There are several things you can do to make sure your child is being challenged.
- Talk About School Daily. A lot of energy has gone into increasing the rigor of regular classroom instruction. The very first step to making sure your child is challenged is to talk about school daily. By talking about school you can get a sense of how your child is doing and stay on top of his or her progress. For more information, see:
NEAT Resources: Learning at Home
- Talk to Your Child's Teacher(s). The very next step is to talk to your child's teacher. Building a strong Parent-School Connection is essential to monitoring your child's progress and making sure she or he is challenged.
- Ask About "Schoolwide Enrichment Services." If you think your child needs more challenging work, ask about "Schoolwide Enrichment Services." That's what Gifted & Talented Services are called at the elementary level in the Saint Paul Schools. The very best way to find out about these services is to ask your child's teacher or school, but you might find a description of what's offered at the school's Web site.
Why Schoolwide Enrichment Services (SEM)? Saint Paul uses the "inclusion model" to make challenging work accessible to all students who need it. That means that if the principal and Site Council decide having a SEM specialist on staff is an affordable priority, then that person works with the classroom teachers to provide challenging curriculum that can be delivered in the classroom or on a "pull-out" basis, generally where small groups of students work on special projects or a regular effort (e.g., advanced reading or math groups).
- Find out whether or not your child "qualifies" for services. Saint Paul identifies students as "gifted" through either the DISCOVER process or the N-NAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test). Identified students are eligible for services by the specialists at any school. The N-NAT is given to children in Kindergarten and second grade, and can be arranged for children in any grade K-5. Ask your child's teacher how he or she scored on the Kindergarten or second grade N-NAT.
Parents of students in grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 should talk to their child’s teacher at fall conferences to discuss whether their child may be eligible to receive special permission to take the test at their child’s current grade level based on high test scores and outstanding school work Check the Gifted & Talented Services site for deadlines.
- I've done all these things and I still think my child isn't being challenged. Then it's time to talk with your school principal and if that doesn't work, Gifted & Talented Services. If you still don't feel your concerns are being addressed, it may be time to bring them to the Site Council.
|
