Home Educating Gifted Children

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Home Educating Gifted Children
By

• Susan Wight

Jo Freitag
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We both have practical experience in home
educating gifted children but have used very
different approaches whilst maintaining a respect
for each others approach. This gives us a
variety of combined experience.
We arent experts on home educating gifted
children.
YOU are the expert on YOUR children.
...and so are they.
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Some basics about Giftedness
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Level
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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).
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• 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.

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Asynchronous development means a child may

• Be physically six years old

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

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

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This asynchrony can create difficulties if a
childs 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 readbut
Our little guy?
He cant turn the pages
Frustration
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Pace
7rfm
5rfm
3rfm
1rfm
Repetitions for mastery
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GAGNE Model of Factors which Influence the
Development of Innate Giftedness into Fully
Realised Talent emphasises the importance of
environmental factors
INTRAPERSONAL
Talents Fields relevant to school-age
youth ACADEMICS Language, science etc GAMES OF
STRATEGY Chess, puzzles, video,
etc. TECHNOLOGY Mechanics, computers,
etc ARTS Visual, drama, music, etc. SOCIAL
ACTION Tutoring, school, politics,
etc BUSINESS Sales, entrepreneurship,
etc ATHLETICS SPORTS
Giftedness Aptitude domains INTELLECTUAL Reasonin
g (eg. visual, spatial) memory, judgment
etc CREATIVE Originality, inventiveness, Humour,
etc. SOCIOAFFECTIVE Leadership, empathy,
self-awareness, etc SENSORIMOTOR Strength, fine
motor control, Endurance, flexibility,
etc. OTHERS Extrasensory perception, gift of
healing etc
DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS Learning Training
Practising
SURROUNDINGS Home, school, community,
etc PERSONS Parents, teachers, mentors,
etc. UNDERTAKINGS Activities, courses, programs
etc. EVENTS Encounters, awards, accidents, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CATALYSTS (POSITIVE/NEGATIVE IMPACTS)
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Home education can provide a rich environment for
nurturing giftedness
and time to smell the roses
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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.