More often than not I have read posts here about schools that have minimal support for GT kids. I really hate reading about schools who have the attitude of "well he/she's fine, they're excelling, what more do you want?" Is that really the norm? Is so little really being done for our kids that are gifted?
I really don't know what the current thinking is on what is best for GT programs in schools. My dd gets pulled out of 2nd grade to go to her GT class once a week for 2.5hrs. Her classroom has leveled group work in spelling, reading and math. Dd's teacher has sent home additional homework for dd to improve her critical thinking skills and writing (this is above and beyond any classwork). She said dd is ready to go on in areas the rest of the class aren't even near yet thus the extra work. From the sounds of it, dd's school is doing something right compared to what Ive read here. Is this a correct assumption?
Tammianne, I don't know what the norm is but I do know that what you have described sounds like nirvana compared to the school my kids are in. There is no state mandate for GT ed. There are no pullouts. The kids are not identified until 4th grade. Then they are "clustered" within heterogeneous classrooms. There is little funding: $10 per identified GT student
per year. No services are provided before 4th grade. There is "differentiated" curriculum in name only. They do not allow subject acceleration due to "scheduling difficulties."
I have volunteered at this school over 20hrs/month for 3 years. I don't know what more I can do! I am currently teaching science in my son's K class and math in my daughter's 3rd grade class. For the math I am creating the lesson plans and teaching the class for an hour each week. For the science, I get a lesson plan from the teacher and give a 1/2 hour lesson to a group of kids once a week. I am doing it for the kids but I am tired of doing other people's jobs for no pay.
