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Gifted Services Webpage 
   
Summer Time for Gifted Students
It is hard to believe that another school year is behind us! Our gifted students will have many weeks ahead of them during this time so it's important for parents to consider HOW they will be spending that time. Here are a few suggestions to make this a wonderful summer for you and your gifted child.
 
 
Camps/Programs
Are you considering a summer camp or program for your child? To ensure a camp or summer program is right for your child, the Council for Exceptional Children recommends asking program administrators the key questions below, as well as any questions and concerns your child may have. 
 
1. How many children return each year? The number of children who return to a program year after year is generally an indicator of how much kids enjoyed the program.
2. How long does the program run? Programs vary from one to ten weeks. The length of a program affects both the overall cost and the skill level that can be achieved by the participants.
3. How old are program participants? Your child may not be comfortable if there is too large an age gap between him/her and other program participants.
4. How many program participants are accepted? The overall number of participants, as well as the size of activity or study groups, affects the atmosphere of a program and the kinds of activities that are possible.
5. What is the ratio of teachers to participants? The lower the ratio, the more individual attention your child will receive.
6. What is the program leader's background? While there is no ideal background for a program leader or teacher, look for program leaders with experience in the field, the desire to work in a summer-program setting, and passion for their work.
7. Are the program courses "credit" or "non-credit"? A program's approach to credit is an integral part of its philosophy. Programs that do not grant credit encourage students to pursue a topic at length without being concerned about grades. Credit-granting programs view grades as a normal part of an academic experience.
8. Is there sufficient equipment to allow every child to participate fully? The quality of the facilities and the available equipment directly impact the level of your child's involvement. For example, at a computer camp, one computer for every two participants allows each child more work time than one computer for every five participants. This also applies to laboratory, art, drama, music, and sports equipment.
9. Does the program allow for unscheduled time? Your child may prefer to have every minute scheduled, or she may prefer a more relaxed pace that includes unscheduled free time.
10. Are there planned social activities for the kids? Most programs plan informal group activities for participants to get to know each other. A few programs leave this up to the students.
 

Supporting the Social-Emotional Needs of Your Gifted Child
One of the most challenging aspects of parenting and educating gifted students is meeting their social-emotional needs. Parents can spend some time this summer reading articles on the social-emotional needs of gifted students. Educators as well as parents can gain much understanding from these articles and websites:
 
 
 
 
Read On the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Students by Tracy L. Cross, PhD
 
 
Contest and Awards
Is your gifted child interested in competition? Click the link below for some ideas they might be interested in this summer! Contests and Competitions for Gifted Students
 
 
Ideas for Summer Fun
The following link has many ideas for gifted students from books to smart toys, as well as magazines and software. Check it out!  Summer Ideas for Kids and Teens 
 
 
Parents
Get involved! Our district has the Humble Parents for Gifted and Talented organization. Check out the website and get involved!