Gifted and Talented

What it is like to be you and what it is like to teach you

How did you get here?

• In 2nd grade, all students are tested with a census test.

• Scores on this census test ID academically gifted students.

• The State of South Carolina has a specific definition for academically gifted.

How did you get here?

• Students who are not identified with the census test may enter the G&T program through teacher recommendation

• Once identified as G&T, students do not need to “requalify”

Congratulations, you’re G&T! Now What!?

• G&T in Elementary and Middle school is enrichment, fun, and makes you feel special.

• You get pulled out of classes for G&T services and fall into sort of an elite status

Congratulations, you’re G&T! Now What!?

• Make new friends…but keep the old?

• Special treatment by teachers, because you are special! – And not a behavior problem…

And then grades get involved…

• But once grades get involved G&T isn’t a special club anymore…it is a source of stress.

• You were always told you’re the smartest (and you are!) and society tells you SMART = ALL As. But not everyone can get an A…

And then grades got involved…

• So now you’re competing with your friends…

• And you’ve long since grown far apart from your non-G&T friends…

• And you’re feeling all alone

If Johnny and I are both G&T…how did he get the A

and I got the B?• You start comparing yourself to your

classmates.

• This is unfair.

• What does it mean to be gifted?

Multiple Intelligences

• Your initial screening WAY BACK IN 2nd GRADE, put you here and labeled you as “GIFTED” but no one told you that you are all gifted in different ways…

• Visual-Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Linguistic, Logical -Mathematical

Multiple Intelligences

• High scores on one portion of the multiple intelligences schema may have placed you in G&T while high scores on a completely different aspect of the multiple intelligences placed your friend in G&T.

• Moral: You cannot compare yourselves to others.

“G&T means I don’t make mistakes…”

• I don’t know who told you kids this…but it is ruining you!

• Do you really think anything good ever comes without some stumbling blocks along the way?

• The key is LEARNING from your mistakes so that you become stronger.

A normal child’s education

A gifted child’s education

Conclusions

• GT students ‘get by’ on natural ability for a long time without learning how to study/how to learn.

• GT students get used to an education that is easy and effortless and become frustrated when challenge occurs

• GT students don’t know how to address challenge

Everyone’s path is different…When does the challenge

cross with your ability?• 8th grade math

• 12th grade science

• College?