Parents' Frequently Asked Questions About Giftedness (continued)

My 10-year old is extremely inquisitive and has a long attention span. Could these be signs of giftedness?

Many characteristics are associated with giftedness, and children may manifest their gifts in different ways. In addition, there are also varying types of giftedness (intellectual, academic, creative, artistic, and leadership). Though your observations of your child's disposition are helpful in the identification process, appropriate assessment can provide you with more information regarding the type and degree of giftedness displayed by your child. Read Characteristics of Gifted Individuals and Testing on the Parenting TIPs page for further information.

I think my child may be underachieving. How do I know for sure?

Underachievement is a discrepancy between some measure of the child's ability (i.e., IQ, test scores) and his or her demonstrated achievement (i.e., grades, school production). Sometimes, what looks like underachievement, may, in fact, be a masked learning disability. If you suspect a disconnect exists between what your child is capable of and what he or she is actually demonstrating, it is wise to seek the guidance of a professional psychologist. For more on the characteristics of underachievers and resources to address it Underachievement on the Parenting TIPs page.

How can I assist in providing enriching learning experiences for my child?

Parents can do many things to instill a love of learning in their child and nurture his or her interests. Check with area museums, libraries, colleges and universities, and educational organizations to determine opportunities that might be available to your child during the summer, after school, or on weekends. Duke TIP's summer educational programs, Scholar Weekends, e-Studies classes , and independent learning programs provide excellent enrichment. Duke TIP's Educational Opportunity Guide and Enrichment on the Parenting TIPs page provide other options for you to consider.

How do I resolve disputes with my child's school regarding appropriate placement and programming?

Disputes with schools about appropriate programming can involve negotiation, mediation, due process, and, as a last resort, the courts. It is best to begin negotiations from the bottom up. For example, first try to resolve the problem with your child's teacher, if you are not satisfied with the results, inform the principal and negotiate with him or her. If the issue is still not resolved, involvement of central office personnel (i.e., director for gifted services, superintendent) may be necessary. For more detailed information on resolving disputes see Legal Issues in Gifted Education on the Parenting TIPs page.

How do I select someone to privately test my child?

Several factors must be considered when selecting a licensed psychologist to test your child. See Selecting a Test Administrator on the Parenting TIPs page for more information on this topic.

How can I be certain my high school student is engaged in a rigorous curriculum so that he or she will be a competitive college applicant?

Colleges desire applicants who have engaged in the most rigorous coursework that was available to them at their high school. Advanced Placement courses provide students with the opportunity to complete college-level coursework and earn college credit through examination while still in high school. The International Baccalaureate Programme , available at some high schools, also offers advanced curricular options for students in the final two years of secondary school. Both of these programs are considered rigorous by college admissions offices. If your child has limited course options at his or her high school, dual enrollment, where students enroll in high school and college simultaneously might be a viable option. In other words, your child might take an advanced math class, unavailable to her at her high school, at a local community college, university, or online. For additional information regarding what colleges are looking for among applicants, read the Duke Gifted Letter article, "Getting in: A College Admissions Primer."

What does differentiation look like, and how can I be assured that my child is receiving appropriate instruction matched to his or her abilities?

Differentiation is the modification of the course content, teaching process, student product, and learning environment to better meet the academic needs of students. Gifted students should have the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of content that is abstract, complex, and organized for learning value. The study of various people and methods used by professionals in the content field should also be incorporated into the curriculum. The teaching process should include opportunities for high level thinking, discovery, reasoning, and group interaction. Activities should be open-ended and allow students choice, variety, and the ability to move at their own pace. Student products should result from real problems, be shared with authentic audiences, demonstrate a transformation of content, include a variety of options from which students can self-select, and be appropriately evaluated. Finally, learning environments for gifted children should be learner-center, promote independence, be open and accepting of students, contain complex materials, make use of varied groupings, be flexible, and allow students to move around. Commonly used strategies are detailed in Differentiation on the Parenting TIPs page.