2023 Q 2 Newsletter

Families often ask how they can support their gifted learners academic achievement at home. Below are some of the tips shared by our educators.

Scholarly Habits and Skills

• Have a regular after school routine that includes a combination of down time, snack, and homework time. The order those occur and the length of time for each may vary depending on your child's personal preferences and energy level after school and family schedules. Try different combinations until you find what works best for your student. And, keep in mind that routine might need to be different for each of your children depending on their age and personality.
• Establish a homework or study spot. Again, the ideal spot will depend on your child. Some work better in quiet places free from noise and visual distractions, including distractions from siblings. Others may work better in the middle of the home where an adult can monitor closely. Some work better at a table, while others are more focused laying on the floor. Try things out until you find the spot where you student is most productive.
• Look for ways to learn in everyday tasks. Maybe it is learning to work with fractions while cooking a new recipe together. It could be reading an article or watching a video together to learn how to replace a washer in a faucet. Students are encouraged to keep a mindset of always learning when they see the adults around them learning, as well.

Mathematical Thinking

• Often, students who are strong math students prefer to do work in their heads rather than on paper. This works when they are young and the math is simpler, but it creates challenges when mathematical problems become more complex. So, when working on math at home, encourage students to put their ideas on paper. It may be with numbers, drawings, or words. It may be detailed or just key numbers or ideas. But writing things down is a critical habit to develop before the math gets harder.
• Also, encourage your student to think about more than one way to solve a math problem when doing homework. There are usually multiple ways to solve any problem. And, while it is tempting to focus on the one that is most familiar or comfortable, it can lead a student to miss out on more efficient problem solving, or they may miss other approaches that will be useful later. As math gets more complex, students need to be comfortable trying different ways to get the answer, but that has to be something they practice doing even when the math is easier. So, look for more than one way to solve a problem.
• Finally, if you want to do some math together as a family, try one of Dr. Raj Shah's "Math Treats." His videos feature problems that are fun and require students to think in creative ways to find solutions.

Reading and Writing

• Help your child select books that are on their reading level but have content that aligns with their maturity level. There comes a point when children who are reading above grade level are able to read and comprehend text with vocabulary far beyond what is expected for their age, and yet books with that level of reading difficulty often include themes or subject matter that isn't appropriate for the child's emotional maturity. To find books that are the "right fit," consult with the local school or public librarian. MENSA also publishes book lists by grade band with recommendations for their Excellence in Reading program. Even if families don't participate in the program, the book lists are a great place for ideas of what may be appropriate. The Davidson Institute also has complied a list of book lists to explore.
• Allow your student to read books that may seem too easy or too young. If the reading level is lower than your child's current reading level, your student may want to read the book just for the enjoyment of reading. Celebrate that and encourage it! Or, something like a picture book may seem to be too easy, but picture books can be deceptively complex with advanced vocabulary or abstract overarching themes that can be very engaging for a gifted reader. So embrace those "easy books."
• Use books as a tool to connect with your student. Ask them questions about what they remember about the characters and story events. Then adjust those questions to ask them their opinion about the characters or events or why they think the characters or events are as they are. Finally, ask your child to talk about ways they may be similar to or different from characters or things from their life that may be similar to things that happened in the story. Those conversations will build your personal connection and will help your child process their own experiences.

If a family includes multiple gifted children, the competing needs and interests of the children can sometimes lead to conflict. On the other hand, they may find common interests and challenge each other in ways that keep them engaged during the break.

If a family includes one child who is gifted and others who have not been identified as gifted, a different type of conflict may arise. The child who is gifted may sometimes try to take charge and be the boss siblings, which is not always welcomed. Or, the gifted child may isolate themself because they don’t feel they have things in common with their sibling(s). Sometimes, siblings may feel intimidated or overshadowed by the gifted child. This can occur even when families do their very best to avoid those situations.

As your family heads into this break together, consider the following tips to help keep the family dynamic positive and healthy during the extra time together:

• Find activities that are interesting to everyone. When that isn’t possible, allow each person to choose one activity for everyone to do together. This way everyone is together, and everyone is enjoying at least some of the activities.

