Gifted Students In The Classroom

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Gifted Students In The Classroom

• Regina Brown
• November 2,2007

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Until every gifted child can attend a school
where the brightest are appropriately
challenged in an environment with their
intellectual peers, America can't claim that
it's leaving no child behind. Jan and Bob
Davidson with Laura Vanderkam, in Genius Denied
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Introduction

• The purpose of this presentation is to discuss
  gifted students and their roles in the classroom.
  It is important for teachers to recognize these
  students and not overlook them. Gifted students
  need to be stimulated and challenged each and
  every day. Inspiring, motivating, and
  encouraging these unique students to excel will
  broaden their knowledge and inevitably brighten
  their future.

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Overview

• During this presentation I will discuss
• The definition of gifted students
• The history of the giftedness
• The qualities gifted students express that
  teachers and
• parents need to be aware of when labeling a
  gifted student
• Classroom problems with gifted students
• The different forms of gifted education
• Activities teachers can incorporate to challenge
  
• gifted students
• Two printed sources related to the topic that
  teachers
• and parents can use
• Five websites sources related to the topic that
  teachers
• and parents can use
• Conclusion

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Definition of Gifted Students

• In order to discuss gifted students, we must
  first define it. However, the term gifted
  student is actually indefinable there is no
  universal agreement on the definition. To some,
  a gifted student is one who excels at a
  particular subject, while others might agree that
  a gifted student is one who excels in all areas.
  However, for the purpose of this presentation, I
  am going to use the United States federal
  definition. The term gifted and talented when
  used in respect to students, children, or youth
  means students, children, or youth who give
  evidence of high performance capability in areas
  such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or
  leadership capacity, or in specific academic
  fields.

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History of Giftedness
Although in the past years there has been
extremely intelligent people, the term gifted has
just recently become prevalent. In the late
1800s, Superintendent of Schools in St. Louis,
Dr. William T. Harris, discussed a plan for the
acceleration of gifted students so they would
have more challenging work and not become lazy
while in school. By the early part of the 20th
century publications like "Classroom Problems in
the Education of Gifted Children and "Classes
For Gifted Children An experimental study of
method and instruction used the term "gifted" to
describe students who are able to work through
the curriculum faster, and whose work is
measurably different from that of average
students. Then, in 1921, Lewis Terman began his
study of genius. His believed that nurturing
academically exceptional children was essential
for our country's future. He used the term
"genius" in the title of his book, but later
referred to the subjects in his study as
"gifted," which established that label in
our educational vocabulary.
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What teachers need to look for when labeling a
gifted student
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Sometimes gifted students are mislabeled because
of their lack of cooperation during class, when
in reality it is the unique characteristics of
giftedness shining through.
Classroom Problems with Gifted/Creative
Children                                       
                                                  
                                                Cr
eative Trait Theoretical and abstract
Classroom Problem Ignores stressed data in
assignments. Hands in "unneat" work. Creative
Trait Independent, Inventive (non-conforming)
Classroom Problem Resists teacher chosen
assignments far beyond requirements to the
exclusion of others. Creative Trait
Sensitive Classroom Problem Withdraws because
of strong goal orientation, peer group criticism
and rejection. Creative Trait Alert, Eager
Classroom Problem Resents periods of classroom
inactivity. Creative Trait Intuitive
Classroom Problem Seeing conclusions without
displaying knowledge of sequential concepts.
Creative Trait Daydreaming (as concentrated
periods of thinking) Classroom Problem
Inattentive to teacher's or classmates' comments
and class discussions. Creative Trait
Aesthetically oriented Classroom Problem
Resists participation of active team sports.
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The different forms of gifted education

• Separate classes The students are educated in
  either a separate class
• or a separate school.
• Self pacing This method uses flexible grouping
  practices to
• allow students to advance at their own pace.
• Acceleration Students are advanced to a
  higher-level class covering
• material more suited to the their abilities and
  attentiveness. This
• might also include skipping grades and/or early
  entrance to college.
• Pull-out Students spend a portion of their time
  in a gifted class, and
• the rest of their time with same grade students
  of varying abilities.
• Enrichment Students spend all class time with
  their peers,
• but receive extra material to challenge them.
• Home schooling Students attends school at home
  where a parent/teacher
• teaches them.
• Summer school In addition to the set school
  schedule, students attend school in
• the summer. While here, the students can
  participate in programs like CTY
• (a program designed for gifted student who want
  to learn new material).
• Hobbies Students participate in games like
  chess, foreign languages, art, or
• music that gives them an extra intellectual
  challenge outside of school hours.

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There are three important things to remember
about education. The first one is motivation, the
second is motivation, and the third is
motivation. Terrell Bell (former U.S. Secretary
of Education)
Teachers need to be attentive to all students.
However, teaching gifted students can be
challenging if teachers do not receive the proper
material or training to teach these exceptional
students. There are thousands of books and
websites that teachers and parents can look into
to help them guide their gifted student. Some
examples include http//www.nagc.com,
http//www.hoagiesgifted.org, and
http//www.prufrock.com. The first rule of
thumb a teacher should follow is not
intentionally singling out the gifted student
while teaching the curriculum. Like students
will disabilities, students who are gifted
sometimes feel ashamed of who they are. Also,
those students whose intelligence level is
normal will feel that the teacher shows
favoritism towards the gifted students.
Teachers can easily incorporate activities into
the curriculum to challenge the gifted students,
while maintaining a sense of similarity amongst
the students.
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Activities That Teachers Can Use To Challenge
Their Gifted Student

