1. Who are gifted children?
How can we meet their
needs?
Presentation by Falisa Beffa
2.
3. Gifted Characteristics
• Most of us are aware that gifted students are
identified because they are highly intelligent.
• We assume this should correlate with high
achievement.
• However, sometimes this is not the case.
• Let’s examine why…
4. With current legislation, school districts and
teachers tend to focus on the students who are
behind, taking comfort in the fact that the advanced
students will be able to make it on their own.
Unfortunately, there are two things wrong with this
way of thinking.
Gifted students need guidance just as much as the
average and struggling students do. Also, this is a
disservice to the gifted student. EVERY student
deserves to learn something new EVERY day and to
be challenged to achieve his or her full potential.
6. Gifted Characteristics & Needs
• Extreme Intensity
• Need Choice
• Disorganization & Sometimes Lack of Motivation
• Challenge Authority
• Sense of Humor (may be considered odd)
• Think Logically
• Perfectionism & Fear of Failure
• Need to Create
• Need to be Challenged
• Are All Different
20. The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A
human creature born abnormally, inhumanely sensitive. To
them... a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a
tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god,
and failure is death.
Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering
necessity to create, create, create -- so that without the
creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something
of meaning, their very breath is cut off...
They must create, must pour out creation. By some strange,
unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they
are creating. --Pearl Buck
27. Differentiate
• Content
– If a gifted student (or any student for that matter)
already knows the content, let them move on
– Pretesting can help determine this
• Process
– Tasks for gifted students should be DOK level 3 & 4
(LET THEM CREATE!)
– Give them choice
– Consider learning styles & multiple intelligences
– Gifted students appreciate and relate to real-world
experiences
• Product
28. Strategies
• Learning Menu
• Tiered Activities
• Learning Contracts
• Cubes
• Tic Tac Toe
29. Your Task
• Get with your PLC or the other teacher(s) who teach
what you do
• Consider what you have learned about the
characteristics and needs of the gifted learner
• Use the handouts and examples of differentiation
strategies and materials to create an activity to be used
in an upcoming unit.
• Focus on DOK levels 3&4
• Choose a product gifted students can create
• Try to relate it to a real-world topic or task
• How can you incorporate technology?
