Social & Emotional Needs

Asynchrony and X-Men

Not only are they dealing with the usual trials of growing up, they are often doing it with an increased awareness of their faults, a frustration with being unable to do everything well, and a world that often doesn’t know what to do with them. Worse, they often lack the emotional tools to accompany their increased awareness.

Overexcitabilities: Five Unexpected Intensities

We know gifted students are far more complex than their test scores might suggest. And while we might expect certain quirks, others blindside us: a strange reaction to sound, a sudden outburst of tears, or a need to stand up at inopportune times. Dabrowski’s five overexcitabilities provide some insight into these unexpected moments.

Analyze Characters With Personality Types

Previously, we discussed using morality, multiple intelligences, and scholarly habits to analyze characters. Not only does this add deep layers to questioning, but (more importantly) it provides opportunities to discuss gifted students’ unique emotional needs. Personality types are another tool that serve these two needs.

Sensitivity in Gifted Kids

In class, a child suddenly explodes at another for making a clicking pencil sound, a student shuts down for the day after making an error while presenting, a distant natural disaster effects children’s moods. As a teacher, this layer of complex sensitivity builds on your already difficult job of tracking academic progress. To be effective, you must also navigate this emotional minefield.

The Eight Great Gripes of Gifted Students

In a 1985 study, Judy Galbraith identified eight great gripes of gifted students. Let’s think about what we can do to meet these needs. It will require more than just making our lessons academically challengeing.

Four Ways To Reduce Behavior Problems

Anyone who’s had to wrangle two or three dozen gifted minds at once knows there’s much more to the story than angelic super students who eagerly obey your every whim. Gifted students can present some interesting behaviors that throw off unprepared teachers.

Make Your Class Cozy For Gifted Introverts

As a teacher of gifted students, you will be in the unique situation of teaching classrooms with a majority of introverts, a population typically in the minority in general classrooms. Consider how you can set the stage to improve these students’ learning, socializing, and happiness.

3D Character Analysis: Gardner, Kaplan, and Kohlberg

As we review for midyear tests, my students are working in groups to analyze eight characters from any story from this years’ readings. I’ve given them three dimensions to use when looking at each character. Each dimension is based on concepts created by three different researchers: Howard Gardner, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Sandra Kaplan.

“Is This Good?”

Why “is this good?” is driving me mad.

Exploring Morality Behind Actions

No one can deny that our gifted students have great power. They may be intellectual powerhouses, grasping concepts years ahead of peers. They may be emotionally sensitive, becoming aware of issues such as mortality at an early age. They may be leaders of people, showing leadership qualities from the very beginning. How do we teach them to use this power?