SCPS High School Gifted Education
March 2021
Growth
Spring is finally here and it is the season of growth, blooming, and renewal. How do we help our gifted learners grow? How can someone already performing at a high level continuously thrive? High ability students can sometimes be overlooked in this domain, yet have unique needs that must be addressed in order for them to truly reach their full potential. We must foster the ideas of growing through a flexible mindset as well as ongoing renewal through moments of failure.
The Iceberg Illusion
All too often, we lose sight of the big picture when evaluating our own successes in comparison to those of others. The iceberg illusion is a simple concept to put things into perspective. For gifted learners, it is a good conversation starter to discuss the learning process and not just the final product (e.g. test, project, performance, etc.).
What to say instead of "you are so smart?"
This is geared mainly towards younger grades, but can be easily adapted to high school students.
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
This simple comparison can be used to extend the conversation with gifted learners in conjunction with the iceberg example.
Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck
Flexible Mindsets: It's not as simple as just growth vs. fixed
The Power of Yet
Gifted students can easily fall victim to perfectionism and shut down in the face of adversity. By extending the growth mindset with this example, we can encourage them to focus on their own "yet."
Win or Learn
Losing and mistakes are learning opportunities. The gifted sometimes struggle with the concept of failure on a more profound level than the average ability student. By encouraging and developing resilience as well as persistence, we can help our high ability students achieve.
Fail Forward
This concept incorporates well with the idea of a growth mindset. We all sometimes focus far too much on our failures and forget to see the learning opportunity presented with each one.
Lifted - Pixar
Staying Motivated and Counteracting Perfectionism
HIGH SCHOOL GIFTED EDUCATION RESOURCE TEACHERS
Kevin Bouffard (BPHS) bouffardkj@staffordschools.net
Feli Cardenas (NSHS) cardenasfh@staffordschools.net
Susan Easter (CFHS) eastersl@staffordschools.net
Kali Hamill (MVHS) hamillkm@staffordschools.net
Helga Purnell (SHS) purnellhj@staffordschools.net
Stephenie Fellinger (SCPS Gifted Facilitator) fellingersl@staffordschools.net