Best School Year Ever

by Susan Corwith, PhD, Associate Director, Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University Schools should be exciting, engaging places for all students, and parents play an important role in setting the stage for success. The new school year is a perfect time to do some “homework” of your own to gain approaches and strategies to make this the best school year possible for your gifted child. The resources identified below are easy to read and focus on three keys to success: establishing trust, engaging in effective advocacy and defining achievement. Establishing Trust Establishing positive, trusting relationships with your child’s teachers will have a significant impact on what you are able to accomplish and the success your child will experience in school. The following article from Dr. Christy McGee in Parenting for High Potential offers simple, straightforward advice to starting the year off right. http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/PHP/PHP_Back_Issues/NAGC%20PHP%20Jan2013.pdf Engaging in Effective Advocacy Making sure your child has access to appropriately challenging programs and services typically requires ongoing communication with your school. From identifying specific needs to deciding what is reasonable to ask for, effective advocacy is key. Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, Director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary and Secondary Students, offers valuable and easy-to-use tips in Working with Your Child’s School found on the Davidson Institute Website: http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10558.aspx Defining Achievement Achievement is more than just grades. It includes building a good foundation for advanced education and learning how to study, persist and strive for excellence. Parents should talk with their children and with educators about what it means to achieve. And, parents need to think about the messages they give to their children both directly and inadvertently. Learn more about defining achievement from Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, Director of CTD, in a recent Parenting for High Potential article: http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/PHP/PHP_Back_Issues/NAGC_PHP_Oct%202011.pdf Lupkowski-Shoplik, A. (2010). "Tips for Parents: Advocacy – Working with Your Child’s School." Retrieved fromhttp://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10558.aspx. McGee, C.D. (January 2013). "Building Trust at School." Parenting for High Potential, 2 (4), 18-19. Olszewski-Kubilius, P. (October 2011). "Playing the School Game." Parenting for High Potential, 1 (2), 2-3.