Building a Positive Home/ School Connection Be your gifted child’s champion AND have a good relationship with the school

The Jorgensen Clan

Home As parents, we know our child’s strengths, weaknesses, quirks, eccentricities, comfort zones, and fears. We know what drives us crazy! We know what we love to see. We know POTENTIAL…

School School is a place where teachers have to adhere to prescribed curriculum with fidelity, and answer to administration. Teachers work daily with students spanning as many as 6 grade levels – in one classroom. Teachers care about the progress of their students, but most don’t have training in gifted education.

Bozeman, MT Montana ◦No Charter Schools ◦Unfunded ‘mandate’ for gifted ed. ◦AGATE Bozeman District ◦RTI Model stretching to include gifted kids ◦At elementary, no uniform identification ◦Open to Individual Plans ◦At HS specialized classes, very strong AP Opportunities ◦MOSS, Equinox, Museum, Music, MSU Connections: Robotics, Chess, Astronomy, Peaks & Potentials

Home + School How can parents build a positive connection with the school that supports their gifted child’s needs AND positively supports the teachers?

Connecting Home & School How can we link our home to the school in a positive way?

Links in the Chain 1. Know the School ◦Does your school have a gifted program? ◦How are students identified? ◦Is the program following district policy? ◦What are the procedures for ‘SST’ meetings with administration and staff?

Links in the Chain 2. Know Your School’s Administration ◦What is the principal’s leadership style? ◦Is there a history of gifted education support? ◦How approachable are they?

Links in the Chain 3. Know Your Child’s Teacher ◦What is their teaching style? ◦Is there a history of support for gifted education? ◦How approachable are they? ◦What is their favorite treat? Hobby? Flower?

Links in the Chain 4. Be Visible At School ◦Become involved in areas outside of gifted education. Join the PTA. Volunteer for fundraising, or field trips, or activities. Be visible at the school in as many positive ways as possible.

Links In The Chain 5. Parent as Advocate – Student as Advocate ◦For the primary years, you have to be your child’s advocate at school. Use these years to build a strong example for your child. ◦Starting in Middle School – or a bit sooner – begin the shift to self-advocacy. Teach your child to advocate for themselves based on what you have done in the past.

Links In The Chain 6. Create an Academic Portfolio ◦Schools keep a cumulative file. You should keep one too. Include:  Standardized test scores – CRT, ACT, EXPLORE  Samples of distinguished work  Report cards  Notes from teachers  Anything you deem as evidence of giftedness

Links In The Chain 7. Come Prepared with Proposals ◦Once you know the procedures, the administration, and teacher, and have done your homework, prepare a proposal. ◦Meet with all involved, show your evidence, then propose an idea to help the situation.

Links In The Chain 8. Long-Term Planning is Key ◦Many proposals are for short term fixes. Those are great, but what will come next? ◦If a curriculum acceleration, or alternative curriculum is being considered, what will happen next year? Or the year after that? Or five years down the road? ◦When you have administration on board with you, this is completely doable.

Links In The Chain 9. Willingness to Support Teacher in Program Implementation ◦Once you’ve made a proposal and a plan – preferably long-term – how can you support the implementation of the plan? ◦Parents need to be willing to jump in for teacher or school support.

Links In The Chain 10. Parent/Child Interviews ◦Have regular discussions with your child about THEM. Make it official. Talk to them about:  Their perception of their academic progress  What it means to be ‘gifted’  Their social successes and failures  How they relate to teachers  What they want out of school  Keep it positive, and focus on strengths

Links In The Chain 11. “We’ve Got Your Back”  Make sure your child understands that you are their champion, even when it may feel otherwise.  Be willing to stand up for your child, even when it may feel like you can’t.  This is the golden ticket of parenting a gifted child. This is something only parents can provide, and something as precious as gold to your child.

Links In The Chain 12. Learning Takes Doses of Failure ◦Let them fail! ◦Let them earn detention! ◦Let them get lower grades than expected! (Of course only on occasion…) ◦Then help them learn from their mistakes. This is great fodder for interviews. Keep it positive and from a broad perspective. They will learn.

Links In The Chain 13. Provide Support Outside of School ◦Where does your child want to focus? ◦What opportunities are in the community? ◦What opportunities are far away? ◦Be willing to support what and where your child needs support.

Balance To have a positive home to school connection, there has to be a good balance between parent, school, and student. Parent SchoolStudent Success

But It’s Worth It! Building a Positive Home to School Connection Takes Time…

Contacts Kiri Jorgensen