by Maria Rogers

Created on: June 29, 2009

I had to learn that answer the hard way. I have a gifted child who is amazing. He is a kind, gentle, and loving person. He is also years ahead of himself and he didn't know how to handle that. I first discovered, along with his teachers, just how gifted he was, when he was in kindergarten. The classrooms in Florida are connected by a small hallway, that teachers convert into an office for themselves. That's where my son spent most of his time. Not because he was being bad, but because he was extremely bored, thus making him act out.

Fortunately, teachers loved him and took the time to find out why he was acting out. Mrs. Seifelt, his teacher, started giving him work that was a bit harder and was not surprised when he was able to complete that work, in record time. She then requested that he be tested. When the test results came back, they were off the charts.

Now the real challenge began. My child was only five years old, in kindergarten, and had the intellect of an eighth grader. The school wasn't equipped to handle his needs, but advancing him to the eighth grade was out of the question. We started looking at schools that could help him nurture his growing need for knowledge, to no avail.

Finally, after almost a whole year, we found a small school in Opalocka, Florida, called North Carol City Elementary. The school barely had three hundred children, was in a very poor section of town, and had a tiny Magnet program. I set out to interview the school and see what it could offer my son. I was very impressed with the school, the teachers, and the curriculum they had. I enrolled him into the school immediately.

The program consisted of three teachers. One for math, one for language arts and one for science/social studies. Each of these teachers had a wonderful gift to share with the kids. The classrooms were mixed with children from kindergarten through fifth grade. Each working at a much higher grade level than their years.

Within the first two months, I experienced the changes that my son went through and it was amazing. He was able to interact with children that were on his level of intellect and thrive. This program and it's teachers were truly amazing. They brought out the best in the children that they taught.

His behavior went from restlessness, to one of interest in learning. His experience in that school was one that he thinks of often. He attributes his success in life to that school and everyone in it.

Finding what interests a gifted child has, and helping them achieve them, is the most important thing a parent can do to help them become healthy and happy...and successful in life.

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