Any parents of gifted children here ?

[tamarind]

clare:

Ohhhh, you have a huge collection of 亦舒! ~drool~ If you want to clear shelf space one day.... let me know hor....

No problem :mrgreen:

[tamarind]

Dear all,

I just came across this forum about Gifted Education in USA/Canada.

http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=40

Something interesting I read :
http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=122366
In our district (I'm in FL which places gifted under the ESE umbrella, making it mandatory to offer services for those identifed as gifted) we do not ever allow a student to enter school if born after the cutoff date of September 1. Gifted services are offered to children in many schools around the district and in most of them, kindergarten is a daily pull out program for one to two hours a day (we're full day). Some provide it full time. As far as I know beginning in first grade, gifted services are offered in self contained classrooms full time. However, the child must be five by 9/1 in order to enter, probably because maturity is a factor no matter how bright the child is.

Nancy

Looks like they cater to gifted kids as young as 5 years old.

[clare]

tamarind:

Dear all,

I just came across this forum about Gifted Education in USA/Canada.

http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=40

Looks like they cater to gifted kids as young as 5 years old.

I think for public schools it depends on state requirements and individual school districts though. I know that the schools in the city where we are don't have much in place of gifted education.
Private schools can do a lot more better in this aspect; they have more flexibility in terms of early admission and curriculum etc, and in my experience they seem better equipped to identify and nurture the more gifted students.

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

Hi Tamarind


Dont know what prompted me to buy the book. Someone told me that a person who is good in science is usually good in math. So, I sort of try to see if he is interested.

With globalisation, I feel there is a need for my kids to be exposed to international exposure ensuring that they are at ease interacting with people from different countries. They might not even end up working in Singapore.

So how does one develop creativity? Any suggestion or activity that can be done at home? On the computer programming side, agree if parents have the technical know how, why not.

If you read back on part 1 of this thread, there is a comment made by a teacher in gifted program name Ling. I think she has accurately describe gifted kid characteristics.

I’m using that to have a feel of what ds main area of interest/strength is. So far, I only know it is only science.

[metz]

Hi En,


To us, the book is more on number puzzles. Pretty interesting if the kid is into numbers as it introduces creative ways of solving problems. Not just plain drilling or rote learning. In fact, there isn't much questions for one to practise. Either the kids get it or they don't. I might be wrong but the book would be tough for kids who can't see or don't enjoy Math patterns. The creative part never comes into my mind.

Hi Tamarind,
[quote]Like C programming, or Visual Basic. That gives him the power to create any computer programs.[/quote]Ah, C programming. That was my favourite subject in the University. Hmm, never thought of it as being creative. But it really comes easy to me then. The thrill of debugging a program successfully :lol: Still remember those sleepless nights trying to think or debug the programs.[quote]why not write a computer program that will solve those problems within milliseconds ?[/quote]Answers is not the ultimate quest. But the ability to enjoy the process of solving questions is the joy and understanding one acquires. Perhaps this is what set a Math lover and a non-Math lover apart?

Like the book, I suppose C programming can be trained too. Even for Higher Math, Reading, Drawing, Music etc. But the important ingredient is the kid's interest and ability in the subject. Otherwise, it just plain rote learning/training or drilling and tedious work, no matter how creative one deems the subject is.

For creativity, one must be able to think out of the box and explore all situations. It's not question on subjects or topics that will make one more creative.

[metz]

clare:

In sec school, instead of cramming for exams, I'd be racing to finish 射雕英雄传 instead :lol: To me, the traditional chinese somehow lends so much flavour to the stories.

Hi 5! Can't remember how many times I was scolded by my mom for doing that!:P Can't agree more on the traditional chinese part. Usually, I won't bother to read the book if it's in simplified chinese. Somehow, the feel is different. Have you been reading any Chinese books lately? I have just picked up a Chinese parenting book recently. A refreshing view for me in parenting

[metz]

Hi En,


I recalled you mentioning about your son's interest in Lego. Take a look at this http://www.elpmis.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=26&Itemid=44. It might interest him. My ds is currently attending a 3 days Lego Robotics Workshop in his school and he loves it. I might consider the Elpmis Next Zero course if time permits.

[tamarind]

EN,

My kids are still very young, I let them play with lego blocks where they can design and build anything. I also let them have easy access to paper, pencils, coloring, scissors, glue, etc which they can use to create any kind of arts and crafts.

When they are older, I plan to teach them robotics programming, probably using Lego mindstorms. I am also planning to buy this toy which allows the kids to create electronic circuits http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-100-Snap-Circuits-Jr/dp/B00008BFZH/ref=pd_sim_t_1

I am not going to restrict to science. I will also let my girl do as much as she likes in arts, which I think is easy. Just give her paper and pencil, and then she can draw anything. I am also thinking of developing her creative writing. I admire J.K. Rowling, not because of her Harry Potter books, but because of her rags to riches story simply by writing books.

I am still looking for ways to develop creativity. I guess most importantly, the child must have enough free time to think and play freely on his/her own.

My elder brother is brilliant in physics and mathematics. He has a PhD in Physics from a prestigious university in UK. He has been working as a research scientist for the last 15 years. His latest job is at a university in the UK, earning 2700 pounds a month. He has not come up with any important inventions or new discoveries. I believe he lacks creativity.

