Many parents have taken heart from tales about Albert Einstein's underwhelming performance in school. Why is it that their child who has learned to rewire the toaster cannot earn above a C in science? A cursory look into Einstein's experience can help parents glean several important clues into the psyche of gifted children.
As a child, Einstein wondered. Contemplating the mechanics of a magnetic compass as a five year old, Einstein surmised that there had to be "something behind things, something deeply hidden". This tendency to dwell on concepts longer than their peers is a hallmark of gifted kids. However, teachers don't usually go as deeply into their subjects as these students wish, leaving the school experience bland and ineffective. Gifted children also tend to have tunnel interests, so if their specific interests aren't being tapped into, they fail to perform. In classrooms with 25 or more kids, most teachers don't have the luxury of addressing those needs.
In response, parents of gifted children should take heed to notice what their kids are wondering about and take their lead to investigate it further. If a child wonders how a musical instrument makes various sounds, take him to a symphony to hear how instruments of different families complement one another. If his interest persists, buy or rent an instrument to build on that fascination. Having a gifted child sometimes demands proactive observance, but the payoff is seeing a child blossom and excel. What a bonding experience!
Einstein also failed to perform excellently when confronted with an authoritarian system of education. Unfortunately, when gifted kids are bored, they sometimes become class clowns or belligerent with their teachers. They meet the natural consequences of their behavior and become even more confrontational when the teacher asserts her authority. To alleviate this problem, many parents opt to home school to avoid nasty situations at school. A parent may also find a sympathetic teacher who is willing to work with the student to tap into those tunnel interests to teach key concepts. Many schools have gifted or accelerated programs that allow students to work cooperatively with like-minded peers in a discovery-based approach to learning that allows students to explore knowledge without proscribed boundaries. In this scenario, students can learn "out of the box" while adhering to group norms.
Knowing your child is the key. Despite the work that requires, though, isn't that where one finds joy in parenting?
www.einstein-website.de/z kids/print/p certificatekids.html
Comments