Dunham Academy--Giftedness--



	Giftedness Research and our experience indicate that gifted students need fewer repetitions to master material and that they are quickly ready to delve deeper than the level presented in most classrooms. While some gifted students appear to thrive in the regular classroom, many become frustrated with the slow pace of instruction. Some turn off to education entirely. At the very least, opportunities for deeper learning are missed by forcing gifted students to proceed in lock step with their age and grade-level peers. Former Secretary of Education Richard Riley stated, in the foreword to National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent (1993), that "neglect for these students makes it impossible to compete in a global economy demanding their skills." However, the U.S. government has no mandate requiring programs for gifted students. The lack of state funding in California exacerbates the problem, resulting in our state offering less to its population of academically talented students than nearly any other in the nation. The need for specialized educational programming for these students was the motivation behind the founding of Dunham Academy Is your child gifted? To a parent, each and every child demonstrates some area of special talent or interest. With gifted children however, aspects of the child's development are noticeably, and significantly advanced compared to peers. Often this ability is demonstrated in a specific cognitive, emotional or physical area. Gifted children are frequently seen as asynchronous in their abilities, for example may be significantly advanced compared to peers in one area of development, while demonstrating age appropriate or even challenged behaviors in another. This asynchronicity requires an individualized approach so that the child may be challenged in regard to their specific potential while supported in other areas of their development. As such, accelerated programs and grade-skipping are usually not the appropriate solution. *Your child may be gifted if he/she:* Masters ideas and learns rapidly with minimal repetition Needs to move quickly to the application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of new information Has intense interests and needs more flexibility than most classrooms allow Is keenly observant and sensitive, noticing what others may not Is highly creative and needs acceptance and outlets for energies Is hiding ability and needs encouragement and understanding from similar peers Complains of boredom in school Has a large vocabulary and is highly articulate Asks probing questions that indicate a depth of knowledge or desire for knowledge beyond his age Supporting the Gifted Child: Why is it important? Research indicates that children who are intellectually gifted may be at risk of dumbing down to hide their ability, withdrawing from learning, closing down to social interactions, and may demonstrate behavioral problems at home and in other settings. Public funding and government attention has been insufficient to support the type of environments in which these children can flourish and thrive. Dunham academy provides a stimulating, nurturing, and non-competitive environment created to cultivate and support the complexity and passion of the gifted child. Not only do we have the ability to stimulate students sufficiently, but we also provide focused in-depth exploration with an alternative and flexible approach that respects the child's complexity and individuality. If you would like to know more about our program or schedule an assessment, contact us at admissions@dunhamacademy.com, or call (415) 491-4700.

Giftedness

Research and our experience indicate that gifted students need fewer repetitions to master material and that they are quickly ready to delve deeper than the level presented in most classrooms. While some gifted students appear to thrive in the regular classroom, many become frustrated with the slow pace of instruction. Some turn off to education entirely. At the very least, opportunities for deeper learning are missed by forcing gifted students to proceed in lock step with their age and grade-level peers.

Former Secretary of Education Richard Riley stated, in the foreword to National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent (1993), that "neglect for these students makes it impossible to compete in a global economy demanding their skills." However, the U.S. government has no mandate requiring programs for gifted students. The lack of state funding in California exacerbates the problem, resulting in our state offering less to its population of academically talented students than nearly any other in the nation. The need for specialized educational programming for these students was the motivation behind the founding of Dunham Academy

Is your child gifted?

To a parent, each and every child demonstrates some area of special talent or interest. With gifted children however, aspects of the child's development are noticeably, and significantly advanced compared to peers.

Often this ability is demonstrated in a specific cognitive, emotional or physical area. Gifted children are frequently seen as asynchronous in their abilities, for example may be significantly advanced compared to peers in one area of development, while demonstrating age appropriate or even challenged behaviors in another.

This asynchronicity requires an individualized approach so that the child may be challenged in regard to their specific potential while supported in other areas of their development. As such, accelerated programs and grade-skipping are usually not the appropriate solution.

Your child may be gifted if he/she:

Masters ideas and learns rapidly with minimal repetition
Needs to move quickly to the application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of new information
Has intense interests and needs more flexibility than most classrooms allow
Is keenly observant and sensitive, noticing what others may not
Is highly creative and needs acceptance and outlets for energies
Is hiding ability and needs encouragement and understanding from similar peers
Complains of boredom in school
Has a large vocabulary and is highly articulate
Asks probing questions that indicate a depth of knowledge or desire for knowledge beyond his age

Supporting the Gifted Child: Why is it important?

Research indicates that children who are intellectually gifted may be at risk of dumbing down to hide their ability, withdrawing from learning, closing down to social interactions, and may demonstrate behavioral problems at home and in other settings. Public funding and government attention has been insufficient to support the type of environments in which these children can flourish and thrive.

Dunham academy provides a stimulating, nurturing, and non-competitive environment created to cultivate and support the complexity and passion of the gifted child. Not only do we have the ability to stimulate students sufficiently, but we also provide focused in-depth exploration with an alternative and flexible approach that respects the child's complexity and individuality.

If you would like to know more about our program or schedule an assessment, contact us at admissions@dunhamacademy.com, or call (415) 491-4700.