Gifted school programs

[LizM]

Hello,
Can anyone recommend a primary school in the Shatin/Kowloon Tong/Kowloon area that has a gifted students' program, or anything similar? Most importantly, does anyone have children already attending such a school? We have a 5 and-a-half year old son (and 2 year old daughter) and will be moving to the Shatin area (from Australia) in January 2008. Our son has a real enthusiasm for science and technology. We would be really grateful for any advice.
Thanks, Liz

 

[loupou]

The only school I know that specifically targers "gifted" children is the G&T school in Tseung Kwan O, but it's Cantonese medium, so if your son doesn't speak Cantonese, it will not be suitable.

I have found the ESF schools to be pretty flexible about learning for kids, and the primary school my kids attended (CWBS) is "enquiry based" and has the kids do plenty of experiments and have fun.

How how does his giftedness manifest itself? I mean, is he reading on his own at the level of a 10 year-old? Did he teach himself to tell time under the age of 3?

I have a nephew in the USA like that. His school system bumped him up one year (lucklily he's a big kid) and his parents do enrichment (lots of reading fun books, chess club, etc.) on the side.

The Australian International School is in Kowloon Tong - maybe you want to check w/ them to see about "gifted" programs?
http://www.aishk.edu.hk/

 

[LizM]

thanks

Thanks for the thoughtful advice - our son only speaks English unfortunately, so the Tseung Kwan O school option is out. I think we will fall outside the Clearwater Bay catchment area, given we will be living in Shatin. But it sounds like some ESF schools can offer a bit of flexibility, so that's promising.
We are already applying to AISHK, but gifted education only seems to get a brief mention on their website (as with several other schools we have looked at), usually in the broader context of 'educational support'.
It's mainly in the science/technology areas that our son has been identified as gifted; since 3 years old he has been able to describe in great detail how things work, and ask detailed questions (which we are often unable to answer). He has always been obsessed with machines, electricity, cause and effect, etc. (The HK Science Museum has been a great resource on past visits to HK!) His reading is also advanced; he is reading Level 28 readers where most of his 5 year old classmates are on Level 5-10.
Anyway, we will keep looking for the right school. In the meantime, any more tips would be much appreciated.

 

[loupou]

Tips....

1) How Stuff Works
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
- this website is very useful in explaining how things work.

2) Magic Schoolbus Books and Videos

- my kids adore these. If your son is scientifically minded these are treasure troves.
http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/

My kids loved the Electricity one and the ones in the sea and inside the beehive. Oh, and the digestion one too, Well, they're all fine & you can get them in school libraries, public libraries, buy them from Paddyfield, at PageOne, etc.

3) DK Children's Encyclopedia
- good source for info.

4) Books by David Macaulay
- The Way Things Work
- The New Way Things Work
- Cathedral
-Pyramids
- etc. etc.

Also, do you let him take things apart? If you have an appliance that breaks down, allow him (under supervision, at first) to open it up and see how it's made inside. Maybe he can even try and fix it

Does he do any handicrafts or cooking? Teaching him to knit, sew, or bake would also help him w/ learning about cause and effect and making things. It will also make him a useful member of the household as he gets older.

Then there are all sorts of things like Meccano or Erector sets that you can buy for him to mess around with.

When he is older, subscribe to "Make Magazine". You can visit the website and see how to make speakers out of legos:
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/11/lego_speakers.html

Enjoy your son. He sounds like a child after my own heart.

 

[LizM]

Thanks once again. You are a treasure trove of information in this regard! We have already gone down some of those paths (Magic Schoolbus books, taking appliances apart) and he thoroughly enjoys doing those things. But you have given me further ideas - which I will certainly follow up.
Cheers
Liz

 

[Dreamer]

Maybe montessori

Hi LIz,

Maybe you can try Montessori education. There every child can develop on his or her strength and weaknesses in their own way. There is a Montessori in Sheung Wan (only till 6 years old) and one in Admiralty/ Wanchai (Primary school) which seems to be quite good.

My child will go to the Sheung Wan one as she is only 2,5 but she is also far more mature for her age.

 

[LizM]

Thanks for the suggestions - I will look into the Montessori option. Our son seems to need a lot of structure and routine and responds better to 'stricter' (but still nice) teachers. I am not very familiar with the Montessori style of teaching, but is it perhaps a little too unstructured for such children?
Thanks again, Liz