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Dear School People...
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- What Are You Doing To Find And Develop My Child's
Talents? 25 tough questions that are
more important than, "Is my child
in the Gifted Program?"
- * How does my child learn best?
How does your school program take into account students' personal characteristics and learning
styles?
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- * In what academic content area(s)
or extra-curricular area(s)
- does my child display strengths, talents, or special interests?
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- * What provisions does your school
make for them to be recognized, valued, and developed?
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- * What provisions do you make to
insure that students receive instruction that is well-suited to their real instructional needs?
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- * What specific provisions are made
for students to learn at their own rate or pace, rather than being limited to a rigidly-prescribed,
"lockstep" curriculum?
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- * What resources and materials are
available to expose students to the newest ideas and developments in many fields, and to in-depth pursuit of their areas of special interestand?
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- * How do you provide students with
access to and experiences with other students and adults who share their strengths,
talents, and interests?
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- * How do you use community resources
and mentors to extend students' learning in areas of special talents and interests?
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- * How do you help students to become
aware of their own best talents and interests and to appreciate those of others as well?
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- * How do you help students to consider
future career possibilities and to cope with rapid change in our world?
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- * What provisions are made for advanced
content or courses for students whose achievement warrants them?
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- * How are the students' needs determined
and reviewed?
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- * What enrichment opportunities
are offered that are not merely "busywork" or "more of the same" assignments?
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- * How do teachers provide opportunities
for students to learn and apply critical and creative thinking, problem
solving, decision making, and teamwork skills? How are these skills
taught and used in classes, and through the
curriculum?
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- * What other activities or programs
are offered that focus on these skills? (Future Problem Solving Program?Destination ImagiNation? Invention
Conventions? Others...?)
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- * How do you help students learn
to plan and investigate everyday (or real-world problems, and to plan and conduct research,
rather than relying on contrived, textbook exercises?
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- * How do you help students
 create and share
the products or results of their projects and investigations?
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- * What provisions do you make, or
what support do you offer, to create opportunities for students to
explore a variety of motivating and challenging topics outside the regular curriculum?
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- * How do you help students learn
to set goals, plan projects, locate and use resources, create products, and evaluate their
work?
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- * What provisions do you make to
help students feel comfortable and confident in expressing and dealing with their personal
and academic goals and concerns?
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- * What specific steps do you take
to insure that learning is exciting and original rather than boring and repetitious?
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- * How do you ensure that students
are challenged to work towards their full potential ("at the edge of their ability")
rather than permitting them to drift along comfortably ("on cruise control")?
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- * In what ways do faculty members
inspire students to ask probing questions, examine many viewpoints,
and use criteria to make and justify decisions?
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- * How does the school program help
students to learn social or interpersonal skills without sacrificing their individuality?
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- * Have you asked me about my child,
and discussed the insights I have about his or her interests, activities, experiences,
relationships, and feelings about school, and in areas outside the school
day?
Center for Creative Learning, Inc.
4921 Ringwood Meadow
Sarasota, Florida, USA 34235
Phone: 941.342.9928 - Fax: 941.342.0064
E-mail: Info@CreativeLearning.com
Copyright © 2004 Center for Creative Learning, Inc.
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