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August 2009
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It's an issue that comes up again and again for parents: What's the right way to help the child who struggles in one academic subject, but excels in another? What if your child is fascinated by science, but not so interested in, say, writing? It's a great question, and one that experts took up over the summer at the Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness. Their answer may surprise you. They say DON'T push the subject your child dislikes. That doesn't mean you should let your little artistic genius fail at math, but some experts do suggest we parents "chill" a little on the tougher subject, and let kids go nuts on the subjects they love. Help them keep up in their lesser academic area, but let them develop their raw talent soar in their natural interests. Why? Because if you keep pushing and pushing and pushing on a hated subject, you may kill their love for learning in ALL areas. Experts in giftedness say you may destroy your child's interest in the academic subject they love most and potentially ruin a possible career path for your child. What pressure we parents face! Even more, the experts at the conference agreed that ALL children are gifted in some way. It's our job as parents to help them find their gifts and then help them develop that passion. Did you know Albert Einstein's first teacher not only said the little five year old would "probably never amount to much," but also said that he was "incapable of learning?" "Gifted" doesn't have to mean gifted in all academic areas. Some of the greatest inventors and minds that history has ever witnessed had areas and academic fields in which they simply had no clue. I'm reminded of Saturday Night Live's Stuart Smalley, played by Al Franken, who said, "Only mediocre people are at their best ALL the time." So, if your child is having a tough semester in class; don't give up -- but maybe ease up. 2 Comments |
It doesn't take an expert.
People in education can see that all students have strengths. Unfortunately, many educators don't teach to strengths- only deficits. Funding to address learning issues in special education, is often spent isolating kids in what students call, "stupid classrooms" where they are told that they can't make it in the real world. Example: Dislexic kids have a hard time reading at grade level, so they are put in special classes with students who struggle to process information. Now we have students who struggle to read AND aren't allowed to learn grade-level curriculm. So, the genius won't develop.
Our biggest issue these days? Comparing our children to others. It starts when they are very little. Is Johnny walking yet? My Susie has been walking since she was 10 months old! We forget that all kids develop at different rates. I'm an educator and at the present time I work primarily with homeschooled children. Their parents worry less about "grade level" expectations, and more about whether their kids are making steady progress and are happy about learning. Don't push, but do have expectations for your kids. For example, expect them to read a little every night (better yet, if they're reluctant, read with them). If they have normally developing brains, they'll learn in all subject areas, just not at the same rate.