Good Morning Stop by counter and pick up… Stop by counter and pick up… 1 piece red paper 1 piece red paper 1 Teacher Self Assessment Checklist 1 Teacher Self Assessment Checklist 1 Stickee Note 1 Stickee Note 1 Gift Tag 1 Gift Tag As you wait, please complete Teacher Self Assessment Checklist. As you wait, please complete Teacher Self Assessment Checklist.

Gifted & Talented: Teacher Effectiveness & Classroom Environment Session 4 November 30, 2010

Learning Objectives To understand Iowa law regarding gifted children and the ways in which local district identifies and serves gifted children To understand Iowa law regarding gifted children and the ways in which local district identifies and serves gifted children To identify the characteristics of gifted children To identify the characteristics of gifted children  To develop an awareness of the needs of identified gifted students in one’s own district / classroom  To develop an understanding of the classroom teacher’s role and responsibility in meeting gifted students cognitive and affective needs

12 34 G/T

Welcome to …

List the elements of a successful classroom environment.

Elements in Successful Classroom Environments Elements in Successful Classroom Environments Security – the need for safety and security Security – the need for safety and security Affirmation – the need to know we are acceptable, worthy of time, attention and trust (builds self-esteem) Affirmation – the need to know we are acceptable, worthy of time, attention and trust (builds self-esteem) Affiliation – the need to belong, part of the group Affiliation – the need to belong, part of the group Affinity – the opportunity to connect with others with common interests, concerns, experiences, dreams (builds self-esteem) Affinity – the opportunity to connect with others with common interests, concerns, experiences, dreams (builds self-esteem) High expectations and support to become what we might become (move from self-esteem to self-efficacy) High expectations and support to become what we might become (move from self-esteem to self-efficacy)

Elements in Successful Classroom Environments Support - to reach goals Support - to reach goals Opportunity – students offered responsibility leading to opportunities/ new roles Opportunity – students offered responsibility leading to opportunities/ new roles Power - expand capabilities, feel powerful or powerless Power - expand capabilities, feel powerful or powerless Purpose – willing to invest in purposeful causes: the glue that binds individuals into “us” Purpose – willing to invest in purposeful causes: the glue that binds individuals into “us”

What are the qualities of an effective teacher for gifted learners?

Sense of humor Sense of humor Positive attitude Positive attitude Strong self-concept Strong self-concept Mastery of content Mastery of content Creates student centered instruction Creates student centered instruction Flexible Flexible Range of teaching strategies Capable of individualized instruction Communication skills Adept at managing small to large group activities

What do gifted learners want most from their teachers?

Gifted students want someone who… Gifted students want someone who… understands them. understands them. has a sense of humor. has a sense of humor. can make learning fun. can make learning fun. is cheerful. is cheerful. supports and respects them. supports and respects them. is empathic. is empathic. is patient. is patient. is flexible. is flexible. Waukee gifted students want someone who… understands them. has a sense of humor. can make learning fun. is cheerful. supports and respects them. use a variety of activities. sets high expectations: academic and behavior.

College Age Freshman Connect teaching practices to student interests Connect teaching practices to student interests Passionate about subject matter Passionate about subject matter Good content knowledge Good content knowledge Make learning experiences relevant Make learning experiences relevant Set high expectations of students Set high expectations of students Good explanations of complex ideas Good explanations of complex ideas Good classroom management Good classroom management

Research Findings: Teacher Effectiveness + Gifted Students

What are the research findings relating teacher quality to effectiveness working with gifted students? Teacher background Teacher background Understands nature and needs of gifted learners Understands nature and needs of gifted learners Subject matter expertise Subject matter expertise Teacher disposition and personal qualities Teacher disposition and personal qualities Develops caring and positive relationship with students Develops caring and positive relationship with students Enthusiasm for subject area Enthusiasm for subject area Classroom management and organization Classroom management and organization Positive classroom environment with clear expectations Positive classroom environment with clear expectations Management of students involved in different activities Management of students involved in different activities

Effective Teachers, Cont. Planning and instruction Planning and instruction Use of appropriate high-level materials matching complexities to individual skills Use of appropriate high-level materials matching complexities to individual skills Implementing instruction Implementing instruction High level of student engagement High level of student engagement Implementation of range of instructional strategies Implementation of range of instructional strategies Monitoring student progress Monitoring student progress Differentiation of instruction Differentiation of instruction Informational feedback Informational feedback

What ability related issues exists for high achieving and / or high potential young adolescents?

Ability Related Issues for High Achieving Young Adolescents Needing both to achieve and to belong Needing both to achieve and to belong Coping with uneven development Coping with uneven development Living with heighten sensitivity Living with heighten sensitivity Pursuing perfection Pursuing perfection Lacking effective study skills Hungering to learn more Feeling different Being good in too many areas

Ability Related Issues for High Potential Young Adolescents Being unaware of their own possibilities Being unaware of their own possibilities Feeling alienated from school and academics. Feeling alienated from school and academics. Lacking gatekeeper knowledge, experiences and skills. Lacking gatekeeper knowledge, experiences and skills. Feeling pulled in conflicting directions Lacking a road map to the future. Lacking support system. Fearing stereotype threat.

What is G T? Gifted and talented education can be applied to all students with varying degrees of sophistication.

High Achieving High Potential Qualities of Effective Teachers for Gifted Classroom Environment Research Gifted Learners

Resources Delisle, M, Glabraith, J.(2009). When gifted kids don’t have all the answers. (pp ). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit. Tomlinson, C.A. & Doubet, K.(2006) Smart in the middle graded. (pp ). Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association. VanTassel-Baska, J. (2009). Leading change. (pp ). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.