• The most important rule teachers need to remember
  is to
• challenge, challenge, challenge. Often times
  students who are gifted
• become bored with a typical classroom curriculum.
  The goal of the teacher
• is to provide stimulation for the students so
  he/she can broaden their mind
• and learn new and exciting material.
• Teachers can
• Create a room that invites inquiry (pictures,
  books, areas for music, art, and a
• variety of materials)
• Use thematic instruction to connect content
  areas
• Make a wide range of materials available
• Arrange for activity centers for self-initiated
  projects
• Have flexible seating arrangements
• Offer attractive, lesson-related activity
  options for students who finish work early
• Vary the atmosphere of the room through music as
  well as opportunities for
• creative movement, mime, dance, and singing.

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Assessments
Following the modification of the classroom and
curriculum, teachers need to use observations,
tests, parental consulting, interviews,
portfolios, and any other sources to keep track
of the students performance. These assessments
must be done repeatedly over time. By doing
this, teachers will gain a more comprehensive
understanding of their students' talents and can
create further learning opportunities for their
development.
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Printed Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students
Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability
Learners. Editors Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D.,
Catherine A. Little, Ph.D.
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Printed Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students Continued
Parenting Gifted Kids Tips for Raising Happy and
Successful Children Author James R. Delisle,
Ph.D.
This book is for parents of gifted children. It
gives ideas that reflect attitude and approach
and allow change, rather than quick solutions.
It also includes topics such as understanding a
childs giftedness, being role models for kids,
dealing with perfectionism, and working with the
school system.
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Web Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students
http//www.prufrock.com
This websites offers award-winning products
focused on gifted education, gifted children,
and advanced academic education. Teachers,
parents, principals, and even the students
themselves can navigate this site. Some
interesting links on this website include Online
Articles and Blogs about Gifted Children,
Challenging Activity Books for Teaching Gifted
Children, Resources for Teachers Involved With
Gifted Education, Information for Parents of
Gifted Children, and Journals and Magazines
Supporting Gifted Education.
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Web Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students Continued
http//www.nagc.org
The website for NAGC, the National Association
For Gifted Children, is a place where educators,
parents, and other community leaders come
together to support to needs of highly
potential learners. Here, one can print a
checklist to assess if their child is gifted.
Also, teachers can explore a variety of
resources to effectively teach the gifted
students. This website is also a place where you
can donate your time and money to support
numerous causes. An example is the NAGC Dr. Mary
Frasier Scholarship for Diverse Talent
Assessment Fund. This is designed to honor past
President, Mary Frasier by training teachers to
use Frasier's F-TAP tool and other methods the
NAGC provides. 
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Web Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students Continued
http//gtworld.org
This website is an on-line support community for
gifted and talented individuals and those who
support and nurture them. While navigating
this website, parents of gifted children can
communicate via email with other parents of
gifted children. Here, they can discuss social
and academic issues regarding their child. In
addition, this website gives you links to books
that will guide children as they begin their
journey reading. Additionally, this website is
an outlet for parents of disabled gifted students
to communicate to others and stand as a support
team.
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Web Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students Continued
http//www.nfgcc.org
The National Foundation for Gifted and Creative
Children is a website created as a source of
information for gifted children and their
parents. There are various links that discuss
problems in the school system, Ritalin, quotes
about the gifted, and even a page for cartoonist
to post their drawings. This website is
informative and gives the reader an insight on
gifted students and the problems they face.
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Web Resources Useful For Further Research On
Gifted Students Continued
http//www.cec.sped.org
The Council For Exceptional Children is the
largest international professional organization
that is committed to improving educational
outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities,
students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.
This website is useful for teachers,
administrators, parents, and students. Here,
teachers will find a list of modifications they
can do to comfortably accommodate the gifted
student. In addition, there is abundant
information regarding gifted and disabled
students.
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Conclusion
Early identification and intervention are
essential for the growth and development of
young gifted children. Teachers needs to be
equipped with practical teaching strategies and
creative resources in order to stimulate the
creative minds of the gifted students. By doing
so, teachers can make a significant difference
to the students future development and happiness.
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References
Cross, T. (2006). Exciting Gifted Education
Resources for Teaching and Parenting Gifted
Children Retrieved October 28, 2007, from
Prufrock Press Inc. Website http//www.prufrock
.com. Davidson, J with Laura Vanderkam
(2004). Gifted Education Quote. Retrieved October
28, 2007, from Hoagies Gifted Page. Website
http//www.hoagiesgifted.org. Friedel, M.
(1967). Classroom Problems with Gifted/Creative
Children. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from The
National Foundation for Gifted and Creative
Children. Website http//www.nfgcc.org.
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References Continued
Green, N. (2005). What is Gifted? Retrieved
October 28, 2007, from The National Association
for Gifted Children. Website http//www.nagc.org
. Ramirez, B. (2006). Teaching Young Gifted
Children in the Regular Classroom. Retrieved
October 28, 2007, from The Council for
Exceptional Children. Website
http//www.cec.sped.org Sanger, L. (2001).
Gifted Education. Retrieved October 28, 2007,
from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Website
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Gifted_education.
Tolan, S. (1990). Helping Your Highly Gifted
Child. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from The
Hoagies Gifted Page. Website http//www.hoagiesgi
fted.org.