News

How to Support Gifted and Talented Students in Mainstream Education

Published

2 weeks ago

April 24, 2024

Supporting gifted and talented students in mainstream classrooms is crucial to ensure these high achievers are challenged and engaged in their educational journey. It requires thoughtful approaches and strategies that cater to their advanced learning abilities while maintaining a balanced and inclusive environment. Here are effective ways to support gifted and talented students and ensure they thrive within the mainstream education system.

1. Differentiate Instruction

Differentiated instruction is vital in meeting the diverse needs of gifted and talented students in a mainstream classroom. It involves tailoring teaching methods, resources, and learning activities to challenge and support students at varying ability levels.

Use tiered activities: Design activities that address the same core content but vary in complexity and depth to suit different readiness levels.
Offer choice: Students should be able to choose from various assignments or projects that match their specific interests and abilities.
Implement compacting: Reduce the amount of introductory content the gifted students are already proficient in and replace it with more advanced materials.
Encourage independent projects: Allow gifted students to work on independent projects that delve deeper into subjects of interest or explore new topics.

By differentiating instruction, teachers can help gifted students stay engaged and motivated and ensure they progress academically. Integrating writing services into this differentiated approach can further tailor learning experiences, allowing talented students to explore more complex topics and enhance their writing skills. If you wonder, “Who can write me an essay?” these services can offer advanced research assistance, editing, and proofreading, helping students refine and express their ideas more effectively. This support is particularly beneficial for students who seek more profound academic opportunities and can thrive with the additional resources that professional writing services provide.

2. Provide Opportunities for Enrichment

Beyond the regular curriculum, gifted and talented students often benefit from enrichment activities that allow them to explore subjects more deeply or broadly. These opportunities help maintain their enthusiasm and commitment to learning.

Special interest clubs: Schools can offer clubs focusing on areas like science, math, literature, or history, providing an outlet for in-depth exploration.
Advanced courses: Allow gifted students to take advanced courses or participate in higher grade-level work in their areas of strength.
Competitions and challenges: Encourage participation in academic competitions such as debates, math leagues, or science fairs.
Field trips and guest lectures: Organize outings and invite experts that align with gifted students’ interests to stimulate learning beyond the classroom.

Enrichment activities keep gifted students intellectually challenged and help them develop a richer, more rounded educational experience.

3. Foster Emotional and Social Development

The emotional and social development of gifted and talented students is as important as their academic growth. Due to their advanced cognitive abilities, they may experience social and emotional issues that need addressing to help them thrive.

Social skills groups: Help gifted students interact with peers and improve their social skills.
Counseling services: Provide access to counseling to support students who may feel isolated or stressed due to their academic abilities.
Peer mentoring: Pair gifted students with older students who can guide them, share experiences, and offer advice.
Emphasis on teamwork: Involve gifted students in group projects with diverse teams to enhance their collaborative skills and reduce feelings of isolation.

Supporting gifted students’ emotional and social well-being helps them develop into well-rounded individuals who can navigate the complexities of school and beyond.

4. Engage Parents and Guardians

Involving parents and guardians in the educational process is crucial for consistently supporting gifted and talented students. Effective communication between the school and home can enhance the educational strategies employed for these students.

Regular updates: Keep parents informed about their child’s progress and any challenges they might face.
Resource sharing: Provide parents with materials and resources that can help them support their child’s learning at home.
Parent workshops: Offer workshops that help parents understand the needs of gifted children and how to advocate for them effectively.
Collaborative planning: Involve parents in planning educational paths for their children, including course selections and extracurricular activities.

Engaging parents in the educational process ensures that gifted and talented students receive support at school and home, creating a cohesive framework for their development.

Summing Up

By implementing these strategies, educators can significantly enhance the educational experience for gifted and talented students within mainstream schools. These approaches address their academic needs and support their emotional and social development, ensuring a comprehensive educational support system.

Business

Expansion for Ashmole & Co with acquisition of Jones Ward Accountants

Published

5 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CHARTERED, Certified Accountants, Ashmole & Co, are delighted to announce their expansion following the acquisition of JonesWard accountancy firm in Carmarthen.

