Gifted Students
They need attention too!
Myth
Gifted students will be successful whether or not they receive special attention.
Fact
Gifted students need special attention and will likely be responsive to programs tailored to meet their needs. When we assume that gifted kids will be fine, we ignore the following important facts:
Gifted students without special attention can grow bored and eventually lose all enthusiasm for school and even drop out.
If we don't give gifted students a program specific to them, we will never know what talents and potential were not developed.
Gifted students often have issues with self-esteem and anxiety and need special attention in this area.
Gifted students can become angry because the school system has not met their needs if they do not receive a program suited to them.
Gifted students can feel rejected because they are different and the learning environment has not allowed them to be themselves with their own individual needs.
What do gifted students need?
A program that challenges their intellectual ability
including lots of choices
that allows them to explore areas of personal interest
that challenges them
that teaches higher level thinking skills earlier than other students
that teaches material at a faster rate for some subjects of interest to the student
higher grade level curriculum expectations should be carefully recorded to avoid repetition in future years
A working environment that helps the gifted student fit in socially
developing strong, positive self concepts because needs are being met
including help to deal with intellectual ability being that of an adult, but emotions being those of a child
receiving positive attention and support for accomplishments as well as for who they are
many will need to feel respected by adults
help expressing feelings, goals, needs freely and appropriately
Help developing organizational skills
so that they can research earlier than other students and work on their own to investigate their interests
being gifted in one area does not mean that the student does not have challenges in other areas. Therefore, the teaching of organizational skills to manage all areas of learning is key.
Help developing time management skills
to enable self-directed investigations of their interests
to help the student create the space needed to investigate interests while keeping up with the other requirements that may not hold the same motivation for the student
Resources
Resources:
ABC Ontario. Retrieved October 2015 from: http://www.abcontario.ca/resources-support/understanding-giftedness/myths-stereotypes
Education for All (2005). Retrieved October 2015 from: https://learn.etfo-aq.ca/content/enforced/45101-A3221EF/docs/Education%20for%20All.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=WdCsbWZxqqqA8f4lwqHh3faNv&ou=45101
IEP Guide (2006). Becky Hurwitz & Rosann Lacalamita. 2008. Association for Bright Children of Ontario. Retrieved from http://learn.etfo-aq.ca/content/enforced/45101-A3221EF/docs/iep_guide_rev_april_20.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=Y5w8YVJeF1OfwbOe76elvo9Xw&ou=45101
Gifted Child Quarterly (1998). Betts, G., Neihart M. National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).