A Left-Handed Analogy Or... How is being gifted like being left-handed?

In many ways A child’s giftedness is identical to his being left-handed. Follow along as we think of this analogy.

How? Each is part of who the child is Neither is readily apparent There are relatively few who fit the description There are varying degrees of each trait And, the child will not outgrow the condition

Like gifted students Left-handed children are a distinct minority in the student population... Left-handed children require accommodation... Left-handed children need teachers who understand their condition

Issues? Are there safety issues in science labs for “lefties”? What are issues in art class? Should teachers be required to modify learning environment for “lefties”? Do these modifications take away from students who are right-handed?

Dollar costs? Separate left-handed desks Separate left-handed scissors Other costs?

So what would the District do? From a District’s point of view, it is desirable for its instructors to teach all students using the same instructional methods and to have all students use the same basic equipment

Why Accommodate? Bottom Line: Left-handed students CAN do their work right-handed If a teacher were to place a pencil in a left-handed child’s RIGHT hand, tell him to write, and insist that he does, SOMETHING would be written.

Performance Expectations District/Teacher establishes performance expectations through a rubric. Should the rubric require that only right-handed techniques be appropriate, then right- handed instruction will take place. Since left-handed kids can work right-handed, they will produce work, which will be graded.

The District’s Perspective? There is no problem. The expectations for students were clearly set. The standards are being evenly applied. The District is, in essence, saying that students must work using their right hands.

Where’s the Harm? Over time, the left- handed student’s work will improve. The left-handed student will likely meet the minimum standards. He may even achieve higher-than-minimum marks. The child graduates; the obligation is fulfilled.

“Harm” Develops Over Time Some children are more left-handed dominant than others; therefore, the more difficult it is for them to do tasks using their right hands. The awkwardness may never really go away. Is the child just “muddling” along?

Progressive Districts Some districts recognize unique needs of left-handed students. Some districts may recognize that the needs of left-handed students are unmet. A progressive district might offer a program to its left-handed students.

Assessing the Obvious Students would need to be assessed for left- handedness, though generally not until the 3 rd grade. By then, left-handedness is firmly established. To qualify for the Lefties Program, a child suspected of being left-handed would have to be screened. Then, the child would have to be formally tested. Some districts might want to include teacher and parent observations before making a decision.

However the child would have to perform his classroom tasks well enough using his right hand to earn a place in the Lefties Program.

Down the Hall The Lefties Program takes the identified children, pulls them out of their regular class, has them go down the hall, and allows them to work left-handed for an hour or two each week (called a “pull-out program).

Teachers of the Lefted The left-handed child leaves the regular ed classroom and works with a teacher of the lefted. The Leftie Program has a different set of objectives, different rubrics, and separate requirements. The student identified formally as left- handed spends an hour or two a week working left-handed.

Leftie at Last Left-handed kids work naturally, perhaps for the first time. The Leftie Program may be the highlight of their week. That time may be the only time they are truly happy.

But... At the end of the pull-out program, left- handed students return to their right-handed classes. Once back in the right-handed class, the left- handed student would not be allowed to work left-handed anymore.

Furthermore... Any work missed due to inclusion in the Leftie Program would need to be made up, USING THEIR RIGHT HANDS.

Change Hands Left-handed students (gifted students) need to work left-handedly in all subjects throughout the week. They need teachers who understand, who take their needs into account, and plan for them. They need to do their work according to their nature.

It is the responsibility of the District to provide for this,... the right of the gifted student to have this, and a necessity for the parent to insist that this happen. This is the law.

Now You Try It... Compare being gifted to the following: A TV set A race car driving behind a large, overloaded truck A runner in a marathon A VERY TALL 13-year- old on a middle school basketball team A shoe store that stocks only size 7 ladies’ shoes Feeding an elephant