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Teachers sometimes ask our teachers about very clever children who are in their class but not in the  WiseOnes program. What can they do to help? We know, but it is difficult to provide.

These children need the following:-

To know the whole plan in advance- where are they supposed to end up, say at the end of Level 5 (normally year 8). They need access to the charts and expectations well ahead of their year level. Start with the end in mind.

How you expect them to get there – what do they need to learn and how are they to learn it?

What resources of references, time and teacher attention are provided for this? How much time can you spend teaching them at their higher level- they need one to one and specific direct teaching? If not you , then who is to do it?

How far are they permitted to go in finding out what they need- visit the library, Council office, Police station, local creek etc. How are you providing for their protection and care while reseaching? The internet is not real enough and encourages poor posture and lack of fitness.

Who is going to mentor them? Is it you or the school resource person or the A-P or the Principal or a grandparent. This person needs to be a gifted person with great general knowledge and understanding of giftedness. This person deals with their EQ as well.

What sort of budget have you allocated for this child or this small number of children? They get through a huge number of resources when they are motivated!

Have you taught the thinking skills of analysis and synthesis required for good research? If not who is to do it, as that is what this child needs to make good judgments.

Pat Slattery created WiseOnes in 1997,  to enable schools to provide such opportunities for these children because she found, as an enthusiastic  principal, that the ideal was impossible with ordinary school finances and personnel.

  The way WiseOnes works is possible for caring for the academic, intellectual, emotional, moral and social needs of the children who are at least two standard deviations ahead of average for their age in thinking. This means that if they were taught the advanced skills and overcame their learning to underachieve in the slower learning environment, they could be near the top of a class two years ahead of where they are now.

  Due to it having to be parent funded it can only be for an hour a week.  In Term 3, we are trying to set up Community Support Groups in lower socio-economic areas but it takes time and someone with marketing skills. We have planned the system required for this to work. We have tried the large approach but the big firms have ignored our pleas so it has to be local. Talk to us if you can help.

Don’t forget our Conference on Oct 23rd is on Transiton to Secondary school. Once your child reaches year 3 or 4 you have to make some choices.  Let WiseOnes help you with some of the thinking needed.