Understanding Ourselves through Understanding Others
My students need 20 copies each of books about gifted children, "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler", "A Wrinkle in Time", and "The View from Saturday".
Have you ever been made to feel "different"? That can be an unpleasant experience for a child, even when the reason for the difference is a positive one. Children who have special needs frequently also encounter the difficulty of being different, and gifted children are no exception.
My students are gifted children - they think in "out of the box" ways, they approach problems from a unique perspective, and they feel deeply.
They are energetic, funny, challenging, and curious. A lot of the time, they seem to feel more comfortable with adults than they do with other children.
My school is blessed to have a large number of gifted students. One of the challenges facing these children is social. Being "smart" is not always considered cool, and there is enormous pressure, even in elementary school, to fit in with the "regular kids".
I sponsor two book clubs for my gifted students, to try to engage them in a semi-social activity that embraces their love of reading. This also gives me a chance to share with them books about kids like themselves. Kids who have unique contributions to make and a lot to offer to the world, but don't always have all the answers and don't always know how to navigate the complex waters of elementary school culture.
My Project
Most of my students are avid readers, and eagerly get swept up in what they are reading. If I can share with them books such as the ones I have selected, where kids who are like them learn more about themselves, I firmly believe that my students will reap enormous benefits from the experience.
Knowing that someone else has gone through the challenges they face will help them know that they too can get through them, and even thrive as a result. The characters in the books I have chosen are easy to relate to, and will engage my students.
I remember as a child, how important my books were to me, and I know that the children I teach feel the same way about the books they love. Being able to provide them with some of those books - books that speak to their souls, and help them grow - would be an amazing opportunity.
In a world where so many aspects of our popular culture speak to the lowest common denominator, we need to find ways to encourage and build up the brightest minds of our youth, instead of shoving them to the side and saying - "Oh, they're smart, they'll be fine".
Ignoring the social and emotional needs of extremely bright children can have devastating impacts on them, and on the world around them. Helping these children realize they have a valuable place in the world is paramount. Thank you!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Husbands and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.