Gifted Learners: Guiding and Supporting

Gifted learners are just one of the wonderful kinds of students (there are many!) that are seen in various school settings. Because of their differences, guiding them in their learning requires a thoughtful approach that needs to recognize their abilities and provide an environment in which they can thrive.

At Forward Leap, these children will be fully welcomed and supported with the appropriate accommodations for success. Want to know more about how this will be done? Read on for more information!

Understanding Giftedness

Gifted learners are individuals who demonstrate exceptional abilities and potential in various areas such as academics, arts, leadership, or creativity. These students often possess a keen intellect and a strong drive for learning. Gifted learners may excel in one or more specific subjects or show talent across a wide range of disciplines.

The following is a list of characteristics that gifted learners exhibit:

• Fast mastery-They are able to master concepts faster than average.

• Quick recall- They can recall a wide variety of facts with ease.

• Inquisitive- They are curious about the world and ask a lot of questions about to understand it better.

• Critical thinking skills- They are able to analyze things deeply.

• Independent learners- They want to learn things beyond what is taught at school and often teach themselves things.

• Passion for subjects- They often have one or more subjects that they are particularly passionate about.

• Detail-oriented- They notice small details that others don't.

• Emotional- A lot of gifted children tend to be highly sensitive and feel emotions deeply.

• Excellent problem solving skills- These children can easily come up with multiple solutions to problems.

• High standards for themselves- They are often perfectionists.

While being gifted is a great thing, it can also lead to a child feeling isolated and bored if their academic needs aren't being met.

Supporting Giftedness

These students often require specialized educational programs and support to help them reach their full potential. It is essential for educators and parents to recognize and nurture the unique needs of gifted learners to ensure they are challenged and engaged in their learning. By providing opportunities for enrichment, acceleration, and individualized instruction, gifted learners can do very well.

At Forward Leap, they will be fully supported and guided in the following ways:

1. A stimulating learning environment-

• Going beyond: Gifted children will be given more complex tasks than what the curriculum entails.

• Student-led project based learning: Gifted children will be able to come up with their own in-depth, projects based on their interests.

• Technology: Gifted children will get to utilize technology and multimedia resources to further enhance their learning.

2. Differentiated guidance:

• Tailored methods- Gifted children at Forward Leap will be guided using the method (or methods) that work for them. This means they will be provided with the accelerated content and complexity they require certain subjects and topics.

• 1:1 time- Gifted children will have some 1:1 time to build a strong guide-student relationship. This helps to see where they are at and how curricula is working for them.

3. Social and emotional support:

• Help will be given to work out emotions as gifted children tend to struggle with them.

• Help will be given to find activities that the gifted child and non-gifted (but just as wonderful!) child can connect over.

4. Parent/guardian engagement:

• Parents will be kept informed about the child's progress in their gifted education and be involved every step of the way so that their needs continue to be met.

• Parents will be provided with resources and activities that will help them to understand more about giftedness and to support their child's needs at home.

Gifted Curriculum

If you are bringing in your gifted child's curriculum, The key is to ensure that the material is not only challenging but also engaging for your child. Tailoring the curriculum to your child's specific interests and strengths can make a significant difference in their learning experience. Consider incorporating advanced topics or projects that allow your child to explore their passions and expand their knowledge even beyond the standard curriculum you choose.

Additionally, providing opportunities for your child to interact with like-minded peers through specialized programs or extracurricular activities can foster a sense of community and intellectual stimulation. At Forward Leap, we will regularly assess your child's progress and make adjustments/add things in as needed to keep them motivated and continuously learning at a pace that is both stimulating and manageable for them.

Want us to provide all the curriculum? We can do that! In addition to enrichment activities, they can have curriculum materials picked out just for them and the level they are at. We will give them assessments and go from there after we have the results. Here is an example of what would be used as a math curriculum.

In Conclusion

Gifted children have unique abilities. This means that Forward Leap will make sure to be be flexible and adaptable to their needs. By creating a supportive and challenging environment, we will help these children reach their full potential.

Is your homeschooled child gifted and you are interested in having them attend Forward Leap Learning Community for them? Contact us and we can talk more about it!

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