Cluster Specialist, Information Technology
As you get back into the gear of analyzing the abilities of your students with intentions of differentiating your curriculum, ask yourself, “Am I effectively addressing the needs of my advanced students? Or do I tend to focus all of my extra attention on those who are academically behind and in need of additional assistance?” If your answer is “yes” to the latter, please don’t feel as if you are alone. All of us have been guilty of doing this at some point or another; however, the important thing is to acknowledge the issue at hand, and move forward with hopes of striving to address the needs of ALL students! Review the information below to learn how to identify the characteristics and address the needs of your Gifted and Talented (GT) students.
Need Confirmation of GT Students?
Request that the counselors alert you upon student enrollment
Keep an open line of communication with gifted, AP or IB teachers
Ask students in a discrete manner, such as a personal inventory form
Conduct pre-assessments when beginning a new topic or unit
Common Characteristics of GT Students:
- Perfectionism
- Creativity
- Keenness and alertness
- Sensitivity to feelings, emotions and expectations
- Loves to learn and gives reason for everything
- Advanced sense of justice, morality and fairness
- Prefers complex and challenging tasks
Less Glamorous Characteristics of GT Students:
- Daydreams
- Monopolizes class discussions
- Resists cooperative learning
- Becomes impatient when he/she is not called on to answer a questions
- Procrastination
- Rebels against routing and predictability
- Understands and respects gifted students
- Encourages students to set and achieve high goals
- Goes into assignments deeper than the book
- Writes compliments on a student’s paper if he or she does a good job
- Is responsible, efficient, and smart
- Is loving and caring
- Serves as a facilitator rather than as a dispense of information, while maintaining a focus on the quality of the learning experiences
I hope that you find this information helpful! I was actually labeled as a GT student at a very early age, so if you have additional questions that you would like to ask me personally, feel free to contact me at Pamela.Bracey@unt.edu.
Reference: “The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids” by Sally Yahnke Walker
Copyright 1991, Free Spirit Publishing Inc., United States
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