Students
Gifted Education from a Student's Point of View
Gifted Education and how it affects students.
Behavior
Just because a child has behavioral issues does not mean they're not gifted. In fact, behavioral issues could be a sign of giftedness. Often, unidentified students act out because they experience boredom in the classroom. Ensuring we're properly identifying students can combat this.
Future Successes
In ensuring these student's needs are being met, we ensure their future success. Students involved with gifted programming are more likely to go to college and attain a degree than those who are not. We want to build on their successes and challenge their brains in order to help them grow and thrive.
Connections
In regular classroom settings, gifted students may feel isolated and alone in their academic pursuits. Ensuring identification and that gifted students can work directly with each other helps these students feel more comfortable and helps them fit in better together.
Engagement
Engagement within the classroom and outside of it is heightened with gifted students when involved in gifted programming. When educators are differentiating to meet the needs of these learners, the students are more engaged and ready to learn.
Resources for Gifted Students
Allows students to practice at their own pace on their own level.
Custom learning experience for the student tagged "Art of Problem Solving".
Challenging math and science topics to help students dig deeper into their STEM gifted abilities.
Websites for Gifted Students
Organized by grade levels starting with Pre-K, this website is amazing for gifted students who are elementary school age and have a range of interests. There are lots of engaging, interactive activities that are still educational that can be used to promote a student's growth inside and outside of the classroom. There are advertisements on the website when you go to play a game, however, that makes it completely free to use.
TedEd is commonly used by educators, but can also be used by students! There are endless educational videos surrounding a wide variety of topics to choose from to engage a gifted learner. I know I constantly refer to Ted Talks in my schooling, so to see a similar version for younger minds is great. Since the videos are run through YouTube, there are advertisements at the beginning, however, it's a free website to use.
Code.org is a website I used during my time in upper elementary and early middle school. This website is fantastic for growing a gifted learner's mind in the field of technology. It does require an account to use, though you can sign up for free. Students are able to follow step-by-step directions in coding to create their own games and sites. Progress is saved to your account, so they can work on it over a span of time. This is an awesome website for very creative gifted students.
Supporting Gifted Students
How to Support Gifted Students
Build Relationships with them
Make Sure they're receiving Level-Appropriate Work
Build Connections between Gifted Students
Challenge them with Creative, Critical-Thinking Assignments when Necessary
Ensure they're Growing Despite being Advanced
Let them know you're Proud of them
Student
Resources
Tall Poppies Ted Talk: Growing Up Gifted
This resource is an exceptional insight into what it may be like growing up gifted. This TED Talk provides a real-life anecdotal experience from Emily Murman, who is highly gifted.
This website is great for curious minds of all ages, especially for our gifted children and students. With a wide variety of videos, this website can allow students to explore their own interests in many different fields and subjects.