Young girls face a multitude of challenges and obstacles in school, and how educators respond to these obstacles matters.

Studies show that young children, specifically children entering first grade (ages 6 — 7), believe an interesting stereotype: that girls aren’t as smart as boys. This is troubling, especially when parents consider that schools generally do not screen for giftedness until second or third grades, generally by teacher nomination. How can girls keep up when they don’t believe they’re as intellectually capable as their male counterparts?

A child’s belief in her intellectual ability influences her interests — if a child doesn’t believe they are “really, really smart,” the study also found, they were less likely to do activities they associated with intellectually superior children. This has a real-life impact on children who would otherwise have access to gifted programs.

Research tells us girls behave differently than boys in their earlier years, and so evaluating their strengths in leadership in group work, participation in class, and emotional and social skills aren’t always accurate in evaluating their giftedness at an early age, as they are less likely than boys to display these skills. Since these strengths are often evaluated in screenings for gifted programs, the majority (two thirds) of gifted students in the United States are boys.

Register for The Grayson School’s All School Open House
March 6, 2019 from 9:45 to 11:30 am

 You are invited to discover The Grayson School’s innovative, research-based program that is guided by best practices in the field of gifted education, and the only “all gifted, all day” school of its kind within a 125-mile radius. Offering a pre-K through upper school program and enrichment classes open to the community, The Grayson School provides high-ability learners with a setting where they can learn at a pace consistent with their abilities, collaborate with like-minded peers, and explore their unlimited potential, while also growing and thriving socially and emotionally. Visit us and see if we are a good fit for your family.

The Grayson School has been dedicated to the nourishment and development of gifted students since it opened its doors in 2015, offering student-directed and project-based learning in their diverse curriculum. Classes are small, with most not exceeding eight students. Individual Growth Plans allow students to explore their unlimited potential with endless possibilities. Learn more about the Grayson School here.

Photograph courtesy of the Grayson School.