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?