Meeting the Needs of Gifted Students

August 11, 2011Melissa Wilson

Deb Sowers

What are we doing today?

• Introductions• What does “gifted” mean?• Differentiation

What? Why? How?• Worktime• LUNCH • Review/discussion• More worktime!• Wrap-up

Levels of Intellectual GiftednessLevel IQ Range PrevalenceMildly Gifted 115-129 1:6 – 1:44Moderately Gifted 130 – 144 1:44 – 1:1,000Highly Gifted 145-159 1:1,000 – 1:10,000Exceptionally Gifted 160-179 1:10,000 – 1:1 millionProfoundly Gifted 180 + Fewer than 1:1 million

Myth

Gifted students don’t need help; they’ll do fine on their own

Myth

Gifted students don’t need help; they’ll do fine on their own

Truth

The role of the teacher is crucial for spotting and

nurturing talents in school.

Myth

Teachers challenge all the students, so gifted kids will be fine in the regular classroom

Myth

Teachers challenge all the students, so gifted kids will be fine in the regular classroom

TruthMost teachers have little or no training in the needs of gifted

students.

Myth

Gifted students make everyone else in the class smarter by providing a role model or a

challenge

Myth

Gifted students make everyone else in the class smarter by providing a role model or a

challenge Truth

Watching or relying on someone who is expected to succeed does little to increase

a struggling student’s sense of self-confidence.

Myth

All Children are Gifted

Myth

All Children are Gifted

TruthAll children have strengths and positive attributes, but not all

children are gifted in the educational sense of the word.

Myth

Acceleration placement options are socially

harmful for gifted students

Myth

Acceleration placement options are socially

harmful for gifted students Truth

Academically gifted students often feel bored or out of place with their age peers

and naturally gravitate towards older students who are more similar as

“intellectual peers.”

Myth

That student can’t be gifted; he’s receiving poor grades

Myth

That student can’t be gifted; he’s receiving poor grades

Truth

Underachievement describes a discrepancy between a student’s

performance and his actual ability.

MythGifted students are happy, popular, and well adjusted in school

MythGifted students are happy, popular, and well adjusted in school

Truth

It is estimated that 20 to 25% of gifted children have social and

emotional difficulties, about twice as many as in the general population of students.

Myth

This child can’t be gifted, he has a disability

Myth

TruthSome gifted students also have

learning or other disabilities.

This child can’t be gifted, he has a disability

Every child deserves an equal opportunity to struggle.

– Mary Slade