Understanding Giftedness

Key reflections from my own experience and from the module learning led to thoughts and questions around:

• The inequities in learners being identified and supported - many more boys than girls and predominantly pakeha learners.

• What can we do in our RTLB role to support schools in thinking about early identification and supports for Gifted learners.

• What factors do we as RTLB need to address to improve the learning and wellbeing for Gifted learners?

• What can schools and specialist services do to encourage and support more priority learners into MindPlus and school based talent programmes.

• What can we learn from a Pacific lens that might lead to better support and inclusive practice for Gifted Learners?

• What are the barriers for our priority learners to access Gifted support?

Key Takeaways from the talanoa: Looking at Supports for Gifted Learners from a Pacific lens.

• Gifted learners need to know that being unique is a Gift - they are a Taonga

• A strong sense of who they are is paramount and mana enhancing

• Strong sense of self needs to be built

• Being Gifted might present as having that strong sense of self and an ability to lead and influence others

• Relationships are key to providing support

• Inter personal skills are very important as many learners have experienced a sense of isolation as learners

• A strong sense of belonging is key

• Supporting learners to accept being unique and confident in who they are

• Respecting self and sense of belonging to a family of learners who are unique - (being with 'like minds')

• Kaiako to nurture growth and relationships

• Community and belonging is key