gifted students (or parents of gifted students) - please answer?

Question

i am wondering how gifted students feel about acceleration...
so here it is. if you are an identified gifted student,

have you been accelerated? if you have, how do you feel about it?
do you like the idea?

i'm researching the topic because i'm getting a degree in education, so i know all the reasons for and against it. what my research hasn't uncovered (yet, anyway) is what the students themselves feel about being accelerated. as opposed to other options. that's why i'm asking.

Answer 1

check out the book "Genius Denied" it's a different look at acceleration.

I have not read many negatives from students or parents who were accelerated. I've done alot of research regarding my daughter. The only bad side about acceleration in my mind is that some students require "Radical" (more than 2 yrs) acceleration. Especially in the elementary years, gifted students learn rapidly and most can complete all elementary school work by 2nd or 3rd grade. So to accomodate these students, it requires more than just a grade skip. I would imagine this multi-grade skip would be quite isolating to the child (depending on age though it might work) because during school years, a year or two is so much different. So, I don't think acceleration is the answer in every case. It would be better to "subject accelerate" for some people so you can stay with "age-mates" for art, recess, lunch, etc.

Answer 2

Acceleration is a great idea. Remember the saying about "Idle hands are the work of the devil" This is especially true with gifted students. If we are bored we start to go on tangents that get the entire class in trouble. Maybe we love to ask the question "Why?"

I was accelerated in Mathematics because I already knew most of what was being tested. Seventh grade was a review, but once I got into algebra, I had a challenge and got more of a challenge in geometry. So give them a challenge now and they will reap the benefits later.

Answer 3

I was put in the CA GATE prog. in 4th grade, and the only thing they had for them was accelerated math and english classes and field trips for kids in grades 1-8. In the junior high I went to, they singled out the gifted kids into one english class. In HS, noone even kew you were gifted, because almost anyone could get into the honors classes if their grades were good enough. Even then, the only AP (& Honors!) classes my HS had were English & Economics. And what was really weird was I put in Special Ed my junior yr of HS...I mean, how many people do you find that are Special Ed & Gifted/Talented?! But yeah, I liked being accelerated the first few years, after that it started to go downhill. I like the idea and all, if it's decided the right way, not with just some IQ test.

Answer 4

I had the option, but didn't take it. I was more concerned about being socially comfortable than my academics. I think I made a good choice, but I was bored a lot. I took the accelerated classes in high school and I was still bored. I tested out of the basics in college and finally got a little challenge. It depends on the child's preference. I'm sure some would like the challenge and the company of older children. And some need the social structure of their own age group.

Answer 5

I am accelerated (5 ap tests junior year, got 2 5's on ap calc and ap stats last year, and am a straight-a student), and I'm for it. I think that if students have the motivation and dedication to accelerate themselves, that th should be allowed the oppurtunity to do so. In CA, acceleration was promoted, but we recently moved to WV about three years ago, and we had to argue with the school system to accelerate me. I found it frustration how the WV school system does not seem to promote acceleration...but I like the idea.

Answer 6

I was in a gifted program as an elementary school student. Even with the "special" attention I was still bored. A teacher took my mother aside and gave this information to my parents. ( i didn't learn this until later) My mother chose to leave me with students my own age. (I had a friend who was also given this option, and she was promoted...)

In High School: She really had problems adjusting to high school. She was not allowed to date until she was 16, or drive. So when her friends were dating and driving... She was stuck at home. She was a senior and wasn't allowed to date or drive. (and she really wasn't interested, but she never really fit in with her peers.)

On the other hand... I was very social. I had a great time in high school because it was toooo easy. I never studied... Ever.. could have probably graduated as 1st in my class, but was never motivated to try harder. Problem: College I almost failed because I never was motivated to learn how to study. I was never challenged like that before. For some reason I thought I could dance and party through college just like I did high school.

I think it just depends on the child. Advantages both ways as well as disadvantages. I think if a child is accelerated, then their parents or someone should take special interest in giving them social training as well. (Help them to expand interests outside of the classroom to make them more rounded and grounded.)

Answer 7

I was in the gifted class. I was accelerated, more so than most students in my class. I was able to finish my high school days when I was 15 and was out of college when I was 20.

It was one of the best things that ever happen to me. At this rate I should retire around 40 with plenty of money to give to my children.

Answer 8

Back in 1975, I skipped kindergarten and started first grade as a five-year-old. As a result, I was younger, both emotionally and chronologically, than my classmates. There were times when it was difficult, but it was never because of academics. I graduated from high school and college at a younger age than my classmates.

My daughter, who is eight, is also in a gifted and talented program in math and reading. I would never, never let her skip a grade. I think it could be detrimental to her social development, even if she can do the advanced work. Of course, this is based only on my experience. It's a very personal decision.

Good luck.

Answer 9

In my son's school, (he's in 1st grade) - there is a special teacher for the GT kids. She actually tests all of the children in the first grade and then accepts applications from the remaining grades. To her, it is not about their "smarts", but about their thinking abilities. For example, my son is average as far as his intelligence, but he really thinks outside of the box. He is a deep and intellectual thinker, so she chose him for that reason. So, since he isn't technically smart enough to be accelerated, I would be against it - unless of course, he was so beyond the standard first grade academics that he was bored.

Answer 10

I was in gifted & talented in 5th grade.. a few years ago and I actually felt very proud to know that I could do something most kids cannot. At the end of the year we won at a competition and I won most awards at the graduation, there is nothing better than feeling accomplished.