Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums GT Research something to learn vs. accelloration?

What's great about acceleration, is that it get's kids who need to learn in groups to be with other groups of kids who are at a similar 'readiness level.' It doesn't solve the rate problem, or the asymetry problem. One one hand your son is happy to learn independently, but I think he would have more overall social happiness if he were with older kids. Acceleration isn't the best answer, it's just the cheapest answer for folks who aren't near programs for PG kids, can't afford to homeschool, etc. But, having said all that, it does work pretty well for lots of kids. Not all - certainly!

Best Wishes,
Grinity

"I also question effects of enhancing Math to his level to balance his day and not enhancing the rest. Wouldn't that make English and Science feel like not good subjects, despite potential for talent there too?"

My son is globally gifted. When he was 8 we were given the choice of grade skipping or subject acceleration. After much discussion he chose the latter. As a result he was accelerated 3 years in Maths and 1 in Science. He has never felt that the other subjects were less worthy, he just wasn't as interested in them. His least favourite subject is English and if it wasn't compulsory I'm sure he wouldn't study it at all! Having said that he stills excels at it but is not interested in taking it further and I don't have a problem with that.

Just from our personal experience, my son would not have been happy if he wasn't challenged sufficiently in his areas of strength and interest and this was certainly evident in his behaviour.

I hope this helps.

BWBShari-
How much time does he use doing his homeschooling? If he can get thru his school work so fast that might present an opportunity to do something else like hiking or skiing or big projects/hobbies. I see you have lots of kids which takes lots of time. You must be a super mom! hang in there.

I think it is possible to do both, based on our own experience.

DS9 is doing an online Algebra course. I have read (and questions from friends) why is there a need when eventually he will be taught these too in Middle/High school. If he does it now, what is he going to do when he reaches MS/HS?

I have similar concern too b4 I started him on the course. Then I came across a question. "If a child can run fast (and enjoy doing it) , would u ask him to slow down?" I feel this is the same as ds. At this moment, I am not going to slow him down. I will also not think abt what he is going to do when he reaches MS/HS because, to me, learning is endless. There will always be things for him to learn on the subject.

Apart from this "acceleration" on Math, Ds9 has other interests too. He likes to cook and he has his own cooking blog. He likes fixing NXT, modelling clay and read. He goes to TaeKwonDo classes 3x a week. These are things that he likes to do.

As for your ds who in love with vocab, I found this book in the library which I think he will like. L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue. Good luck with your decision.

I agree with you, I think its ok to let them accelerate. Interests can go in spurts so I think its fine to let them go at their own speed as per their interests. There will always be more to learn.

Thanks for all the posts and insight. Very helpful. I have a better understanding of accelloration and enrichment.

I have always thought in my heart that to not get the learning he needs hurts him. After reading how the genetics make the gifted what they are I just feel so validated. This may sound too dramatic but it is a life changing. This gave a new understanding of my son.

I'm all over this one. Thanks! My word-obsessed son is already getting one other vocab book for Christmas. He'll love this.

The approach that we use for our DS9 is a combination of both. At home we mainly let him pursue things that school doesn't cover. At school we try let the teachers understand that DS9 needs acceleration. So far, DS is not challenged enough at school but he does sometimes get more advanced stuff than other kids. Given that our entire school is pretty advanced (I heard that the average kids at my son's school are about 2 grade levels above state standards), we are fine with what DS gets at school. He still has lots of free time at school but as long as he likes school I'm fine with it.

School education, in my mind, can be quite narrow and shallow, though. Topics are taught superficially, and lots of important areas are not covered. And that's what we make up for at home. We revisit the same math topics that are covered in classroom but much more in-depth. We read much more advanced books together. Museums, musical instruments, and yes, paper airplanes are DS's longlasting hobby. Basically I think if you pursue acceleration only, lots of learning will not have the depth that they should have. If you don't pursue acceleration at all, well, kids might waste too much time at school.