A Gift for the Gifted - Homeschooling Articles - Homeschool.com

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A Gift for the Gifted

If you have a gifted child at home, or think you might, we know you've asked yourself these questions countless times: What exactly is giftedness? How can I determine if my child is gifted? What is the best education for my gifted child? The local schools can't offer my child what he or she needs to thrive, what alternatives do we have? Meeting the unique educational, emotional, and social needs of a child who is exceptionally bright can feel intimidating. But if you've found Homeschool.com and are reading this article, you're like most parents of gifted children –you're researching your options because you want to give your child the gift of the best education possible.

Here are some things you can do if you are raising a gifted child:

Research the characteristics and needs of gifted minds

Educate yourself on parenting a gifted child

Talk to specialists--there is an active field of study for teaching gifted and talented students

Identify an appropriate professional to evaluate your child if you'd like to have your child tested and assessed

Consider your child's unique social and emotional challenges
Consider the best educational plan for your child

Educate your gifted child at home
Home education is a great option for families with gifted children. Parents can provide appropriate levels of intense study, flexibility, and social outlets. But many parents feel overwhelmed with the idea of homeschooling a gifted learner. Now you can look to the experts on distance learning with a new school founded by Laurel Springs School. The accredited Laurel Springs has been leading K – 12 distance education for more than 17 years. Laurel Springs has just launched its Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented for high school students after seeing that a huge number of gifted students are not getting their educational needs met through traditional education. They also recognize that gifted students need to be in an environment with other gifted students where it's safe to learn in unique ways and be different.

Private school offerings with home education
Laureate School offers families all the perks of an elite private school: guidance, counseling, mentoring, college placement services, etc. with the bonus of being able to learn at home. The Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented offers a complete selection of College Prep Classes and challenging AP and Honors courses that demand advanced level thinking skills and teach advanced writing skills.

In addition, the school offers:

Symposium-based programs

Guest Speakers - professionals and experts from a variety of disciplines

Collaborative Seminars

Online discussion groups

Interdisciplinary debate topics

Learning Style incorporation in course work

Senior Project/Thesis

Gifted children develop differently
Gifted children are usually asynchronous, meaning that they grow and develop in an uneven manner. Linda Silverman of the Gifted Development Center writes of asynchrony that, "gifted children develop in an uneven manner, that they are more complex and intense than their agemates, that they feel out-of-sync with age peers and 'age appropriate curriculum,' that the internal and external discrepancies increase with IQ, and that these differences make them extremely vulnerable. Their greatest need is each other in an environment in which it is safe to be different."

Gifted children learn differently
At the Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented, it is understood that gifted students learn differently and are diverse in their academic needs. The high school program provides a community for exceptional students where they experience a differentiated, intellectually demanding curriculum through distance learning.

Laureate School nurtures the intellectual abilities of each student and enhances their personal development at the same time. With a balance of both academic challenges and personal connection, gifted students can work independently, collaborate on designing their coursework, and work with gifted peers and adult mentors through online discussions, seminars and classes. Laureate School has teachers who specialize in the art of differentiated instruction so gifted students are given the focus and attention necessary for their learning styles.

February 28, 2008

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From a letter to gifted students from the Director of Laureate School:

"For just a moment, I'd like you to visualize what it would be like to join an elite high school community which offers a comprehensive program designed around your educational needs, goals, and interests. Imagine an entire academic support system made up of a team of educators and advisors whose sole purpose is to assist you in reaching your educational goals. Imagine what it would be like to attend a school where you are allowed the opportunity to explore, create, problem-solve, and collaborate with like-minded peers."
- Kayte Hamilton, PhD
Director of Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented

About Laureate School
Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented was founded by the accredited Laurel Springs School to provide a distance learning path for gifted and talented high school students. With a personalized home curriculum, Laureate School offers a wide variety of challenging educational opportunities to develop the intellect, encourage achievement and nurture personal development. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), our courses are certified by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the University of California (UC).

Listen to a podcast featuring discussion with Marilyn Mosley-Gordanier, executive director and founder of Laurel Springs School and Kayte Hamilton, PhD, director of Laureate School.
http://www.laurelsprings.com/press_releases.asp

Learn more about the Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented at www.laureateschool.com or call 1-800-377-5890 ext. 123 or 129.

Learn more about Laurel Springs School at www.laurelsprings.com.