Parenting and Learning Issues

As public schools are working to make classrooms fully inclusive, where all children are treated equally, many parents are concerned that their gifted child may not be faced with the appropriate educational environment that fosters challenging learning.

Carol Bainbridge, a board member of the Indiana Association for the Gifted, explains: “To be a gifted child is to demonstrate an exceptional talent in a particular area.” This exceptional talent includes high IQ levels and abilities that can be a predictor and indicator of adult achievement. As schools are implementing increasingly orthodox practices across curriculum areas, many gifted children may be left behind instead of pushed ahead.

Gifted Children

• What Qualifies as “Gifted”?

There are various ranges of “gifted abilities,” ranging from “Mildly Gifted,” all the way to “Profoundly Gifted.” In a standard bell curve, most average learners fall between a range of 85 and 115, with 100 being the absolute norm. According to Carol Bainbridge, “the farther away from the absolute norm of 100 a child is, the greater the need for special educational accommodations, regardless of whether the distance is on the left or right of 100.”

• Lacking a Challenge

While gifted children may possess exceptional abilities, they are not always high achievers. As Bainbridge continues, “even when they don't achieve good grades, they tend to score high on achievement tests, most often in the 95-99 percentile range. They love to learn and their love of learning, good memories, and ability to learn quickly and easily enable them

To prepare students for success in college, high schools are providing increasingly rigorous course options to help students establish a foundation for continuing education. According to the College Board, colleges today are “looking for a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college.” As colleges view high school transcripts as a student’s blueprint of their educational experiences, students should immerse themselves in a combination of academic core classes, along with concentrated subjects that focus on a students’ pathway for potential future studies. By engaging in solid high school college prep courses, students are better prepared for the transition into higher education experiences.

The College Prep Overview

To prepare for college, students can plan their schedule by looking at the guidelines for each core subject area. For the best college prep courses, students should focus primarily on core classes, and then choose elective classes as options that will enhance their skills as a collegiate student.

English

Students should take four units of English while in high school, which can focus on literature, writing, and research courses. Most specifically, an emphasis on composition will help build a foundation for collegiate success, as writing is a large component of continuing education. As College Board advisors further support, students should plan to “take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.” Considering that the skills learned in English are

While the United States does not nationally mandate the study of a foreign language in public schools, many global schools around the world have incorporated such requirements long ago. In 2001, The Center for Applied Linguistics discovered that most countries have mandatory foreign language requirements for children beginning at eight years old. However, in the United States, most students do not begin to learn another language until ninth grade, or the age of fourteen.

For both young children and teenage students, the study of a foreign language, whether in supplemental or immersion classes, offers intellectual, social, and collegiate opportunities. As young children have the ability to develop language skills early, educators and psychologists are encouraging the instruction of foreign linguistic studies from an early age. In addition, according to researcher Julia Tagliere, “being able to speak another person’s language is a critical skill, especially as increased travel opportunities, satellite programming, and international use of the internet have begun to create a truly global community.”

In this TED talk John McWhorter outlines 4 reasons to learn a new language.

Foreign Language in Elementary School

Cognitive Benefits

Since the 1960s, studies have shown that the best time to begin the study of a foreign language is in elementary school. Because children at this age show better mental flexibility, more creativity, divergent thinking skills, and improved listening and memory skills, kids are able to

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to receive both high school and college credit for taking a college-level course. A 2007 study from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) concluded that dual enrollment programs have a positive effect on high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, college grades, and progress toward obtaining a college degree. This article examines dual enrollment programs and the benefits they afford.

The number of dual admission programs has increased significantly over the past few years. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 1.2 million students participated in dual enrollment programs during the 2002-03 academic year. Approximately 71 percent of public high schools offered dual enrollment programs.

More than half of all colleges and universities allowed high school students to take classes for college credit. Community colleges are enthusiastic sponsors of dual enrollment programs. About 98 percent of public community colleges had dual enrollment programs in 2002-03. For public four-year universities, the number is 77 percent. Private community colleges and four-year institutions offer fewer dual enrollment opportunities than their public counterparts.

How Do Dual Enrollment Programs Work?

The requirements of dual admission programs vary considerably nationwide. The following characteristics are common:

? Only certain lower-level college courses are approved for dual credit. Remedial classes, physical education, and music courses are typically excluded from the programs.

? Academic standards are imposed on participants, including minimum grade point averages and standardized test scores.

? Students receive both credit toward high school graduation and college

Many children struggle with school. Sometimes these problems are caused by a lack of interest, while other times they may be created by learning challenges that your child faces. If your child is having difficulty in school, this does not mean the child cannot ultimately succeed. There are many ways to help your child overcome academic hurdles. In fact, one of the solutions to overcoming academic problems is to have your child work with a tutor.

However, before you hire a private tutor, or sign your child up at the local learning center, you should first confirm whether your child truly needs the one-on-one attention the tutor provides.

How do I know if my child needs a tutor?

First, before you even hire a tutor or visit a learning center, you should determine whether or not your child needs a tutor. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are your child’s grades slipping?
• Is your child obtaining great grades, but not feeling challenged at school?
• Is your child displaying low self-esteem, or thinking negatively about himself or herself in regards to school performance?
• Does your child’s teacher think he or she may need a tutor, or sends notes home indicting he or she may need help with his or her homework?
• Does a college your child wants to attend require high scores on tests to be accepted?

If the answer to any of these questions is, “yes,” these are signs that a one-to-one tutor may be useful to help your child to enjoy learning. A