Gifted Child Myths

 

You also have to take into consideration the authentic characteristics of the gifted child vs. the myths. How many times have you heard, “You’ve got it easy, you’ve got the gifted kids!” or “With self-contained gifted classes, there are no role models left for our general education students.” Gifted students come with their own unique set of needs and assets!
Common myths include:

• Gifted students are a homogeneous group, all high achievers.
• Gifted students have fewer problems than others because their intelligence and abilities somehow exempt them from the hassles of daily life.
• Gifted students make everyone else smarter.
• Gifted children are easy to raise and a welcome addition to any classroom.

A more realistic view of gifted students includes:

• Gifted students may experience heightened sensitivity to their own expectations and those of others, resulting in guilt over achievements or grades perceived to be low.
• Gifted students may be so far ahead of their chronological age peers that they know more than half the curriculum before the school year.
• Gifted students are asynchronous. Their chronological age, social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development may all be at different levels. For example, a five-year-old may be able to read and comprehend a third-grade book but may not be able to write legibly.

Click here for an interactive exercise to see if you can distinguish between the Myths and Truths about gifted students.

As you begin the school year you can read the records from the year before, look at test scores, and read previous teacher comments. Even though those elements are important, there are several major factors missing; the dynamics between you and the student, the dynamics created by the new mix of students in the classroom, and the growth and changes that took place over the summer. None of these can be recorded, but it does make a difference. You do not have the luxury of time to analyze all of this before you begin introducing curriculum, so you will need to discover your students’ characteristics and qualities as you move through the school year.