Time Flies

Saturday, 12 March 2011 13:02

A month ago I was determined to write a posting for the blog but family illness , work and starting new projects seemed to be more pressing each time I sat down. The computer is such a consumer of our time, and with everything including work there in front of me it can be a challenge to prioritise.

At the time I was thinking about those early days of any school year when I recall a strong feeling of both excitement and anticipation - a new class, a new teacher, new ways of approaching learning - but also the familiar feeling of concern - will it be a good year or not? Will there be opportunity to share the way that my child sees the world? Even as a teacher myself I found very different responses to my children's needs, and sometimes unpredictable responses from my children towards their teachers.

The partnership between parents, children and school can be a vexed one, but it also can be one of delight and shared excitement. More and more as I now work with preservice teachers I hear an interest in knowing what to provide for gifted children in a classroom. We talk about offering engaging and different learning opportuinties, about opening up chances for deep investigation and question creating. There are many questions and great interest in finding out how to provide quality learning in the classroom.

My work with teachers in schools also highlights what is happening out there- and how many different ways of addressing the needs of gifted children exist. Programs are offered in schools to support children- withdrawal programs, enrichment days, mentors, differentiated learning. Children are able to work independently and to utilise technology in isolated areas to connect with others. This is all good and we as an Association are keen to support and to celebrate what is out there.

There are still  classrooms where the gifted child needs to find ways to cope - and where, as parents, you probably feel at a loss to know where to turn. In this situation it can be difficult to find the positive, or to imagine how the yeasr will pan out.

Please share on our forums your school experiences and your advice to other parents. THese forums provide an open space for talking about school life and life with gifted children. I have just spent some time reading through the postings and noting how often it is the advice of another parent that rings true and encourages those who struggle. Join as a registrered member on site and you can share your world with others.

We can give a thumbs up to all those teachers who work to know each child individually, who are excited by the challenge of finding out what it is that clicks with the gifted children in their classroom and who work to open up the world of learning to all their students. These teachers sometimes work in isolation, planning and creating learning that is diverse and open- offering many different ways of finding out. Thumbs up to schools and child care centres that are thrilled to take a young learner forward, to learn with them and to help them understand themselves.

 Until next time

Denise