Gifted learners are often misunderstood. They do not take one form and that’s what makes them so unique. To grow our gifted pull-out program, they need resources that are proven to engage gifted minds and build higher-order critical thinking skills.
A hallmark of a true gifted student is their willingness to think outside of the box and, without the right curriculum, this ability is squandered.
Our STEAM based school is 40% African American, 30% Hispanic, and 30% Caucasian. My learners are just as diverse as the population at the school; there is no one type of gifted child.
My Project
Part of teaching gifted students is helping them understand themselves. This is a major challenge because the umbrella of "gifted" is HUGE. Maybe they're good at math or science or playing an instrument or critical thinking or ... you see where I'm going!
When students are labeled "gifted," they have the misconception that they should be good at everything - and this novel explains that it isn't the case; perfection in all fields doesn't exist.
Ungifted is a novel by Gordon Korman about a young man that is a troublemaker. This boy is accidentally sent to the gifted academy and meets truly gifted students. At first, he doesn't feel like he fits in, but he learns to make his niche - showing the importance of emotional intelligence as a gifted form, as well. The story is told through multiple points of views, including from the gifted students. One student in particular, Noah, has the highest IQ and wants out of the program because of the pressure put upon him because of his label. Another explains that she is missing out on the social aspects because of expectations place upon her. Another girl is only focused on college and forgets about the "now." These are conversations that need to happen with gifted students so they can learn how to cope and relax to be better adults.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mrs. Martin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
