Nature and Needs of Gifted

A Look Within: Building self-awareness and promoting educational and personal growth

Knowledge of Strengths, Characteristics, and Problems Associated with Giftedness to Build Strategies for Success

Poll

Poll! No right or wrong answer. Select which strength best describes you. You may select more than one if necessary.

• Ability to quickly retain information

• Impressive vocabulary and knowledge of information across broad areas

• Highly observant and openminded

• Creative and Inventive

• Highly sensitive individual and abilities to empathize with others

As a whole group, we will review the results of the student poll. In your journal/cluster groups, record the following information manually:

1) Today's date, along with the five strengths from the interactive monitor.

2) Whole group vs. Individual Data

• Which strengths are most prominent in whole group? Which strength(s) reflect you?

Open Ended

Brainwriting session! During this time, continuously brainstorm/generate a list of potential PROBLEMS students with one or more of these strengths may face.

DO NOT CLICK SUBMIT. Type until the timer stops! Be prepared to justify your responses to the class.

Identifying Problems Affiliated with Strengths: Group Work

You will be assigned one strength. Your job is to use the guided notes (packet on desk) to identify problems affiliated with these strengths. You will then present your findings to the class. After our presentation, you will take a post assessment to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of content.

​Strength	​Problem
​Ability to quickly retain new information	​Impatience, Dislike of routine/regularity
Strong vocabulary/broad knowledge of information​	​Easily bored, isolation from peers because viewed as "know it all", perfectionist, critical of others and other ideas
​Observational skills & Flexibility to new ideas	​Hyperfocus/fixation, naivety
​Creativity/Ingenuity	​May disrupt schedule plans, isolation, viewed as different
​Emotional Sensitivity/Empathy	​Sensitivity to criticism/rejection, expectations of others to have similar values, need forv success/recognition, feelings of isolation and alienation

Match

Match the following strengths with their corresponding problems! You may use your notes in your journal if necessary.

• Ability to quickly retain new information

• Strong Vocabulary/General knowledge

• Observation/Flexibility

• Creative

• Sensitivity/Empathy

Impatience/distaste of routine

Seen as "know it all" and may succumb to perfectionism

Individuals may be naive or fixated

Can disrupt a routine and be seen as unusual

Struggles to understand difference in values, need for recognition

• Impatience/distaste of routine

• Seen as "know it all" and may succumb to perfectionism

• Individuals may be naive or fixated

• Can disrupt a routine and be seen as unusual

• Struggles to understand difference in values, need for recognition

So what now?

Now that you are aware of YOUR strengths, highlight their corresponding problems manually using a green highlighter.

Then, research and identify two possible strategies using the packet on your desk. Be sure to cite information properly using MLA format.

​Strategies!

1. For students who quickly retain new information and become bored, they may use additional time to research independently as others catch up. These students may also benefit from color coding notes, too.

2. Students with a strong vocabulary may use the following resources and opt out of a rotation to focus on these skillsets during times where students are frustrated by perfectionism and/or boredom

3. Students who are highly observant yet unable to break focus should be provided with strategies for doing so, first by modeling, then by assigned tasks, and by the end of the year self regulate

4. Creative individuals should be given ample opportunity for student choice, learning menu, and even chiming in on instructional choice/design

5. Highly sensitive/empathetic individuals may be provided with ample modeling of appropriate social interaction while instructors also validate emotions but model appropriate regulation