanthropy – Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg – are jointly funding a $12 million initiative to support “personalized learning” in schools across the country. When any new educational strategy receives money and attention, questions arise. What is “personalized learning,” and why could this approach matter to your gifted student? Personalized learning (“PL”) is a specific type of instruction that creates a learning environment that responds to … [Read more...] about Personalized Learning: The Next Big Thing in Gifted Education?
personalized learning
Think Your Child is a Visual or Auditory Learner? Think Again.
When looking at various programs or schools for your child, you may come across discussions of various programs being taught with different learning styles. The idea of different people having different learning styles has become increasingly popular. In fact, there are a great many educational products being marketed to help match individuals with their specific learning style. You may hear people say things such as, “I am a visual learner,” implying that they learn better when the material is … [Read more...] about Think Your Child is a Visual or Auditory Learner? Think Again.
Advocating and Partnering for Students with Special Needs
Anyone involved in the education of a child who needs special accommodations or services for a learning difficulty or disability should read the Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book, by Rich Weinfeld and Michelle Davis, Prufrock, 2008. The authors define students with special needs as “children with learning difficulties, children with disabilities, and gifted children.” However, in addressing the needs of gifted children, the authors point out that neither a free and appropriate public … [Read more...] about Advocating and Partnering for Students with Special Needs
What Every Parent Should Know About Differentiated Instruction
It’s the first week of school, and you receive the following note from your child’s teacher: Dear Parents, This summer I attended a workshop on differentiated instruction, and I’m excited about using it in my classes. My goal with differentiating is to meet the needs of all of my students, so I’ll be using many different teaching and learning strategies over the course of the year. I hope that you’ll see your child learning and enjoying school. Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with your … [Read more...] about What Every Parent Should Know About Differentiated Instruction
Knowledge is Key: Advocating for your Gifted Child
In responding to a parent’s concern about a one size fits all type of programming for her fourth grade son in the Consultant’s Corner, I described two factors that influence services: identification and programming. In this column, I will further explain these two factors and provide some tips for parents on how to find information about the identification procedure and work with school districts to develop appropriate services for their child. … [Read more...] about Knowledge is Key: Advocating for your Gifted Child
Customizing a Gifted Education Program
Parent Question: My fifth grade son was just identified by his school to participate in the gifted and talented program. No plans are being made to customize instruction specifically to his strengths—they are just going to plug him into the pre-existing gifted program that meets once a week. Is this the most effective method for meeting the needs of the gifted? Shouldn’t the program be tailored to fit the student, not vice versa? … [Read more...] about Customizing a Gifted Education Program
The Many Faces of Acceleration: Creating an Optimal Match for the Advanced Learner
"America's school system keeps bright students in line by forcing them to learn in a lock-step manner with their classmates. Teachers and principals disregard students’ desires to learn more—much more—than they are being taught. Instead of praise and encouragement, these students hear one word—no. When they ask for a challenge, they are held back. When they want to fly, they are told to stay in their seats. Stay in your grade. Know your place. It’s a national scandal. And the price may be the … [Read more...] about The Many Faces of Acceleration: Creating an Optimal Match for the Advanced Learner
Getting Credit When It’s Due
Many parents of the gifted provide their children with outside opportunities for challenging, accelerated learning. Supplemental courses of high quality have never been more engaging or available through so many venues. Computer-based or online courses, independent-learning and correspondence programs, and university-sponsored classes held on college campuses are offered on a wide assortment of subjects, many of which may not be available in the children’s school … [Read more...] about Getting Credit When It’s Due
Roeper School: Looking Inward
Sixty years ago Dr. Annemarie Roeper and her husband, George, were visionaries in the field of gifted education. As they fled Nazi Germany, they formulated a plan for a school designed to ensure that gifted minds accomplished only positive things. … [Read more...] about Roeper School: Looking Inward