How to Deal with the Non-Compliant GT Student S. Petrey LISD August Staff Development

Profiles of the Gifted Type 1: Successful Type 1: Successful Type 2: Challenging Type 2: Challenging Type 3: Underground Type 3: Underground Type 4: Dropout Type 4: Dropout Type 5: Double-Labeled Type 5: Double-Labeled Type 6: Autonomous Learner Type 6: Autonomous Learner

Today we will learn strategies for dealing with Types Type 2: Challenging Type 2: Challenging Type 3: Underground Type 3: Underground Type 4: Dropout Type 4: Dropout

Type 2: Challenging Enjoys ‘pushing your buttons’ Enjoys ‘pushing your buttons’ Questions established procedures Questions established procedures Rarely ‘goes along to get along’ Rarely ‘goes along to get along’ Protests work they deem irrelevant Protests work they deem irrelevant Creative ideas for changing systems Creative ideas for changing systems Needs highly engaging and relevant work Needs highly engaging and relevant work

‘Dealing’ with the Challenging Avoid immediately reacting to outbursts Avoid immediately reacting to outbursts Listen to the underlying argument Listen to the underlying argument Provide alternative structures/systems Provide alternative structures/systems Provide relevant curriculum Provide relevant curriculum Engage student in modifying systems Engage student in modifying systems Provide highly engaging work Provide highly engaging work

Type 2: What can go wrong? They enjoy the ‘power-struggle’ They enjoy the ‘power-struggle’ Distrusts your ‘interest’ in their argument Distrusts your ‘interest’ in their argument Refusal to accept any system Refusal to accept any system Your subject is of no interest to student Your subject is of no interest to student Refuses to engage in modifying systems Refuses to engage in modifying systems Can not be engaged in academic work Can not be engaged in academic work

Don’t give up! Patience is crucial Patience is crucial Persistence and time Persistence and time Be an advocate Be an advocate ‘Find’ positive behaviors ‘Find’ positive behaviors Don’t be bullied! Don’t be bullied!

Type 3: The Underground Tries to hide abilities Tries to hide abilities Drops out of advanced courses Drops out of advanced courses Resists adult advice Resists adult advice Craves social acceptance Craves social acceptance Abrupt changes in behavior Abrupt changes in behavior

‘Dealing’ with the Underground Identify these students Identify these students Attempt to keep students in Advanced courses Attempt to keep students in Advanced courses Don’t push too hard Don’t push too hard Provide appropriate social opportunities Provide appropriate social opportunities Identify sudden changes in behavior and seek professional help Identify sudden changes in behavior and seek professional help

Type 3: What can go wrong? Student is skilled at ‘hiding’ Student is skilled at ‘hiding’ Difficult to keep in Advanced Courses Difficult to keep in Advanced Courses Student rejects all adult advice Student rejects all adult advice Student gravitates to inappropriate social situations Student gravitates to inappropriate social situations Self-destructive behaviors Self-destructive behaviors

Don’t Give Up! Keep your ears/eyes open Keep your ears/eyes open Continue work to keep in Advanced Courses Continue work to keep in Advanced Courses Pair with appropriate role-models Pair with appropriate role-models Provide appropriate Limits Provide appropriate Limits Seek assistance from Professionals Seek assistance from Professionals

Type 4: Dropout Resents school authorities Resents school authorities Angry/Depressed Angry/Depressed Low Self-Esteem Low Self-Esteem Defensive Defensive Poor Attendance Poor Attendance Disciplinary Placements Disciplinary Placements

‘Dealing’ with the Dropout Show genuine personal interest Show genuine personal interest Refer to Counseling Refer to Counseling ‘Find’ the good ‘Find’ the good Be sensitive Be sensitive Be an advocate Be an advocate Work to improve attendance Work to improve attendance

Type 4: What can go wrong? They distrust your ‘interest’ They distrust your ‘interest’ Refuses counseling Refuses counseling Difficult to find positive attributes Difficult to find positive attributes Poor Attendance Poor Attendance Rejects advocacy Rejects advocacy

Don’t Give Up! Persistence is crucial Persistence is crucial Continue working with counselors Continue working with counselors Praise every positive attribute Praise every positive attribute Work with parents and authorities to keep in school Work with parents and authorities to keep in school Continue advocacy Continue advocacy

Identify these GT Students Not all are classified as GT Not all are classified as GT ‘Notice’ non-compliant GT behaviors ‘Notice’ non-compliant GT behaviors Think outside the box Think outside the box Save those you can Save those you can You could hold the ‘missing piece’ You could hold the ‘missing piece’