I found the message by Ling :
1) Nature of gifts vary: We do come across a pupil who is gifted in all respects i.e. in math, science, english, second/third language, music, art, drama, sports. Often, the pupils I am in contact with would excel greatly in two/three subjects (disciplines) and fair just above average on the rest. Some have no aptitude in a particular subject so they do not do as well during exams but when pitted against the mainstream pupils during common exams, they would still score or average well. Some develop their interests in these areas at some tipping point later on. The key thing is, they develop at their own pace and pursue their interests according to their needs. We should never stifle their quest for knowledge, skills or answers.

I agree that it is an accurate description of gifted kids. Gifted kids generally have superb memory, and are able to understand difficult concepts effortlessly. If the child has special interest in one subject, then he may ignore the other subjects.

chamonix:

Ah, C programming. That was my favourite subject in the University. Hmm, never thought of it as being creative.

I have been working as a software engineer for the past 15 years, and I have created many applications to perform certain tasks or improve efficiency. Computer programming is about creativity. We don't just write computer programs according to a set of requirements like what you did in your university. We can create computer programs to do very useful things, and a good computer program can even affect other people's lives.

For example, with Skype, I can video chat with my cousins in London, and it is completely free. My father was able to see his elder sister during the last few days of her life.

It is the idea that counts. Anyone can do the programming. But not every one can come up with a good idea, it is all about creativity.

chamonix:

Answers is not the ultimate quest. But the ability to enjoy the process of solving questions is the joy and understanding one acquires. Perhaps this is what set a Math lover and a non-Math lover apart?

A few days ago, I had a chat with a maths lecturer who has many years of experience teaching maths. He told me that nowadays there are many powerful software programs like Mathematica, Scientific Notebook, etc, which can help to solve complex mathematical problems. Why bother making the students work out all those tedious algebraic manipulations ? The students should spend more time understanding the concept, for example, of differentiation, integration, etc and how to apply these skills.

chamonix:

Like the book, I suppose C programming can be trained too. Even for Higher Math, Reading, Drawing, Music etc. But the important ingredient is the kid's interest and ability in the subject. Otherwise, it just plain rote learning/training or drilling and tedious work, no matter how creative one deems the subject is.

We can teach C programming to any child who knows how to read English. I believe a child as young as 6 years old can start to learn computer programming. C programming is actually very easy. It can be taught in less than 2 weeks. Once the child is taught the skill, then it is all up to him to know how to apply the skill. He can write a few simple lines of code to do very complex stuff. But then not everyone can do it, I have many young adult students who just don't get it.

[tamarind]

clare:

tamarind:

Dear all,

I just came across this forum about Gifted Education in USA/Canada.

http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=40

Looks like they cater to gifted kids as young as 5 years old.

I think for public schools it depends on state requirements and individual school districts though. I know that the schools in the city where we are don't have much in place of gifted education.
Private schools can do a lot more better in this aspect; they have more flexibility in terms of early admission and curriculum etc, and in my experience they seem better equipped to identify and nurture the more gifted students.

Are there any private pre-schools in Singapore cater to gifted kids ? I don't think I have come across any.

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

Tamarind, Chamonix. Just had a good look at the books. I looked through both book 1 & 2. Some of the questions can be taught. But some of the questions need more in depth thinking & it is a matter of whether a person gets it or not. Some questions will appear in primary school examination papers (depending on which school). Some questions are really puzzles to be played.


Chamonix wrote [quote]Answers is not the ultimate quest. But the ability to enjoy the process of solving questions is the joy and understanding one acquires. Perhaps this is what set a Math lover and a non-Math lover apart? [/quote]Yes! I fall in love with math when I was in sec 3. For eca queen like me (5 ecas with major post), my weekdays are for socialising, juggling ecas, revision, read books etc. But my Sat&Sun is totally devoted for math! I start attacking math problems from morning & ends late at night. I dont call that studying. I'm simply playing because the greatest satisfaction is to solve all the problems.

So after looking at both book 1 & 2. Conclusion, he can start doing both books except for those questions that \"either you get it or you don't\". At the start of my discussion with Chamonix, I did mention that ds is able to work out some of the math problem on his own without me teaching him. But when I ask him how his answer is derived, his solution is not as expected (not the traditional way). I think creativity plays a part in how he derived his answers.

Tamarind wrote [quote]I am not going to restrict to science. I will also let my girl do as much as she likes in arts, which I think is easy. Just give her paper and pencil, and then she can draw anything. I am also thinking of developing her creative writing. I admire J.K. Rowling, not because of her Harry Potter books, but because of her rags to riches story simply by writing books. [/quote]I'm not restricting my son either. That is the reason why I try him for math. He draws too, he creates things using carton boxes, plastics, bottles etc. He dont like writing except on his pet subject. I'm waiting for MASC to open the schedule for creative writing, to see if he likes it. I know he has the stamina & speed for running. But his school provide no opportunity for it. Not yet anyway.

Chamonix, thanks for the link http://www.elpmis.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=26&Itemid=44. Will send if he is interested.

Tamarind wrote [quote]But then not everyone can do it, I have many young adult students who just don't get it.[/quote]Including me! :lol:

Tamardn wrote [quote]My elder brother is brilliant in physics and mathematics. He has a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge. He has been working as a research scientist for the last 15 years. His latest job is at the University of Liverpool, earning 2700 pounds a month. He has not come up with any important inventions or new discoveries. I believe he lacks creativity. [/quote]How about motivation? I'm actually wasting away at work where all my ideas run into a huge wall. If you can't fight them, you simply join them.