Gifted Kids Survival Guides

Gifted students have unique issues to deal with and need survival skills. I teach in a rural K-8 building of about 600 students. 30 of these students have been identified as gifted and talented. The grade level of these students are as young as kindergarten and as old as eighth grade. Many of the residents are below the poverty line in this community and budget cuts have not allowed our Gifted/Talented (GT) Resource Library to stay current.

As part of Wisconsin Standard, students identified as gifted and talented must receive guidance in areas such as perfectionism, underachievement, coping, time management, friendships, parent expectations and more. Currently our resource supply for this class is zero. Being the only GT teacher, it is part of my job to hold a GT Guidance Group to help the children with these issues that are unique to students of exceptional abilities. Most of the topics will remain the same but the depth will alter as the grade level increases. Gifted kids need a safe place with other gifted kids to help them cope with their view of themselves which is "we're different". Additionally, many parents of gifted students come to me for help regarding their child's success or lack there of in school. Having some parent resources that are directly related to the resources the students use will provide a similar framework so that the learning and talking can be continued at home with parents.

In order to achieve this guidance group for Gifted students, I have requested some books that are student friendly and written in young children language and teen language. One of the books: The Gifted Kids Survival Guide is aimed at children in the middle school who have numerous social issues as it is. The other book is The Gifted Kids Survival Guide for kids ages 10 and younger. I have also requested books that deal with perfectionism. Many gifted students get so wrapped up in making sure a project is "perfect" that they lose sight of the big picture. Being able to have enough books for the entire group would be great.

My students have never had a guidance group dealing just with issues of being gifted. It isn't a topic they want to bring up in a regular guidance class. By purchasing these books, you are allowing these kids to be with other kids just like them, have a safe place to chat about issues with an adult facilitator who has a background with gifted children. Thanks.