Home Educatin

g Gifted

ChildrenSusan Wight

Jo Freitag

&

By

We both have practical experience in home educating gifted children but have used very different approaches whilst maintaining a respect for each other’s approach.

This gives us a variety of combined experience.

We aren’t experts on home educating gifted children.

YOU are the expert on YOUR children.

...and so are they.

Some basics about Giftedness

Level

The Columbus Group Definition of Giftedness

Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order for them to develop optimally.

(The Columbus Group, 1991).

The Columbus Group Definition of Giftedness

Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order for them to develop optimally.

(The Columbus Group, 1991).

The Columbus Group Definition of Giftedness

Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order for them to develop optimally.

(The Columbus Group, 1991).

• A gifted child is, by definition, different to the average child.

• It is a common myth about gifted children that they will simply do well at school without any assistance.

• Many actually have problems at school - both academically and socially.

Asynchronous development means a child may:

• Be physically six years old

• Be capable of maths at a twelve-year-old level

• Have the reading age of a nine-year-old

This asynchrony can create difficulties if a child’s motor skills are several years behind their cognitive skills. The six-year old gifted child may therefore be out of place academically in a grade one class but, if shifted to a higher grade, may be way out of his depth physically. For example his handwriting may be totally inadequate to keep up with the work.

He can’t turn the pages

Our little guy? He can read…but

= Frustration

Pace

7rfm

5rfm

3rfm

1rfmRepetitions for mastery

GAGNE Model of Factors which Influence the Development of Innate Giftedness into Fully Realised Talent emphasises the importance of environmental factors

Temperament/Personality

(Adaptability, attitudes, competitiveness,

independence, self-esteem, values etc.)

GiftednessAptitude domains

INTELLECTUALReasoning (eg. visual, spatial) memory, judgment etcCREATIVEOriginality, inventiveness, Humour, etc.SOCIOAFFECTIVELeadership, empathy, self-awareness, etcSENSORIMOTORStrength, fine motor control,Endurance, flexibility, etc.OTHERSExtrasensory perception, gift of healing etc

MotivationINITIATIVE

NEEDS, INTERESTSPERSERVERANCE

DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

Learning – Training – Practising

SURROUNDINGSHome, school, community, etc

PERSONSParents, teachers, mentors, etc.

UNDERTAKINGSActivities, courses, programs etc.

EVENTSEncounters, awards, accidents, etc.

TalentsFields relevant

to school-age youthACADEMICS

Language, science etcGAMES OF STRATEGY

Chess, puzzles, video, etc.TECHNOLOGY

Mechanics, computers, etcARTS

Visual, drama, music, etc.SOCIAL ACTION

Tutoring, school, politics, etcBUSINESS

Sales, entrepreneurship, etcATHLETICS & SPORTS

INTRAPERSONAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

CATALYSTS (POSITIVE/NEGATIVE IMPACTS)

Home education can provide a

rich environment for nurturing giftedness

…and time to smell the roses

For gifted students the great advantage of home education is the flexibility to tailor a program to their abilities and needs without the constraints of curriculum and age boundaries.

There is no one right way to home educate gifted children

Styles vary.