Friday, January 17, 2020
But you’re gifted!
—A statement made with a hollow and misplaced tone of congratulations. The sound of sarcasm and envy, although mostly muted, feels like tiny straight pins whose pointy tips pierce the veil of that positive declaration. Yet, the implicit presumptions of a life of success and future eminence in those three words are utterly transparent. Packed into those three little words, the expectations of a gifted individual are unmistakable; you know this because you are acutely perceptive as many gifted adults are. And the heavy burden of those expectations and presumptions land squarely on your shoulders.
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Thursday, December 5, 2019
Every gifted child is different, and every situation concerning whether or not to test will vary, even among siblings within the same family. Deciding to test or to not test depends on each individual case and its specific considerations.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2019
When giftedness is not recognized as a human trait, but is regarded as a prodigious intellectual benefit, it can become a burden. When giftedness is tied to and measured by academic achievement, then giftedness is misunderstood. When the expectation of a gifted person is academic and professional success, then giftedness can cause anxiety and distress. Giftedness is a life experience, not an educational experience. Giftedness is not what one can achieve, but who one is.
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Friday, November 15, 2019
For gifted children or any child, the realization that their exuberant engagement in the classroom is unacceptable can result in significant negative emotional and educational responses. Many gifted children who have had negative experiences in the classroom due to their intense approach to learning have developed a growing disinterest in school, academic underachievement, and the loss of their love of learning. Reversing these emotional and educational consequences can be a steep, uphill battle once a gifted child has been shut down in school.
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Friday, November 1, 2019
Shaming any child damages their self-esteem, delivers a significant blow to their self-confidence, and impacts their motivation to succeed in school. Once shut down and shamed, avoiding any display of their exhilaration for learning becomes the only path forward for many gifted students.
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Monday, March 11, 2019
“Shame is a real and potentially devastating emotion, impacting each of us at one time or another. A sense of worthlessness and an urge to hide or cover…
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Monday, October 22, 2018
You’re the parent of a gifted child, or maybe all of your children are gifted. If you are just starting out on this journey, you may not as…
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Wednesday, October 3, 2018
“Looking at Sam’s recent test scores that we just received, it puts your son in the highly gifted range. Your son is gifted, Mrs. Welch.” Well hey, swell—that’s…
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Friday, August 10, 2018
Or to put it another way: we need to sever the misleading associative ties between giftedness and educational achievement that are so pervasive and harmful. Lately, I’ve wondered…
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Monday, February 19, 2018
The Fear Raising a gifted child can be hard, it can be stressful, it can be heartbreaking, it can be confusing, it can be overwhelming,…
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Crushing Tall Poppies