Ashmole & Co Carmarthen has today taken over JonesWard who have closed their office in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. All JonesWard staff, including Ian Jones and James Ward, have transferred over to Ashmole & Co and will be based in the Old School, the Quay, Carmarthen.

JonesWard informed their clients that the administrative burden of running a practice had increased significantly over recent years due to the constant changing money laundering and tax regulations, software requirements and so on. Over the past 12 months it had become more challenging to maintain the level of service they had been used to providing.

Ian Jones said, “We feel Ashmole & Co share the same values as us and have the necessary expertise and resources to ensure we can continue to provide the personal touch and level of service clients have been accustomed to. Myself and James are not retiring but we will be supported by Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff from now on in their Carmarthen office.”

Ashmole & Co partners Sharon George, Carwyn Morgan and Vinal Patel will strive to ensure JonesWard clients will continue to receive the high quality of service they are used to.

Vinal Patel, Partner with Ashmole & Co said, “It is our priority to make the transition as smooth as possible with all employees of JonesWard having already transferred to Ashmole & Co and are now based in our office on the Quay in Carmarthen. We look forward to meeting our new clients and working closely with them to meet their needs in the future.”

Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants have been established since 1897 and are one of the largest accountancies and auditing practices in south Wales, now operating from thirteen offices throughout south and west Wales including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Ammanford.

Charity

Fundraiser to take on epic 87k steps challenge to raise funds for Withybush

Published

5 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SAM Faulkner is challenging himself to walk 87,000 steps in one day to raise funds for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in memory of his father.

Sam will be walking along the Brecon and Monmouth Canal from Brecon to Rogerstone in Newport.

Sam said: “Since losing my Dad last year, I made a personal commitment to do something to raise money every year for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest who looked after my Dad so well in his final days.

“I will be challenging myself to complete 87,000 steps in a day on July 20th 2024 – 1,000 steps for every year of my Dad’s life. I’ll be walking around 40 miles in about 10 hours.

“Canal walks were always a firm favourite of mine and my Dad’s, with many days spent walking along the Grand Union in Northamptonshire when I was growing up.

“My family and I, and the unit at the hospital, would be beyond grateful for anything supporters could give. Thank you ever so much in advance.”

Katie Hancock, Pembrokeshire Fundraising Officer, said: “We’d like to say a huge good luck to Sam with his challenge. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to raise more funds for the Cardiac Care Unit.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

You can donate to Sam’s fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sam-faulkner-1712508280259?newPage=true&fbclid=IwAR2tyVVQVea0DLQelSsrp7Ie2CKjX0jXGnwndR_tBKL-Av2kv8f5nchEolw

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Business

Dragon LNG explores integration of LNG and CO2 liquefaction processes

Published

5 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DRAGON LNG, based in Waterston, Milford Haven, recently announced a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.

The company awarded a contract to Worley, global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.

The study is focussing on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
regasification and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG’s facilities. This integration holds promise for a more efficient operation, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity and the levelized cost of CO2 export not only at the Dragon site but also for Haven industry companies.

If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre, whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.

Key aspects to be addressed in the feasibility study include:

Technical Solutions: Worley will evaluate various technical approaches to seamlessly integrate LNG and
CO2 liquefaction processes, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and effectiveness.
Carbon Intensity Reduction: Dragon LNG is committed to sustainability, and the study will assess how the integration of processes can contribute to lowering the carbon intensity of operations, aligning with broader environmental goals.
Economic Viability: Understanding the financial implications is crucial. The study will delve into the levelized cost of CO2 and other economic factors to determine the feasibility and financial benefits of the proposed integration.

Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for Dragon LNG stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Worley on this important initiative. As a responsible energy provider, Dragon LNG is continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance our operations while minimizing our environmental footprint. This feasibility study represents a significant step towards achieving those objectives.”

Worley’s expertise in engineering and consultancy services including in the CO2 and LNG sectors makes them an ideal partner for this endeavour. Their track record of delivering sustainability solutions aligns perfectly with the ambitious goals of Dragon LNG.

This collaboration underscores Dragon LNG’s commitment to driving sustainable practices within the energy sector. By exploring the integration of LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes, the company aims to pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future with their ambition of a net zero terminal by 2029.