Gifted and talented students don't need help, they're already gifted and talented.. or do they?

There are countless programs for students who have difficulty in school. Sometimes we forget about those students who are doing just fine, maybe even better then just fine. These students need just as much attention and assistance as the students with exceptionalities. Say we have a student who is exceptionally gifted in science class. This student should be offered the opportunity to take a more accelerated class. Most schools offer these types of services. Once these gifted and talented students reach high school, they are given the opportunity to take AP courses which can count towards their college credits. It is crucially important that schools offer these opportunities. If these students were not offered this chance to be placed into accelerated classes they would be missing the opportunity to reach their full potential. These services make way for these student's successful futures. Some schools such as the ones in Oldham County, facilitate special programs for these students. They believe these students need special guidance and instruction.

"There are students whose intellectual capacity, rate of learning, and potential for creative contributions demand experiences apart from, but connected to, the regular classroom. We are committed to the belief that these gifted students require guidance in discovering, challenging, and realizing their potential. Under this philosophy it becomes the responsibility of the entire staff, in partnership with parents and the school system, to meet the needs of gifted students."

It is important schools and teachers meet all the needs of these gifted students so they are able to reach their full potential. 

GATES Program

Immigrant Students

How can teachers help make an immigrant student's transition into the classroom easier? 

Immigrant students face a number of challenges when first entering our school systems. They are experiencing a dramatic culture change and it can be very hard to adjust. They are expected to learn a completely new language as well as learn the required material as well. As a teacher, I intend on making sure each of my immigrant students are welcomed with open arms. ImmigrantKidTips offers some advice for teachers on how to assist with this transition.
   Teachers with immigrant students should research where their students come from. Understanding your students backgrounds with help you better understand them. For example, I had an experience with a new toddler who started in my classroom. Her family had just come to the United States from another country. My co-workers and I noticed that she was not eating at all throughout the day so we contacted her parents. They explained to us that she does not self-feed. It was part of their culture to mouth feed their children until they were 10 years old. If I would have done research or communicated better with her parents, I would have known this beforehand.
   Another important aspect is to adjust your teaching style to fit the learning styles of your students. An emphasis on visual and auditory lessons can be really beneficial to students, especially to students just learning a new language.
   I also think it would be beneficial to utilize all possible support services the school and community have to offer. Working with the parents is also an important part of the transition. It may be difficult to communicate if they do not speak English. Maybe there is a school translator or a class that can teach the parents English as well.
   Effectively teaching immigrant students takes hard work and patience. Not only do you have to teach them the required academics, you have to teach them how to adjust to their new environment so they are able to learn. I would never want a child to feel lost or helpless.

Did Christopher Columbus really discover America?

    "Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1942" is a rhyme we are all familiar with. I remember learning about Christopher Columbus in school as the hero who discovered America. I remember coloring the Nina, the Pinta, and Santa Maria. I remember the bearded-face man glued to a popsicle stick for us to honor. We celebrate this federal holiday, Columbus Day, on the second Monday of every October. Around this time of year, teachers are preparing a lesson on how to explain the story behind Columbus Day. After researching the truth behind the explorer Columbus, I have decided that as a teacher I will not continue this on-going misconception. Of course, I will not deny my students of tradition. I will teach the facts and celebrate the discovery of our country. Then I will dig deeper into the truth behind Christopher Columbus and explain the controversy this holiday has created. I will explain the Native American point of view as well so my students can see every perspective. I will leave them with the option to choose what they believe is right. Columbus Day is a holiday intended to celebrate the anniversary of America's discovery. Semantically speaking Columbus did not discover the America's, but his arrival did mark the beginning of a new era. This holiday is not meant to celebrate the life of Christopher Columbus and his actions.
    At first I felt uneasy about the idea of changing a lesson that has been drilled into our heads for generations. But I have learned that the world is changing and it is important for teachers to keep students up to date. This may mean straying from traditional lessons and raising questioning to things we once thought certain of. For example, my parents read the same novels that I did in high school such as The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird. These are great and classic stories, but over the years there has been so many new and remarkable novels written that students should be exposed to. We need to stay current with our education. We were not being lied to about Christopher Columbus, we just lacked more knowledge of the man. Historians and researches presented us with the truth and now we are forced to take this into consideration when teaching our students.

Columbus Day Facts