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By Ashley Velazquez
L e a r n i n g T a r g e t s
G i f t e d : above-average intelligence and/or superior talent for something
In their investigation into the approaches taken to identify gifted learners, Renzulli and Smith explain how experts initially measured giftedness in children purely by levels of intelligence (1973) In more recent years, studies have been conducted to initiate a change in how gifted students are identified. Katherine Wicks and Thomas Ward examine how gifted learners actually show high levels of creativity, thus having the ability to think critically, as well as, compare and contrast between specific situations and knowledge to initiate creative solutions (2006). Gifted learners analyze everything, right down to their emotions. There is significant evidence of creativity that walk hand in hand in anxiety due to over criticizing themselves or over analyzing their own thoughts. It is time to break with age old traditions and myths built upon what people believe a gifted child should think, behave or perform like (Trepanier 2017).
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It is widely achknowledged that giftedness is an inherent attribute (Trepanier, 2017)
Gifted children can have overexcitablities (Tepanier, 2017).
Gifted Children do not always excel in school (Trepanier, 2017).
Gifted children can and do have disabilities (Trepanier, 2017).
Gifted Children often thrive in self-reliable situations (Trepanier, 2017).
Gifted children often have difficulty finding like minded friends (Trepanier, 2017).
Gifted children often feel like they don't fit in (Trepanier, 2017).
Gifted children are gifted in and out of school (Trepanier, 2017).
Being gifted is not a net-positive situation (Trepanier, 2017).
Raising a gifted child is not always an easy task (Trepanier, 2017).
...I N T E R V I E W
The global pandemic has made some significant impacts on children and teachers alike. Surprisingly, gifted students have landed on both sides of the scale, where adjusting to virtual learning is concerned. According to Ms. Bazemore, her students have indicated a variety of reactions to the conversion into virtual learning; some have adjusted well, performing better than before and some have shown some troubling signs (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021). Ms. Bazemore has also expressed a unique situation in which one of her students has been identified as gifted after converting to virtual learning, due to the student’s comfort in more direct instruction.(Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021).
CER is a teaching model in which prompts the usage of critical and analytical thinking skills. Bazemore went on to explain how effective this model is for gifted children because they already possess such skills, so this technique really keeps their brains focused and moving (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021). Although the CER model has been useful in the virtual learning environment during instruction, Ms. Bazemore did make the claim of missing using this model in a face to face environment (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021). She explained how it becomes almost like a “courtroom’ where children become academically and constructively critical with each other (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021). The energy cycles through the classroom really keeping the kids mentally invested in the lesson.
Promoting collaborative learning is a major key to meeting the gifted learners needs this year. Especially because of the “frenzie effect” with gifted learners. Ms. Bazemore discussed how gifted learners really feed off of eachother, inside and outside of the face to face learning environment (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021). Bazemore has utilized breakout rooms as a way to pair children together, setting breakout room jobs up for each student in the group (Presenters, recorders, team leaders etc.) promoting effort from the kids to work together while learning. Additionally, Ms. Bazemore gives each breakout team an “escape room task” which challenges the teams to complete learning tasks for the lesson, in order to escape to a 5 minute recess.
Slides Content Created by Christina Bazemore, Personal Communication, 2021
R e f l e c t i o n
Based on the information I have obtained from my research and my interview, I believe that an overlooked factor of the pandemic and its effects on learning is the variations of learning styles. Clearly, before we make a decision on whether or not this pandemic has had negative impacts on learning and rush to put things back in place, we need to stop and evaluate the children who have benefitted from virtual learning. Christina Bazemore, has made it clear that, though there are significant challenges to converting to virtual life, she has witnessed some of her gifted students strive in the opportunity to self evaluate and display their strengths in responsibility and resilience (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021). Initially, when I started my research, I was convinced that only the undesirable experiences were what has evolved from this pandemic but I think that was from a parental point of view. I think it’s important to understand that learning comes in many shapes and forms, much like teaching methods. Gifted learners are especially unique because of their emotional and mental reactions to their learning environments, and how it can shift the entire dynamic of how they consume knowledge. There has been substantial evidence that depression and anxiety are linked to gifted learners due to their high sensitivity of knowledge and emotions (Bazemore, C., personal communication, 2021).
Additionally, we as future educators should take into consideration the amount of change we will be subject to in our careers. As educators, we will encounter numerous modifications to the enthusiasm we receive from students, especially those on the gifted spectrum. Teachers have to be resilient in their lesson planning, strategies and techniques, and most of all their motivation to motivate their students.
Reveiw Quiz:
Reveiw Quiz:
What is the CER teaching model?
A. Character-Effort-Resilience
B. Claim-Effort-Reason
C. Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
D. Clear-Effective-Reasoning
According to Renzulli and Smith, gifted children were intially identified based upon what trait?
A. Agressiveness
B. Assertiveness
C. Creativity
D. Intelligence
Answers
Answers
A
C
R e f e r e n c e s
Ogurlu, U., & Sarıçam, H. (2018). Bullying, forgiveness and submissive behaviors in gifted students. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 27(9), 2833–2843. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1007/s10826-018-1138-9
Renzulli, J. S., & Smith, L. H. (1977). Two approaches to identification of gifted students. Exceptional Children, 43(8), 512–518.
Trepanier, C. (2017, Novemeber 3). 10 facts you may not know about gifted children but should. Fractus Learning. https://www.fractuslearning.com/facts-about-gifted-children/
Wickes, K. N. S., & Ward, T. B. (2006). Measuring gifted adolescents’ implicit theories of creativity. Roeper Review, 28(3), 131–139 https://doi- org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1080/02783190609554352
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