• Look for activities that foster cooperation, such as doing a jigsaw puzzle, building a snowman together, assembling a structure from LEGO or blocks, etc.

• Keep structured activities short with lots of unscheduled time between. This allows for some needed family time along with some needed individual time.

• Find ways to celebrate the strengths of each person in the family. Even if everyone is not identified as gifted, everyone has something they do well. Recognize and honor that.

Additional articles on family relationships with gifted learners:

• How Gifted Children Impact the Family

• Siblings, Giftedness, and Disparities, Oh My!

• Gifted and Nongifted Siblings

• Family Life with Gifted and Talented Children

Additional article on navigating the holidays with gifted learners:

• Have a Happy Holiday - Not an Exasperating One

The Ohio Association for Gifted Children held their annual Family Day in October, which included a series of virtual workshops on a variety of topics for families of gifted learners. They have made the recordings available to the public for free. The links are below for anyone interested in viewing them.

• Beyond Legos: Hands-On Activities to Nurture Spatial Reasoning - This session explored a variety of toys and games to help develop visual-spatial skills across all ages.
• The Question is the Answer - This session focused on the power of questions. Families learned some question frames to use to start critical thinking discussions with their children along wiht suggested follow up questions to keep the conversation going.
• Early College: Which Path Is Right for Your Child - Programs including college credit plus, community college options, and residential programs were explained, and the presenters discussed implications fo future university study.

Summer Programs

Many organizations in Central Ohio and beyond offer summer enrichment programs. Some of these programs are designed specifically for students who are gifted, while others are open to a broader population. The list found here includes programs for all grade levels locally, throughout Ohio, and even some out of state.Programs are focused on a wide range of topics across many disciplines including the arts, sciences, humanities, languages, service, physical wellness, and more. Please note that the summer programs and scholarships listed are NOT affiliated with Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools, and websites, dates, and offerings may change. Contact the specific program directly with any questions.

Most applications open in January or February, but some camps have already opened applications, including OwjL Camp. Ohio Wesleyan University offers summer residential and day camps for gifted learners in grades 4 through 8. Campers choose to take 4 out of more than 30 enrichment course options during their week at camp. More information can be found on the program website.

Scholarships (School Age and College)

Families often wish to enroll their children in afterschool programs, summer camps. Or other special opportunities to help develop their talents or expand areas of interest. Those programs often have a cost associated with them. Or, students may be preparing to graduate this spring and are in search of scholarships to help with college tuition and fees. There are multiple programs that can help offset those costs for students who are gifted (and even one below for any student, regardless of gifted identification.) Check these out!

The Ohio Association for Gifted Children has three different scholarship programs to support the pursuits of gifted learners in Ohio. These programs are for both school-ages and rising college freshmen. Visit their website for applications for the three programs described below:

• 2024 OAGC Student Scholarship - Each year OAGC offers scholarships to K-12 Ohio students for special activities that extend their special talent/interest areas. Note: The deadline is February 15, 2024 for applications.

• 2024 OAGC College Scholarship Award - For any student who is about to enroll in his/her first year of college and/or a student currently enrolled full time in an undergraduate program of an Ohio college. The extended deadline is April 15, 2024.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation also offers two programs to support students, one a college scholarship and one a program from current 7th grade students.

• The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities. Applications will open February 2024. For more details, visit the website.
  

Support for Talented Students (STS) is a local organization that provides scholarships for gifted students in grades 3 through 12 to access summer programs aligned to their talents and interests. Awards are based on financial need. The application window typically opens in December or January. For more details and the application, visit their website.

The Columbus Foundation offers a variety of scholarships, including the Carol Strip Whitney Scholarship. This scholarship is specifically available to current seniors or current college students who are identified as gifted and have a strong academic record. Deadline for applications is March 1. More details about eligibility and the application can be found online.

Finally, the Ohio Department of Education has shared an opportunity for Ohio families. The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides funds to low-income families for various enrichment and educational activities. The program is offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Ohio Department of Education. ACE is available to any Ohio child ages 6 - 18 years old whose family income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.

This newsletter is sent to families of all GJPS students identified a gifted in one or more areas, even if not receiving gifted services. We hope it is informative to all.