Ottawa Carleton District School Board - Gifted Program (Gifted). According to the York Region District School Board (YRDSB). You can find practice tests on-line for the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT). Education Plans (IEPs). Created by: Amanda Dimilta, Family Mentor Program. Information about Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Sample Letter of Invitation (YRDSB). Disability, gifted, mild. Time for tests, etc.) and do.
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Toronto dad Taras Slawnych recalls the first time someone suggested that his son Fox was perhaps brighter than average. It was at a store that had a bead maze. “One of the sales clerks, who was studying early childhood education, noticed that Fox, then about two, was using two hands to play with the toy: one hand to grab the bead and the second to finish the loop. She said he was multi-tasking, processing two things at once, which was unusual for his age.” looking for signs All parents want to believe their child is smart, but is he really exceptional? “Parents are very good at identifying if their children are gifted.
They notice their differences from other children usually at a young age,” notes Melinda Meszaros, president of the Gifted Children’s Association of British Columbia and mom of a gifted 12-year-old boy. At the elementary level, signs that your child may be developmentally advanced include an extensive vocabulary; skills in math and reading that are above his grade level (which can result in complaints that school is easy or boring); keen observation and an intense desire to know “why” about everything; periods of intense concentration, often on one topic; an amazing memory; and the desire to interact with older children and adults with similar interests. But even if your child displays these characteristics, you need to first find out if he meets your school board’s criteria for giftedness. In Canada each provincial ministry of education has its own definition of gifted. For example, in Nova Scotia the term “gifted” refers to “students who give evidence of outstanding performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic or leadership or in specific academic fields.” In Ontario the emphasis is on “an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability.” testing, testing Your child’s teacher may recommend your child for testing, but if he doesn’t, don’t be shy about initiating the discussion. Meszaros advises, “Parents need to be their child’s first advocate.
They should definitely approach teachers, but they should be aware that the response will vary widely depending on the teacher, school and district.” If the school is unwilling to test your child, consider paying for private psycho-educational testing with a licensed psychologist who has experience with gifted children, recommends Meszaros. Meszaros also suggests that parents avoid the word “gifted” and instead explain to their child that the testing is to see how their brain works, not how well it does. “Standard practice is to use more than one indicator for admission into a program (e.g., work samples, parent observations),” explains Dr. Marion Porath, a professor in the Department of Educational Counselling Psychology and Special Education at the University of British Columbia. Some school boards may also require a specific intelligence quotient test score (generally 130 and above).
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Ideally, a gifted program provides an environment that goes broader and deeper into curriculum topics. Like children with special needs, gifted children need special instruction. “If your child is offered a spot, you should take it,” says Meszaros.
Slawnych says he and his wife decided to enrol Fox in a gifted program in Grade 3 after consulting with their son’s teacher. “He said that Fox knew the answer to every question he posed in class and that while Fox wasn’t bored yet, he was concerned he might be soon.” When her twins were designated gifted at age nine, Julie Halloway. and her husband moved their son to a school with a gifted program, but their daughter didn’t want to be in the same class as her brother. So when she was accepted into an arts-focused school that would also challenge her academically, her parents signed her up. “We felt that this offered a wonderful enrichment opportunity for her.” For his part, Fox, now 12, is a typical preteen with a messy room who still hangs out with friends he’s known since preschool. And he is excelling in the gifted program.
“He’s a straight A student,” says his dad. “But,” he adds with a laugh, “he’s not the smartest in his class.”.