本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Generally speaking, the student can choose from:
1, stay in the GP until graduate;
2, switch to other specific program according to his/her interests;
3, leave the public school system;
4, home schooling;
For 1,
First of all, let’s think about the intelligent-like-mind environment. Gifted kids’ intelligence is in the similar level, they learn in the analogous pace, they learn from each other’s advantage, they understand/stimulate each other much more, with high degree of confidence/similarity. Secondly, the schools with high population of gifted students tend to be able to offer more gifted level courses, APs, so that their intelligent curiosity can be well-challenged. Few GP in some high schools do offer rigorous academic programs for its students. Recently, I heard that, in some school boards, they begin an initiative to pioneer a Gifted Diploma (along with the Ontario high School Diploma) for the students in this program to recognize their effort in high school (many parents would like this happen soon).
For 2,
Other programs are included, but not limited to, IB, TOPS, Tech., Sci.; if your kid has particular interest in certain area, fine, let go. Technically, the workload in other programs is heavier than those in the GP. For GP, students have more freedom to work on their own (projects/paces). Programs, on the other hand, like IB, TOPS, are more academically-oriented, more intensive. Students do not needed to be recognized as gifted in order to enrol, but it does require every applicant to go thought entrance screening procedures. If the student is a highly motivated individual, with specific interest and academic pursue, s/he should consider applying into one of these programs. Special note that, TOPs students learn all 4-year-high-school curriculum within 3-year, then, in the 4th year, they learn APs.
For 3,
With various reasons, students leave the GP to different private schools. UTS is one of them. UTS initially only admit gifted kids, but has changed its policy long time ago. It has a reputation on its high academic standard. Among the gifted kids who leave the gifted stream, most of them are admitted into UTS.
For 4,
I recently make much research on this. I truly prefer this for those highly gifted students. With the current high school curriculum, highly intelligent capable/high motivate teenagers can learn all these materials by their own/with tutors, in their own pace, they soon can further towards the university-level work before going into university. Sounds good, it is not really practical in Canada though, and, I am worry about the social skill development-but this can work out if the system is open enough to allow this happen.
For the Enhanced Program, it would probably be an alternative to gifted program in a high school where there is no gifted program available. You have to look at it carefully, whether it is academic/intelligent challenge enough for your kid? What kind of materials they are going to deliver? How many times a week this program is offered? What is the teacher’s experience and credential? EP is nothing comparable with GP. Everyone, as long as s/he gets good marks, can join this.
Generally, more than half of gifted students will choose to stay within, the main reason of that would be stay with their friends. Because most of them study together since G4, they tend to form more stable friendship and strong bond than regular class kids.
However, this decision also depends on which high school s/he is going to attend. Please pay attention to the high school itself. Which HS your child is going to take? What kind of programs the HS is going to offer? What kind of student body it is? For instance, some parents/students like DMCI, for its high academic performance, high ratio of Chinese students, but there are no APs offered so far.
Another factor might affect this decision making is the psychological reason. Most of the parents (the students as well) think their academic performance is not as competitive as other gifted students, so it is a good point to exit. Imagine switching to a regular stream, you will mostly likely be able to get all As, which is crucial to the application to university, isn’t it a attractive move?
Overall, parents/students should balance all these factors to find out which option is the best for you.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
1, stay in the GP until graduate;
2, switch to other specific program according to his/her interests;
3, leave the public school system;
4, home schooling;
For 1,
First of all, let’s think about the intelligent-like-mind environment. Gifted kids’ intelligence is in the similar level, they learn in the analogous pace, they learn from each other’s advantage, they understand/stimulate each other much more, with high degree of confidence/similarity. Secondly, the schools with high population of gifted students tend to be able to offer more gifted level courses, APs, so that their intelligent curiosity can be well-challenged. Few GP in some high schools do offer rigorous academic programs for its students. Recently, I heard that, in some school boards, they begin an initiative to pioneer a Gifted Diploma (along with the Ontario high School Diploma) for the students in this program to recognize their effort in high school (many parents would like this happen soon).
For 2,
Other programs are included, but not limited to, IB, TOPS, Tech., Sci.; if your kid has particular interest in certain area, fine, let go. Technically, the workload in other programs is heavier than those in the GP. For GP, students have more freedom to work on their own (projects/paces). Programs, on the other hand, like IB, TOPS, are more academically-oriented, more intensive. Students do not needed to be recognized as gifted in order to enrol, but it does require every applicant to go thought entrance screening procedures. If the student is a highly motivated individual, with specific interest and academic pursue, s/he should consider applying into one of these programs. Special note that, TOPs students learn all 4-year-high-school curriculum within 3-year, then, in the 4th year, they learn APs.
For 3,
With various reasons, students leave the GP to different private schools. UTS is one of them. UTS initially only admit gifted kids, but has changed its policy long time ago. It has a reputation on its high academic standard. Among the gifted kids who leave the gifted stream, most of them are admitted into UTS.
For 4,
I recently make much research on this. I truly prefer this for those highly gifted students. With the current high school curriculum, highly intelligent capable/high motivate teenagers can learn all these materials by their own/with tutors, in their own pace, they soon can further towards the university-level work before going into university. Sounds good, it is not really practical in Canada though, and, I am worry about the social skill development-but this can work out if the system is open enough to allow this happen.
For the Enhanced Program, it would probably be an alternative to gifted program in a high school where there is no gifted program available. You have to look at it carefully, whether it is academic/intelligent challenge enough for your kid? What kind of materials they are going to deliver? How many times a week this program is offered? What is the teacher’s experience and credential? EP is nothing comparable with GP. Everyone, as long as s/he gets good marks, can join this.
Generally, more than half of gifted students will choose to stay within, the main reason of that would be stay with their friends. Because most of them study together since G4, they tend to form more stable friendship and strong bond than regular class kids.
However, this decision also depends on which high school s/he is going to attend. Please pay attention to the high school itself. Which HS your child is going to take? What kind of programs the HS is going to offer? What kind of student body it is? For instance, some parents/students like DMCI, for its high academic performance, high ratio of Chinese students, but there are no APs offered so far.
Another factor might affect this decision making is the psychological reason. Most of the parents (the students as well) think their academic performance is not as competitive as other gifted students, so it is a good point to exit. Imagine switching to a regular stream, you will mostly likely be able to get all As, which is crucial to the application to university, isn’t it a attractive move?
Overall, parents/students should balance all these factors to find out which option is the best for you.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net