Welcome to Opportunities for Enrichment! Parent Information

From Elementary Challenge to BT Project Enrichment 90 minute pull-outHOME once per week Subject/topic specific opportunities Both teacher and student initiation Mostly teacher initiated selection Many whole-school opportunities Pull-out and push-in Enrichment teachers talk to classroom teachers Curriculum and affective issues addressed Fewer teachers (Possibly less need for advocacy) More teachers (Possibly more need for advocacy) Elementary Challenge ProgramMiddle School Enrichment Program

The Gifted Middle School Student: Unique Needs While still only 10, 11 and 12, these students are starting to do the young adolescent thing – separating from parents, playing at and trying more independence Brain changes – the frontal lobe “takes a vacation” during these years (this is where critical thinking, decision making reside) – students who made great choices all their lives are suddenly making strange choices

Unique Needs Peer groups become front and center: sometimes it seems like friends are more important than parents (and definitely more important than school) Fitting in: for gifted and high ability students this can be an issue already – middle school transition can exacerbate this – especially if kids have a heightened sensitivity to – criticism – justice – perfectionism/control – having a unique sense of style that seems unappreciated

Asset – Burden Paradox of Giftedness (Jean Peterson, Purdue University) –sensitivities –overexcitabilities –intensity –stress –denied, controlled emotions –control of environment – frantic when it’s not possible –protection of image –a “fix-yourself” message from others (you’re smart – figure it out) –existential concerns –sense of differentness – interpersonal challenges (30 to 60 IQ pts. Difference) –intense idealism/sense of justice –perfectionism – unreasonable standards, self-criticism –underachievement

Meeting the Affective Needs Gifted isn’t always a gift Our program not only strives to keep these things in mind when we are working with and advocating for these students, but we also strive to provide a healthy enrichment program for all