Catholic Schools Office

Diocese of Broken Bay

http://www.cso.brokenbay.Catholic.edu.au
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Parents Advisory Group on Gifted Education

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Parent Advisory Group

A small team of parents liaise regularly with the Education Officer/Gifted and their school communities to promote gifted education and further partnerships between parents, schools and the Catholic Schools Office. These parents have gifted children enrolled in our schools in the Broken Bay Diocese. They work in partnership with their child's school to ensure their child is learning at a level that challenges and extends them.

Parents from this group would be happy to listen to and answer your questions. Often these parents have experienced the same challenges that you are facing. If you would like to speak to one of these parents, contact details can be provided by the CSO's Education Office/Gifted (see below)

Parents can also contact the Education Officer/Gifted if they have concerns about what is happening in their child's school:

Education Officer/Gifted
mail@cso.brokenbay.catholic.edu.au
9847 0366

  • Professional learning
    The CSO has supported teachers to gain further qualifications, knowledge, skills and understanding to assist in the identification and planning for gifted students. In particular the CSO supports teachers to undertake the Certificate of Gifted Education (COGE) run by GERRIC, and the weekend information course "Your Gifted Child" , also run by GERRIC.
  • Gifted Resources
    The CSO provides gifted resources for schools such as:
    • Membership of NSWAGTC which includes their regular magazine Gifted
    • A copy of the GERRIC publication Differentiation of the Curriculum
    • Support for individual teachers and students
    • Challenge - an enrichment program for stage 3 gifted students enrolled in Catholic Schools on the Central Coast
    • Financial support for students to take part in the Jason project, an Internet-based project for Stage 3 gifted students which offers the opportunity to participate in real research directed by leading scientists.
  • Assessment Tools
    The following multi-faceted assessment tools are used in the identification of gifted students in our schools:
    • Checklists
    • Parent interviews
    • Standardised tests
    • Psychometric tests (administered externally)
  • Trial Project addressing "Identification of Gifted Underachievers"
    Diocesan primary teachers are trained in using a particular identification tool developed by researcher Dr. Graham Chaffey.
  • Parent Council support for guest speakers on Gifted Students:
    • Understanding your Gifted Child/Adolescent - Jill Leeman
    • Is Every Child Gifted? - Erica Ryan
    • Motivation and Giftedness - Stan Bailey
    • Underachievement and Giftedness Dr Graham Chaffey

What is happening in our schools?

Our Diocesan Catholic community recognises that gifted students require a modified program. Learning characteristics of gifted children are significantly different from those of their classmates, and therefore may require a modified program to ensure that they are learning at a level that challenges and extends them.

Strategies that may be used in our schools include:

  • Differentiation of the curriculum
  • Extension work
  • Enrichment programs
  • Partial acceleration
  • Acceleration
  • Extra curricular activities
  • External support from the Diocese
  • Professional learning for teachers

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child is gifted?

A gifted school-aged child may display some, but not necessarily all of these traits:

  • Advanced language skills, extensive vocabulary
  • Rapid learning rate/need for stimulation
  • Excellent memory/attention to detail
  • Good problem solving, abstract reasoning, intellectual curiosity/insightfulness
  • Deep sense of fairness and moral justice
  • Heightened sensitivities/empathy
  • Vivid imagination/keen humor
  • Perfectist/perseverance Fear of failure
  • May appear inattentive
  • May be reluctant writers
  • Resist drill and repetition
  • May impact friendship development
  • May conform to be accepted

For a more complete list of characterisitics visit www.nswagtc.org.au/info/identification/characteristics.html

What should I do if I think my child is gifted?

  • The first thing you should consider doing is to read as much as you can about gifted children so as to be clear in your mind about the issues.
  • Next you might want to approach your child's teacher (see below) and explain that you think you child is gifted and why.
  • If you feel that your child's teacher did not accept your explanation, you could consult the principal at your child's school.
  • If you are still not happy with your school's response you could approach the CSO's Education Officer/Gifted.
  • In addition, you could talk to a member of the Parent Advisory Group/Gifted, or to other parents of gifted children in your school.
  • You could consider having your child's IQ assessed externally to the school in order to confirm what you suspect.

How should I approach my child's teacher?

  • Always make an appointment to see your child's teacher. This is basic courtesy, shows that you are treating the teacher as a professional and ensures that the teacher will have the time to give you his/her full attention.
  • In making the appointment it is a good idea to send a note to your child's teacher outlining what you would like to discuss. This allows the teacher time to prepare for the meeting.
  • In speaking to your teacher, be aware that not all teachers are trained in gifted education. Unfortunately, as yet, gifted education is only a very small part of the compulsory curriculum in a teacher's training.
  • Before the meeting think carefully about what it is you are most concerned about and what it is you want to ask or say. Writing some notes may be helpful.
  • At the meeting be prepared to give concrete examples of your child's work, feelings or behaviour, to illustrate their giftedness, not just your own impressions.
  • Keep in mind that you and the teacher are most likely concerned with the same basic goal - helping your child. Speak to your child's teacher in a supportive and non-threatening way and they will probably respond in the same fashion.

How can an IQ assessment benefit my child?

An IQ assessment can benefit your child by giving his/her teacher a clear understanding of where your child's strengths and weaknesses lie. It is also useful if there is a complexity in your child's learning needs i.e. the child is highly anxious and a perfectionist.

More information about IQ testing can be found at http://www.nswagtc.org.au/info/identification/IQtesting.html

How do I choose a school for my gifted child?

Many factors need to be taken into consideration when choosing a school for your child, including

  • your religion
  • your personal philosophy
  • your traditions
  • your location
  • your preference for public, private or independent schooling

(The following is taken from the Gerric parent course)

Some questions you might consider asking the principal of a prospective school for your gifted child include:

  • Does your school have a policy on gifted education?
  • Is there an assessment procedure or formal identification process for finding gifted children in your school? Could you please explain this process?
  • Could you explain how the school might cater for a gifted child?
  • Is there a particular teacher who looks after the needs of gifted education at your school?
  • Would it be possible to discuss what the school offers in this area in more detail with that person?

More information about choosing a school for your gifted child can be found at http://www.nswagtc.org.au/schools/index.html

My child is bored at school. What can I do?

  • Speak to your child's teacher and discuss why your child may be bored. Boredom can mean many things to a child such as having to apply effort, complete an activity that requires lower level thinking before beginning a more complex task.
  • Let them pursue the interests they are most passionate about out of school hours. For example you might consider giving them art or music lessons, or joining the CSIRO Double Helix Club [link to http://www.csiro.au/helix].

Who can I talk to about my gifted child?

  • Members of the Parent Advisory Group/Gifted are happy to talk to you about your gifted child. Having gifted children in Catholic schools themselves, they may share some of your experiences.
  • The NSWAGTC provides support contacts in all areas of NSW. These names and contact numbers are listed inside the front cover of each edition of the association's Gifted magazine or at http://www.nswagtc.org.au/assn/groups/index.html.
  • You may also find it helpful to talk to other parents of gifted children in your school.

Where can I find more information on giftedness?

Visit our resources page to find a list of organisations that have an interest in gifted education.